Gaius Calvisius Sabinus (consul AD 26)
Encyclopedia
Gaius Calvisius Sabinus was consul
in AD 26 with Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Gaetulicus
. During the reign of Caligula
, he was accused of conspiring against the emperor, and took his own life rather than submit to a trial.
. This was the year in which Tiberius left Rome for Campania
, never to return. On the Kalends of July, the consuls were replaced by Quintus Marcius Barea
and Titus Rustius Nummius Gallus.
Tiberius' removal from Rome may have been influenced by his advisor Sejanus
. He fell from power and was executed during his own consulship, in AD 31. The following year, Calvisius and three other men of consular rank were accused of maiestas. One of the informers, a tribune of a city cohort by the name of Celsus, gave testimony that exculpated Calvisius and Appius Junius Silanus, consul in AD 28. Tiberius deferred action against the other two, Gaius Annius Pollio and Mamercus Aemilius Scaurus
.
During the reign of Caligula
, Calvisius was appointed governor
of Pannonia
, and given the command of two legions. The emperor, who suspected Calvisius and his wife of plotting against him, recalled the governor in AD 39, and brought charges against both. Cornelia was accused of entering the camp at night dressed as a soldier, interfering with the guard, and committing adultery in the general's headquarters. As their condemnation was certain, they put an end to their own lives before the trial could begin.
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...
in AD 26 with Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Gaetulicus
Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Gaetulicus
Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Gaetulicus was a Roman general and politician. He was involved in a plot against the emperor Caligula and was executed after its discovery.-Biography:...
. During the reign of Caligula
Caligula
Caligula , also known as Gaius, was Roman Emperor from 37 AD to 41 AD. Caligula was a member of the house of rulers conventionally known as the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Caligula's father Germanicus, the nephew and adopted son of Emperor Tiberius, was a very successful general and one of Rome's most...
, he was accused of conspiring against the emperor, and took his own life rather than submit to a trial.
Family
Calvisius was probably the son of Gaius Calvisius Sabinus, consul in 4 BC, and grandson of Gaius Calvisius Sabinus, consul in 39 BC. His wife, Cornelia, may have been the sister of Cornelius Lentulus, Calvisius' colleague in the consulship.Career
Calvisius and Cornelius were named consules ordinarii for AD 26, the thirteenth year of the emperor TiberiusTiberius
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...
. This was the year in which Tiberius left Rome for Campania
Campania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
, never to return. On the Kalends of July, the consuls were replaced by Quintus Marcius Barea
Barea Soranus
Quintus Marcius Barea Soranus was a Roman Senator in the 1st century. Soranus was from the gens Marcius. He was the son of Quintus Marcius Barea, who was Suffect Consul in 26 and was twice Proconsul of the Africa Province. Barea during his time in Africa was based in Leptis Magna...
and Titus Rustius Nummius Gallus.
Tiberius' removal from Rome may have been influenced by his advisor Sejanus
Sejanus
Lucius Aelius Seianus , commonly known as Sejanus, was an ambitious soldier, friend and confidant of the Roman Emperor Tiberius...
. He fell from power and was executed during his own consulship, in AD 31. The following year, Calvisius and three other men of consular rank were accused of maiestas. One of the informers, a tribune of a city cohort by the name of Celsus, gave testimony that exculpated Calvisius and Appius Junius Silanus, consul in AD 28. Tiberius deferred action against the other two, Gaius Annius Pollio and Mamercus Aemilius Scaurus
Mamercus Aemilius Scaurus
Mamercus Aemilius Scaurus was a Roman rhetorician, poet and senator, son of Marcus Aemilius Scaurus. He was a member of the senate in 14 AD at the time of Tiberius' accession to the throne.He first married Aemilia Lepida. Later he married Sextia...
.
During the reign of Caligula
Caligula
Caligula , also known as Gaius, was Roman Emperor from 37 AD to 41 AD. Caligula was a member of the house of rulers conventionally known as the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Caligula's father Germanicus, the nephew and adopted son of Emperor Tiberius, was a very successful general and one of Rome's most...
, Calvisius was appointed governor
Roman governor
A Roman governor was an official either elected or appointed to be the chief administrator of Roman law throughout one or more of the many provinces constituting the Roman Empire...
of Pannonia
Pannonia
Pannonia was an ancient province of the Roman Empire bounded north and east by the Danube, coterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, and southward with Dalmatia and upper Moesia....
, and given the command of two legions. The emperor, who suspected Calvisius and his wife of plotting against him, recalled the governor in AD 39, and brought charges against both. Cornelia was accused of entering the camp at night dressed as a soldier, interfering with the guard, and committing adultery in the general's headquarters. As their condemnation was certain, they put an end to their own lives before the trial could begin.