Flavius Caecina Decius Basilius (floruit 458-468) was a politician of the Western Roman Empire

Western Roman Empire

The Western Roman Empire was the western half of the Roman Empire after its division by Diocletian in 285; the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire, commonly referred to today as the Byzantine Empire....

, Consul

Roman consul

A consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic.Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. Each consul was given veto power over his colleague and the officials would alternate each month...

 and twice Praetorian prefect of Italy.

Biography

Basilius belonged to the Italian nobility, and was member of the influential gens Caecina

Caecina (gens)

Caecina was the name of an Etruscan family of Volaterrae, one of the ancient cities of Etruria. Persons of this gens are first mentioned in the 1st century BC. Under the Empire the name is of frequent occurrence...

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He was Praetorian prefect of Italy in 458, under Emperor Majorian

Majorian

Majorian , was the Western Roman Emperor from 457 to 461.A prominent general of the Late Roman army, Majorian deposed Emperor Avitus in 457 and succeeded him. Majorian was one of the last emperors to make a concerted effort to restore the Western Roman Empire...

. Emperor Libius Severus

Libius Severus

Flavius Libius Severus Serpentius was Western Roman Emperor from November 19, 461 to his death.A Roman senator from Lucania Severus was one of the last Western Emperors, emptied of any effective power , and unable to solve the many problems affecting the Empire; the sources...

 (461-465) honoured Basilius with the consulate

Roman consul

A consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic.Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. Each consul was given veto power over his colleague and the officials would alternate each month...

 of the year 463 (year in which he already was Patricius), nominating him also Praetorian prefect of Italy, a position Basilius held until 465.

The Gallic-Roman poet Sidonius Apollinaris

Sidonius Apollinaris

Gaius Sollius Apollinaris Sidonius or Saint Sidonius Apollinaris was a poet, diplomat, and bishop. Sidonius is "the single most important surviving author from fifth-century Gaul" according to Eric Goldberg...

, arrived in Rome in 467 to bring a petition of his people, tells that Basilius was one of the two most influential civil officers in Rome in the 460s, together with Gennadius Avienus

Gennadius Avienus

Gennadius Avienus was an influential politician of the Western Roman Empire.- Biography :Avienus was member of an ancient and noble Roman family, which traced back its origins to the Consul of year 59, Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus...

. Sidonius asked Basilius' help, as he needed to bring his petition to Emperor Anthemius

Anthemius

Procopius Anthemius was Western Roman Emperor from 467 to 472. Perhaps the last capable Western Roman Emperor, Anthemius attempted to solve the two primary military challenges facing the remains of the Western Roman Empire: the resurgent Visigoths, under Euric, whose domain straddled the Pyrenees;...

; Basilius suggested him to compose a panegyric

Panegyric

A panegyric is a formal public speech, or written verse, delivered in high praise of a person or thing, a generally highly studied and discriminating eulogy, not expected to be critical. It is derived from the Greek πανηγυρικός meaning "a speech fit for a general assembly"...

 in honour of the Emperor, in occasion of the beginning of Anthemius' consulate (January 1, 468). After the declamation, Basilius interceded with Anthemius for Sidonius, and the Emperor made the Gallic-Roman poet a senator, a Patricius and Praefectus urbi

Praefectus urbi

The praefectus urbanus or praefectus urbi, in English the urban prefect, was prefect of the city of Rome, and later also of Constantinople. The office originated under the Roman kings, continued during the Republic and Empire, and held high importance in late Antiquity...

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Basilius had three sons, all of them Consuls: Caecina Mavortius Basilius Decius

Caecina Mavortius Basilius Decius

Caecina Mavortius Basilius Decius was a Roman politician under Odoacer's rule. He was consul and Praefectus urbi of Rome in 486 and Praetorian prefect of Italy from 486 to 493.- Life :...

 (Consul in 486), Decius Marius Venantius Basilius

Decius Marius Venantius Basilius

Decius Marius Venantius Basilius was a Roman official under Odoacer's rule.- Biography :He was the son of Caecina Decius Basilius and the brother of Caecina Mavortius Basilius Decius and of Caecina Decius Maximus Basilius, all of them Consuls...

 (consul in 484), and Basilius iunior (consul in 480), identified with Caecina Decius Maximus Basilius

Caecina Decius Maximus Basilius

Caecina Decius Maximus Basilius , was a Roman politician. He was the first consul appointed under Odoacer's rule , and afterwards was Praetorian prefect of Italy. He is best known for presiding over the papal election of Pope Felix III....

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