Publius Acilius Attianus
Publius Acilius Attianus | |
|---|---|
| Allegiance | Roman Empire |
| Years of service | ??–119 |
| Rank | Praetorian prefect |
| Commands | Praetorian Guard |
Publius Acilius Attianus (1st – 2nd century AD), also known as Caelius Attianus, was a powerful Roman official who played a significant, though obscured, role in the transfer of power from Trajan to Hadrian.
Life
[edit ]He was born in Italica, Hispania Baetica, which was also the birthplace of Publius Aelius Hadrianus Afer, the emperor Hadrian's father. When Afer died about 86, Attianus and the future Emperor Trajan (another native of Italica) became the ten-year-old Hadrian's guardians.[1] Otherwise nothing is known of Attianus's early career, but towards the end of Trajan's reign he was joint Praetorian Prefect with Servius Sulpicius Similis. While Similis remained at Rome, Attianus accompanied the Emperor on campaign in the East.
Imperial succession
[edit ]Shortly before his death, Trajan was said to have composed a letter naming Hadrian as his adopted son and successor. Suspicions were raised because the copy of the letter that reached Rome bore Plotina's signature. It was rumoured that Attianus and the Empress Plotina had been lovers, both very fond of Hadrian their ward, and both present at Trajan's deathbed at Selinus in Cilicia in August 117, the two helped secure Hadrian's succession by forging Trajan's will.[2]
Along with Plotina and Matidia, Attianus accompanied Trajan's body to Seleucia and his ashes to Rome.
During Hadrian's reign
[edit ]Early in Hadrian's reign, Attianus counselled the emperor on his accession against various possible opponents, and, according to Hadrian's lost autobiography, was responsible for the murder of the ‘four consulars’ whose deaths were an early stain on his reign. However, the new emperor resented Attianus's power, and, in 119, induced him to request to be relieved of the post of Praetorian Prefect.[3] Attianus was given senatorial rank and the ornamenta consularia on his retirement, but nothing more is heard of him past that point.
Nerva–Antonine family tree
[edit ]Nerva–Antonine family tree
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Q. Marcius Barea Soranus Q. Marcius Barea Sura Antonia Furnilla M. Cocceius Nerva Sergia Plautilla P. Aelius Hadrianus
Titus
(r. 79–81) Marcia Furnilla Marcia Trajanus Pater Nerva (r. 96–98) Ulpia [i] Aelius Hadrianus Marullinus Flavia[ii] Marciana [iii] C. Salonius Matidius [iv] Trajan
(r. 98–117) Plotina P. Acilius Attianus P. Aelius Afer [v] Paulina Major [vi] C. Fuscus Salinator I Julia Serviana Paulina
L. Ceionius Commodus Appia Severa C. Fuscus Salinator II
L. Caesennius Paetus Arria Antonina Arria Fadilla[xv] T. Aurelius Fulvus
M. Annius Verus [xiii] Calvisia Domitia Lucilla [xvii] Fundania[xviii] M. Annius Libo [xiii] Faustina [xv] Antoninus Pius
(r. 138–161)[xv] L. Aelius Caesar [xvi] Avidia [xvi] Cornificia [xiii] Marcus Aurelius
(r. 161–180)[xix] Faustina Minor [xix] C. Avidius Cassius [xx] [clarification needed ] Aurelia Fadilla[xv] Lucius Verus (r. 161–169)[xvi] (1) Ceionia Fabia [xvi] Plautius Quintillus [xxi] Q. Servilius Pudens Ceionia Plautia [xvi] Cornificia Minor [xxii] M. Petronius Sura Commodus
(r. 177–192)[xix] Fadilla [xxii] M. Annius Verus Caesar [xix] Ti. Claudius Pompeianus (2) Lucilla [xix] M. Plautius Quintillus [xvi] Junius Licinius Balbus Servilia Ceionia Petronius Antoninus L. Aurelius Agaclytus (2) Aurelia Sabina [xxii] L. Antistius Burrus (1) Plautius Quintillus Plautia Servilla C. Furius Sabinus Timesitheus Antonia Gordiana Junius Licinius Balbus?
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Except where otherwise noted, the notes below indicate that an individual's parentage is as shown in the above family tree.
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References:
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References
[edit ]- ^ Historia Augusta , "Hadrian", 2; translated by Anthony Birley, Lives of the Later Caesars (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1976), p. 37
- ^ Simon Hornblower and Anthony Spawforth-E.A. (edd.), Oxford Classical Dictionary, Oxford University Press, 2003, p. 1214.
- ^ Historia Augusta, "Hadrian", 8; translated by Birley, Lives, p. 66