Lucius Nonius Asprenas (fl. 1st century AD) was a Roman Senator who was active in the reigns of Augustus and Tiberius. Asprenas was appointed suffect consul to replace Lucius Arruntius on 1 July AD 6.
A member of the gens Nonii, Asprenas was the son of Lucius Nonius Asprenas, an intimate friend of the emperor Augustus, and Quinctilia, a sister of Publius Quinctilius Varus. [1] His brother was Sextus Nonius Quinctilianus, ordinary consul of the year 8. [2]
In 4 BC, Nonius Asprenas served as a military tribune in Syria under his uncle Varus. [3] In AD 9, Nonius Asprenas was serving as a consular legate in Germania again under Varus. When Varus and his legions perished at the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, Asprenas was in command of two legions at Moguntiacum. [4] Hearing news of the disaster, he led his two legions down the River Rhine to protect the winter camps and rescue the survivors of the battle. However, he was then accused of helping himself to the property of the dead officers. [5]
The accusation did not hurt his career, for in AD 14/15, Nonius Asprenas won the sortition and became proconsular governor of Africa. [6] The historian Tacitus reports that while he was governor, soldiers killed Sempronius Gracchus, then living in exile on the Kerkennah Islands which were part of Asprenas' province; while Tacitus implies the soldiers acted on Tiberius' orders, he notes an alternative version of the story states they were sent by Asprenas "on the authority of Tiberius, who had vainly hoped that the infamy of the murder might be shifted on Asprenas." [7]
Following the trial and execution of Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso in AD 20, Asprenas asked in the Senate why Claudius was not included in an official vote of thanks to those who pursued justice in the death of Germanicus. [8] "It was a probing question," writes Barbara Levick. She concludes, "Asprenas did not venture actually to propose the alteration of the vote of thanks, because he could not be sure how much support such a change would get, but his question showed a flag." [9]
Nonius Asprenas married a daughter of Lucius Calpurnius Piso, Calpurnia L. Pisonis f., and they had three sons: Lucius Nonius Asprenas, suffect consul in AD 29; Publius Nonius Asprenas Calpurnius Serranus, ordinary consul in 38; and Nonius Asprenas Calpurnius Torquatus. [2]
The 20s decade ran from January 1, AD 20, to December 31, AD 29.
Publius Quinctilius Varus was a Roman general and politician under the first Roman emperor Augustus. Varus is generally remembered for having lost three Roman legions when ambushed by Germanic tribes led by Arminius in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, whereupon he killed himself.
Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus was a prominent Roman senator of the early Empire. His tenure as pontifex led him sometimes to be called Lucius Calpurnius Piso Pontifex, to differentiate him from his contemporary, Lucius Calpurnius Piso the Augur, consul in 1 BC. He was a confidant of the emperors Augustus and Tiberius.
Marcus Valerius Messalla Messallinus was a Roman senator who was elected consul for 3 BC.
The gens Calpurnia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome, which first appears in history during the third century BC. The first of the gens to obtain the consulship was Gaius Calpurnius Piso in 180 BC, but from this time their consulships were very frequent, and the family of the Pisones became one of the most illustrious in the Roman state. Two important pieces of Republican legislation, the lex Calpurnia of 149 BC and lex Acilia Calpurnia of 67 BC were passed by members of the gens.
The gens Quinctilia, also written Quintilia, was a patrician family at ancient Rome, dating from the earliest period of Roman history, and continuing well into imperial times. Despite its great antiquity, the gens never attained much historical importance. The only member who obtained the consulship under the Republic was Sextus Quinctilius in 453 BC. The gens produced numerous praetors and other magistrates, but did not obtain the consulship again for over four hundred years.
Marcus Vinicius was twice Roman consul and, as husband of Julia Livilla, grandson-in-law (progener) of the emperor Tiberius. He was the son and grandson of two consuls, Publius Vinicius and Marcus Vinicius.
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Lucius Volusius Saturninus, also known as Lucius Volusius was a Roman Senator from the powerful plebeian Volusia gens, or family. He was a cousin of emperor Tiberius.
Lucius Nonius Calpurnius Torquatus Asprenas was a Roman senator who achieved the office of consul ordinarius twice, first under Domitian and later under Hadrian.
Sextus Nonius Quinctilianus was a Roman Senator. He was appointed consul in AD 8 as the colleague of Marcus Furius Camillus.
Lucius Nonius Asprenas was a Roman Senator active during the Principate. He was notorious for being prosecuted for poisoning a number of people at a dinner party.
Publius Vinicius was a Roman senator active during the reigns of Emperors Augustus and Tiberius. He was the son of Marcus Vinicius, consul in 19 BC.
The gens Nonia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Its members first appear in history toward the end of the Republic. The first of the Nonii to obtain the consulship was Lucius Nonius Asprenas in 36 BC. From then until the end of the fourth century, they regularly held the highest offices of the Roman state.
Publius Nonius Asprenas Caesius Cassianus was a Roman senator who was active in the first century. He was appointed suffect consul by Vespasian in either 72 or 73. Cassianus is known only through inscriptions. He is identified as the son of Publius Nonius Asprenas Calpurnius Serranus, ordinary consul of 38.
Lucius Nonius Asprenas was a Roman senator who flourished during the early 1st century AD. He held the office of suffect consul in AD 29 as the colleague of Aulus Plautius. He was the oldest son of the Lucius Nonius Asprenas and Calpurnia, the daughter of Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus, consul in 15 BC. Asprenas the Younger had two brothers, Publius Nonius Asprenas Calpurnius Serranus, ordinary consul in AD 38, and Nonius Asprenas Calpurnius Torquatus.
Asprenas Calpurnius Serranus was a Roman senator who was active in the first century. He was appointed ordinary consul in 38 as the colleague of Marcus Aquila Julianus. His complete name is Publius Nonius Asprenas Calpurnius Serranus.
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.