Faustus (II) Cornelius Sulla
Encyclopedia
Faustus Cornelius Sulla (49 BC
-9
) was a Roman Republic
general and consul
. The eldest son of the notable Faustus Cornelius Sulla by his wife Pompeia (daughter of Pompey the Great) and a was general of the Legio XVI Gallica
and consul under the Principitate of Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus. Young Faustus Sulla was also the eldest grandson of the Dictator Lucius Cornelius Sulla
Felix. He was born in Arrentium in 49 BC.
Due to his ancestry, Faustus Sulla was in a strong position to succeed in the world of Roman politics. Although his father had supported Pompey in the Civil War, his uncle, the great General Barbatus Cornelius Sulla Albinus was one of Octavian's most loyal adherents, and was instrumental in the Battle of Actium. As the ward of Barbatus, young Faustus was favoured by the Augustan court. From his youth, he was a close friend to the imperial stepson Tiberius Claudius Nero
, and served as his legate in Germania.
Sulla was a natural soldier and, after his stint as Praetor, was given command of the prestigious XVI Legion stationed in Illyrica. He fell out of favour when it became known that he had fathered a child on his illegitimate half-brother's daughter Ulpia, in return for giving his poor relation money. The child was not considered a member of the Patrician Cornelii, and was known as Gnaeus Ulpius Trajanus, after his grandfather and place of birth.
After living in exile in Gades for seven years, Sulla was belatedly awarded the suffect consulship at the age of 56, in partnership with Lucilius Longus in 7 AD. At this point in his life, Sulla's 25-year-old son Lucius had already been consul, and his lack of political recognition had been a source of great embarrassment. His elder son, born Faustus, had been adopted out to his uncle Barbatus, who was almost certain sterile, and was known as Barbatus Cornelius Sulla Albinus Faustullus.
Sulla eventually became a pontifex maximus
, but could not be considered 'Augustified' as he tried to overthrow Octavian (future Roman Emperor
Augustus
) in 9. He was forced to commit suicide, and it is believed that his estate was taken by Octavian.
49 BC
Year 49 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Lentulus and Marcellus...
-9
9
Year 9 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Sabinus and Camerinus...
) was a Roman Republic
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...
general and consul
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
. The eldest son of the notable Faustus Cornelius Sulla by his wife Pompeia (daughter of Pompey the Great) and a was general of the Legio XVI Gallica
Legio XVI Gallica
Legio sexta decima Gallica was a Roman legion. The legion was recruited by Octavian in 41/40 BC, and was disbanded after surrendering during the Batavian rebellion ; Emperor Vespasian created a new legion, the XVI Flavia Firma. The emblem of the legion was probably a lion....
and consul under the Principitate of Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus. Young Faustus Sulla was also the eldest grandson of the Dictator Lucius Cornelius Sulla
Lucius Cornelius Sulla
Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix , known commonly as Sulla, was a Roman general and statesman. He had the rare distinction of holding the office of consul twice, as well as that of dictator...
Felix. He was born in Arrentium in 49 BC.
Due to his ancestry, Faustus Sulla was in a strong position to succeed in the world of Roman politics. Although his father had supported Pompey in the Civil War, his uncle, the great General Barbatus Cornelius Sulla Albinus was one of Octavian's most loyal adherents, and was instrumental in the Battle of Actium. As the ward of Barbatus, young Faustus was favoured by the Augustan court. From his youth, he was a close friend to the imperial stepson Tiberius Claudius Nero
Tiberius
Tiberius , was Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD. Tiberius was by birth a Claudian, son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla. His mother divorced Nero and married Augustus in 39 BC, making him a step-son of Octavian...
, and served as his legate in Germania.
Sulla was a natural soldier and, after his stint as Praetor, was given command of the prestigious XVI Legion stationed in Illyrica. He fell out of favour when it became known that he had fathered a child on his illegitimate half-brother's daughter Ulpia, in return for giving his poor relation money. The child was not considered a member of the Patrician Cornelii, and was known as Gnaeus Ulpius Trajanus, after his grandfather and place of birth.
After living in exile in Gades for seven years, Sulla was belatedly awarded the suffect consulship at the age of 56, in partnership with Lucilius Longus in 7 AD. At this point in his life, Sulla's 25-year-old son Lucius had already been consul, and his lack of political recognition had been a source of great embarrassment. His elder son, born Faustus, had been adopted out to his uncle Barbatus, who was almost certain sterile, and was known as Barbatus Cornelius Sulla Albinus Faustullus.
Sulla eventually became a pontifex maximus
Pontifex Maximus
The Pontifex Maximus was the high priest of the College of Pontiffs in ancient Rome. This was the most important position in the ancient Roman religion, open only to patricians until 254 BC, when a plebeian first occupied this post...
, but could not be considered 'Augustified' as he tried to overthrow Octavian (future Roman Emperor
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
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...
) in 9. He was forced to commit suicide, and it is believed that his estate was taken by Octavian.
Marriages and Children
- First Wife, Junia Albina
- Faustus Cornelius Sulla, adopted as Barbatus Cornelius Sulla Albinus Faustullus
- Lucius Cornelius Sulla FaustusLucius Cornelius Sulla FaustusLucius Cornelius Sulla Faustus, second son of Faustus Cornelius Sulla , Consul under the Principitate of Augustus, was born in Arretium in 30 BC, of the Cornelii Sullae....
- Fausta Sulla
- Proculus Cornelius Sulla Faustus
- Cossus Cornelius Sulla Faustus
- Second Wife, Caecilia Nepos
- Illyricus Cornelius Sulla
- by half-niece Ulpia
- Gnaeus Ulpius Trajanus