Bellicia gens

Last updated

The gens Bellicia was an aristocratic plebeian family at ancient Rome, which flourished during the first and second centuries. The Bellicii rose to prominence from Gallia Narbonensis, attaining senatorial status with Gaius Bellicius Natalis, who was appointed consul suffectus in AD 68.

Contents

Origin

The nomen Bellicius, spelt Vellicius in several inscriptions of Lucius Bellicius Sollers, [1] belongs to a class of gentilicia formed from cognomina ending in -icus. [2] The root, Bellicus, means "fierce" or "warlike", [3] being one of an abundant type of surname originally derived from the character of the bearer. [4]

Branches and cognomina

The earliest Bellicii appearing in history bore the cognomen Natalis, a Latin adjective referring to the circumstances of one's birth or nativity, [5] although the circumstance through which this became their surname is unknown. Sollers, belonging to a soldier of the early second century, denoted someone thought particularly skilled or clever. [6] The names of subsequent generations of this family probably indicate their descent from other distinguished families of the era, as well as several illustrious families of the Republic. Of particular note are Flaccus, a common surname originally bestowed on someone with large or floppy ears, [7] borne by prominent branches of the Fulvii and Valerii, and Torquatus, famous from the Manlia gens, who acquired it as the result of a legendary combat between Titus Manlius Imperiosus and a giant Gaul, whose torque Manlius claimed as a token of his victory. [8] The surname was borne for centuries by the Manlii, and later by a branch of the Junii who were descended from them.

Members

This list includes abbreviated praenomina. For an explanation of this practice, see filiation.

See also

Related Research Articles

Petronia gens Ancient Roman family

The gens Petronia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. This gens claimed an ancient lineage, as a Petronius Sabinus is mentioned in the time of Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, the last of the Roman kings, but few Petronii are mentioned in the time of the Republic. They are frequently encountered under the Empire, holding numerous consulships, and eventually obtaining the Empire itself during the brief reign of Petronius Maximus in AD 455.

Valeria gens Ancient Roman family

The gens Valeria was a patrician family at ancient Rome, prominent from the very beginning of the Republic to the latest period of the Empire. Publius Valerius Poplicola was one of the consuls in 509 BC, the year that saw the overthrow of the Tarquins, and the members of his family were among the most celebrated statesmen and generals at the beginning of the Republic. Over the next ten centuries, few gentes produced as many distinguished men, and at every period the name of Valerius was constantly to be found in the lists of annual magistrates, and held in the highest honour. Several of the emperors claimed descent from the Valerii, whose name they bore as part of their official nomenclature.

The gens Calvisia was an ancient Roman family, which first rose to prominence during the final decades of the Republic, and became influential in imperial times. The first of the gens to obtain the consulship was Gaius Calvisius Sabinus in 39 BC.

Vibia gens Family in ancient Rome

The gens Vibia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Although individuals named Vibius appear in history during the time of the Second Punic War, no members of this gens are found at Rome until the final century of the Republic. The first of the Vibii to obtain the consulship was Gaius Vibius Pansa in 43 BC, and from then until imperial times the Vibii regularly filled the highest offices of the Roman state. The emperors Trebonianus Gallus and Volusianus each claimed descent from the family.

The gens Caecinia was a plebeian family of Etruscan origin at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned in the time of Cicero, and they remained prominent through the first century of the Empire, before fading into obscurity in the time of the Flavian emperors. A family of this name rose to prominence once more at the beginning of the fifth century.

Pomponia gens Ancient Roman family

The gens Pomponia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Its members appear throughout the history of the Roman Republic, and into imperial times. The first of the gens to achieve prominence was Marcus Pomponius, tribune of the plebs in 449 BC; the first who obtained the consulship was Manius Pomponius Matho in 233 BC.

The gens Cestia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome during the later Republic, and in imperial times. The first member of the gens to obtain the consulship was Gaius Cestius Gallus in AD 35. The family's name is commemorated on two monuments, the Pons Cestius and the Pyramid of Cestius which survive into modern times.

The gens Cilnia was an Etruscan family at ancient Rome, from the late Republic into imperial times. This gens is best known from Gaius Cilnius Maecenas, a trusted friend and advisor of Augustus, who was famous for his immense wealth and patronage of the arts. At least two of the Cilnii obtained the consulship under the Empire.

