Cilnia (gens)
Encyclopedia
The gens Cilnia was an Etruscan family during the time of the Roman Republic
. The 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.
, where they were amongst the local nobility, and may perhaps have held the kingly dignity in ancient times. Their nomen
was originally written Cfelne or Cfenle, which was subsequently Latinized as Cilnius, much as the Etruscan Lecne became Licinius. The Cilnii were driven from their native town by an opposing party in 301 B.C., but were restored by the Romans, and ever afterwards were supporters of Roman interests.
Maecenas, sometimes found as Maecaenas or Maecoenas. They claimed descent from Lars Porsena
, the legendary king of Clusium
, who played a prominent role in the early history of the Roman Republic. The name may be derived from a place, perhaps the same where the wines called the vina Maecenatiana were produced. On Etruscan funerary urns, the names of Cilnius and Maecenas occur separately, but never together, from which Müller concludes that these families did not unite until a later period. At Rome, the family was considered part of the equestrian order. The surnames Paetinus and Proculus are also known to have belonged to members of the Cilnii.
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
. The gens
Gens
In ancient Rome, a gens , plural gentes, referred to a family, consisting of all those individuals who shared the same nomen and claimed descent from a common ancestor. A branch of a gens was called a stirps . The gens was an important social structure at Rome and throughout Italy during the...
is best known from Gaius Cilnius Maecenas
Gaius Maecenas
Gaius Cilnius Maecenas was a confidant and political advisor to Octavian as well as an important patron for the new generation of Augustan poets...
, a trusted friend and advisor of Augustus
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
, who was famous for his immense wealth and patronage of the arts.
Origin of the gens
The Cilnii hailed from the Etruscan town of ArretiumArezzo
Arezzo is a city and comune in Central Italy, capital of the province of the same name, located in Tuscany. Arezzo is about 80 km southeast of Florence, at an elevation of 296 m above sea level. In 2011 the population was about 100,000....
, where they were amongst the local nobility, and may perhaps have held the kingly dignity in ancient times. Their nomen
Roman naming conventions
By the Republican era and throughout the Imperial era, a name in ancient Rome for a male citizen consisted of three parts : praenomen , nomen and cognomen...
was originally written Cfelne or Cfenle, which was subsequently Latinized as Cilnius, much as the Etruscan Lecne became Licinius. The Cilnii were driven from their native town by an opposing party in 301 B.C., but were restored by the Romans, and ever afterwards were supporters of Roman interests.
Branches and cognomina of the gens
The only family of the Cilnii to achieve prominence bore the cognomenCognomen
The cognomen nōmen "name") was the third name of a citizen of Ancient Rome, under Roman naming conventions. The cognomen started as a nickname, but lost that purpose when it became hereditary. Hereditary cognomina were used to augment the second name in order to identify a particular branch within...
Maecenas, sometimes found as Maecaenas or Maecoenas. They claimed descent from Lars Porsena
Lars Porsena
Lars Porsena, in Etruscan Pursenas, was an Etruscan king known for his war against the city of Rome. He ruled over the city of Clusium...
, the legendary king of Clusium
Clusium
Clusium was an ancient city in Italy, one of several found at the site. The current municipality of Chiusi partly overlaps this Roman walled city. The Roman city remodeled an earlier Etruscan city, Clevsin, found in the territory of a prehistoric culture, possibly also Etruscan or proto-Etruscan...
, who played a prominent role in the early history of the Roman Republic. The name may be derived from a place, perhaps the same where the wines called the vina Maecenatiana were produced. On Etruscan funerary urns, the names of Cilnius and Maecenas occur separately, but never together, from which Müller concludes that these families did not unite until a later period. At Rome, the family was considered part of the equestrian order. The surnames Paetinus and Proculus are also known to have belonged to members of the Cilnii.
Members of the gens
- Gaius Cilnius Maecenas, an eques, who was instrumental in putting down the conspiracy of the tribune Marcus Livius DrususMarcus Livius Drusus (tribune)The younger Marcus Livius Drusus, son of Marcus Livius Drusus, was tribune of the plebeians in 91 BC. In the manner of Gaius Gracchus, he set out with comprehensive plans, but his aim was to strengthen senatorial rule...
in 91 B.C.; he was probably the grandfather, or perhaps the father, of the famous Maecenas. - Gaius Cilnius MaecenasGaius MaecenasGaius Cilnius Maecenas was a confidant and political advisor to Octavian as well as an important patron for the new generation of Augustan poets...
, a friend and supporter of OctavianusAugustusAugustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
, afterwards the emperor Augustus, whose trusted advisor he became.