Lucius Pomponius (Secundus)
Encyclopedia
Quintus Pomponius Secundus was a Roman
aristocrat of the 1st century AD, and brother of the poet and statesman Publius Pomponius Secundus
.
During the reign of Tiberius
, the Pomponii Secundi were caught up in the political intrigues surrounding the downfall of Sejanus
, a close advisor of the emperor, who was suspected of plotting to make himself the master of Rome in the emperor's absence. His downfall occurred in October of AD 31, when he held the honor of the consulship
, giving him effective control of the government. One of his associates, a man named Aelius Gallus, fled to the house of Publius Pomponius, in the hope that his friend could protect him. On the basis of this friendship, Pomponius was one of those accused by Considius Proculus, a former praetor
, of plotting revolution. Publius was imprisoned, and his brother, Quintus, gave surety on his behalf.
In AD 33, Considius was indicted for treason, carried off and executed while he had been celebrating his birthday. Quintus Pomponius brought an accusation against Considius' sister, Sancia, who was herself interdicted from fire and water. Pomponius asserted that his accusation was motivated by a desire to obtain the emperor's favor and ensure the safety of his brother, Publius, who nonetheless seems to have languished in prison until the death of Tiberius. Under Caligula
Publius was released, and even raised to the consulship in 41; in the reign of Claudius
, he was made the emperor's legate
in Germania
, celebrating a triumph over the Chatti
in AD 50.
In AD 41, Quintus Pomponius was appointed consul suffectus ex. vii. id. Jan. A scant two weeks into his consulship, Caligula was assassinated, along with various members of his household, including his wife, Milonia Caesonia, who was a sister of Quintus and Publius. Quintus, whom Cassius Dio describes unflatteringly as a syncophant of the emperor, managed to evade death at the hands of the Praetorian Guard
.
The following year, Publius Suillius Rufus, also a half-brother of the Pomponii, accused Marcus Furius Camillus Scribonianus
, the consul of AD 32, and his mother, Junia, of consulting astrologers to determine the time of the emperor's death. They were exiled, and in Dalmatia
Camillus took up arms against the emperor. Quintus Pomponius was also accused by Suillius, and joined the revolt, which was crushed after only five days. Camillus was permitted to live in exile for some years; Pomponius' fate is unknown, although his brother remained in the emperor's favor.
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
aristocrat of the 1st century AD, and brother of the poet and statesman Publius Pomponius Secundus
Pomponius Secundus
Publius Pomponius Secundus was a distinguished statesman and poet in the reigns of Tiberius, Caligula, and Claudius. He was on intimate terms with the elder Plinius, who wrote a biography of him, now lost.-Family:...
.
During the reign of Tiberius
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...
, the Pomponii Secundi were caught up in the political intrigues surrounding the downfall of Sejanus
Sejanus
Lucius Aelius Seianus , commonly known as Sejanus, was an ambitious soldier, friend and confidant of the Roman Emperor Tiberius...
, a close advisor of the emperor, who was suspected of plotting to make himself the master of Rome in the emperor's absence. His downfall occurred in October of AD 31, when he held the honor of the consulship
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...
, giving him effective control of the government. One of his associates, a man named Aelius Gallus, fled to the house of Publius Pomponius, in the hope that his friend could protect him. On the basis of this friendship, Pomponius was one of those accused by Considius Proculus, a former praetor
Praetor
Praetor was a title granted by the government of Ancient Rome to men acting in one of two official capacities: the commander of an army, usually in the field, or the named commander before mustering the army; and an elected magistratus assigned varied duties...
, of plotting revolution. Publius was imprisoned, and his brother, Quintus, gave surety on his behalf.
In AD 33, Considius was indicted for treason, carried off and executed while he had been celebrating his birthday. Quintus Pomponius brought an accusation against Considius' sister, Sancia, who was herself interdicted from fire and water. Pomponius asserted that his accusation was motivated by a desire to obtain the emperor's favor and ensure the safety of his brother, Publius, who nonetheless seems to have languished in prison until the death of Tiberius. Under 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...
Publius was released, and even raised to the consulship in 41; in the reign of Claudius
Claudius
Claudius , was Roman Emperor from 41 to 54. A member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, he was the son of Drusus and Antonia Minor. He was born at Lugdunum in Gaul and was the first Roman Emperor to be born outside Italy...
, he was made the emperor's legate
Legatus
A legatus was a general in the Roman army, equivalent to a modern general officer. Being of senatorial rank, his immediate superior was the dux, and he outranked all military tribunes...
in Germania
Germania
Germania was the Greek and Roman geographical term for the geographical regions inhabited by mainly by peoples considered to be Germani. It was most often used to refer especially to the east of the Rhine and north of the Danube...
, celebrating a triumph over the Chatti
Chatti
The Chatti were an ancient Germanic tribe whose homeland was near the upper Weser. They settled in central and northern Hesse and southern Lower Saxony, along the upper reaches of the Weser River and in the valleys and mountains of the Eder, Fulda and Weser River regions, a district approximately...
in AD 50.
In AD 41, Quintus Pomponius was appointed consul suffectus ex. vii. id. Jan. A scant two weeks into his consulship, Caligula was assassinated, along with various members of his household, including his wife, Milonia Caesonia, who was a sister of Quintus and Publius. Quintus, whom Cassius Dio describes unflatteringly as a syncophant of the emperor, managed to evade death at the hands of the Praetorian Guard
Praetorian Guard
The Praetorian Guard was a force of bodyguards used by Roman Emperors. The title was already used during the Roman Republic for the guards of Roman generals, at least since the rise to prominence of the Scipio family around 275 BC...
.
The following year, Publius Suillius Rufus, also a half-brother of the Pomponii, accused Marcus Furius Camillus Scribonianus
Lucius Arruntius Camillus Scribonianus
Lucius Arruntius Camillus Scribonianus was a Roman usurper who attempted to overthrow the newly installed Emperor Claudius in 41 CE.- Career :...
, the consul of AD 32, and his mother, Junia, of consulting astrologers to determine the time of the emperor's death. They were exiled, and in Dalmatia
Dalmatia (Roman province)
Dalmatia was an ancient Roman province. Its name is probably derived from the name of an Illyrian tribe called the Dalmatae which lived in the area of the eastern Adriatic coast in Classical antiquity....
Camillus took up arms against the emperor. Quintus Pomponius was also accused by Suillius, and joined the revolt, which was crushed after only five days. Camillus was permitted to live in exile for some years; Pomponius' fate is unknown, although his brother remained in the emperor's favor.