The gens Cluvia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome, known from the later Republic, and early imperial times. The first member of the gens to achieve prominence was Gaius Cluvius Saxula, praetor in 175 and 173 BC.

Lucius Nonius Calpurnius Torquatus Asprenas was a Roman senator who achieved the office of consul ordinarius twice, first under Domitian and later under Hadrian.

The gens Laecania or Lecania was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens first appear in history during the reign of Tiberius. The first to attain the consulship was Gaius Laecanius Bassus in AD 40.

Gaius Bellicius Flaccus Torquatus Tebanianus was a Roman senator during the reign of Hadrian. He was consul posterior in 124 with Manius Acilius Glabrio as his colleague.

Stertinia gens Ancient Roman family

The gens Stertinia was a plebeian family of ancient Rome. It first rose to prominence at the time of the Second Punic War, and although none of its members attained the consulship in the time of the Republic, a number of Stertinii were so honoured in the course of the first two centuries of the Empire.

The gens Pedia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned in history during the final century of the Republic, and for the next two centuries they were distinguished in statesmanship, rhetoric, art, and law. The first of the Pedii to obtain the consulship was Quintus Pedius, the nephew of Caesar, in 43 BC.

The gens Peducaea, occasionally written Paeducaea or Peducea, was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens occur in history from the end of the second century BC, and from then to the time of Antoninus Pius, they steadily increased in prominence. The first of the Peducaii to obtain the consulship was Titus Peducaeus in 35 BC.

Lucius Nonius Calpurnius Torquatus Asprenas was a Roman senator of the early Roman Empire, who flourished under the reigns of Nero and Vespasian. He was suffect consul around the year 78.

The gens Rubria was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned in the time of the Gracchi, but they did not rise to prominence until imperial times. The first of the Rubrii to obtain the consulship was Rubrius Gallus, some time before AD 68.

The gens Sallustia, occasionally written Salustia, was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned in the time of Cicero, and from that time they attained particular distinction as statesmen and writers. The most illustrious of the family was the historian Gaius Sallustius Crispus, who wrote valuable works on the Jugurthine War and the Conspiracy of Catiline, which still exist.

Sentia gens Ancient Roman family

The gens Sentia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned in history toward the end of the Republic. The first of the Sentii to obtain the consulship was Gaius Sentius Saturninus, in 19 BC.

The gens Javolena, occasionally found as Javolenia, was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Few members of this gens appear in history, but two of them attained the consulship, one under Domitian, and the other in the time of Antoninus Pius.

References

  1. ↑ CIL XV, 887,03, CIL XV, 887,04, CIL XV, 887,05, et seq.
  2. ↑ Chase, pp. 126, 127.
  3. ↑ New College Latin & English Dictionary, s.v. bellicus.
  4. ↑ Chase, pp. 110, 111.
  5. ↑ New College Latin & English Dictionary, s.v. natalis.
  6. ↑ New College Latin & English Dictionary, s.v. sollers.
  7. ↑ Chase, p. 109.
  8. ↑ Livy, vii. 9, 10.
  9. ↑ AE 1985, 770.
  10. ↑ Gallivan, "The Fasti for the Reign of Nero", pp. 292 ff, 311.
  11. ↑ Fasti Potentini , AE 1949, 23; 2003, 588; 2005, 457.
  12. ↑ Gallivan, "The Fasti for A. D. 70–96", pp. 190, 217.
  13. ↑ Pliny the Younger, Epistulae, v. 4.
  14. ↑ CIL V, 3337, CIL V, 3338 = ILS 1031, CIL V, 3356 = ILS 2710, CIL III, 13250 = ILS 5968.
  15. ↑ AE 1950, 00068, AE 2002, 1762.
  16. ↑ CIL III, 7371, CIL XII, 169.
  17. ↑ Oliver, "The Senatorial but Not Imperial Relatives of Calpurnia Arria", pp. 347–349.
  18. ↑ AE 1940, 62.
  19. ↑ Fasti Ostienses , CIL XIV, 244, AE 1906, 174.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.