Ulpius Marcellus (

fl. ''Floruit'' ( ; usually abbreviated fl. or occasionally flor.; from Latin for 'flourished') denotes a date or period during which a person was known to have been alive or active. In English, the unabbreviated word may also be used as a noun indic ...

211–212) was formerly thought to be the latest-recorded governor of

Britannia The image of Britannia () is the national personification of United Kingdom, Britain as a helmeted female warrior holding a trident and shield. An image first used by the Romans in classical antiquity, the Latin was the name variously appli ...

, before it was divided into separate provinces. He was supposed to be the son of

Ulpius Marcellus Ulpius Marcellus was a Roman consular governor of Britannia who returned there as general of the later 2nd century. Ulpius Marcellus is recorded as governor of Roman Britain in an inscription of 176–80, and apparently returned to Rome after a te ...

, governor of Britannia during the reign of

Commodus Commodus (; ; 31 August 161 – 31 December 192) was Roman emperor from 177 to 192, first serving as nominal co-emperor under his father Marcus Aurelius and then ruling alone from 180. Commodus's sole reign is commonly thought to mark the end o ...

. Older sources, such as ''Roman Britain'', by Peter Salway, still list him as a separate person, whilst later authorities now list

Lucius Alfenus Senecio Lucius Alfenus Senecio was a Roman figure of the late 2nd and early 3rd centuries. Career Born in Curculum, Africa (Roman province) ( Djemila, Algeria), Lucius Alfenus Senecio was a Numidian ( Romanised Berber). He served as ''procurator Augusti' ...

as the last known governor. The theory that there was a second Ulpius Marcellus was based on two inscriptions at the fort at

Cilurnum Cilurnum or Cilurvum was an ancient Roman fort on Hadrian's Wall at Chesters near the village of Walwick, Northumberland. It is also known as Walwick Chesters to distinguish it from Great Chesters fort and Halton Chesters. Cilurnum is ...

, which mention this name in connection with the second ala of

Asturia Asturias (; ; ) officially the Principality of Asturias, is an autonomous community in northwest Spain. It is coextensive with the province of Asturias and contains some of the territory that was part of the larger Kingdom of Asturias in the ...

ns. The arrival of the Asturians was previously thought to date to the early 3rd century. Their arrival is now placed in the later 2nd century, and the inscription is therefore believed to refer to the earlier governor.

References

2nd-century Romans Roman governors of Britain Year of birth missing Year of death missing Ulpii 3rd-century Romans {{AncientRome-bio-stub

See also

References