Marcus Arrecinus Clemens (prefect 70)
Encyclopedia
Marcus Arrecinus Clemens (fl
1st century), was a prefect
of the Roman
imperial bodyguard
, known as the Praetorian Guard
.
Clemens came from obscure origins and according to the historian Suetonius
, his family were of Equestrian
rank. He was the namesake of his father. Clemens' mother could have been named Julia and his sister was Arrecina Tertulla
, who became the first wife of the future Emperor Titus
. There is a possibility that Clemens would be related to the paternal side of Vespasian
. Vespasian's paternal grandmother bore the cognomen Tertulla and this cognomen was also bore by his sister and paternal grandmother.
Clemens served as prefect in the early reign of Emperor
Vespasian
, from 70 until 71. Clemens acceded to this position by appointment of Vespasian's political ally, Gaius Licinius Mucianus
, amidst concerns that his predecessor Arrius Varus was growing too influential. According to Tacitus
, Clemens was chosen because his father, also named Marcus Arrecinus Clemens
, had honourably commanded the Guard during the reign of Emperor Caligula
in 38.
In June of 71, he was replaced by Vespasian's eldest son Titus
. He held two suffect consulships
, in 73 and 85, respectively, governed the province of Hispania Tarraconensis
in between this period, and was finally made city prefect of Rome in 86. It is believed he died during the reign of Titus' brother Domitian
.
Floruit
Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
1st century), was a prefect
Praetorian prefect
Praetorian prefect was the title of a high office in the Roman Empire. Originating as the commander of the Praetorian Guard, the office gradually acquired extensive legal and administrative functions, with its holders becoming the Emperor's chief aides...
of the Roman
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....
imperial bodyguard
Bodyguard
A bodyguard is a type of security operative or government agent who protects a person—usually a famous, wealthy, or politically important figure—from assault, kidnapping, assassination, stalking, loss of confidential information, terrorist attack or other threats.Most important public figures such...
, known as 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...
.
Clemens came from obscure origins and according to the historian Suetonius
Suetonius
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, commonly known as Suetonius , was a Roman historian belonging to the equestrian order in the early Imperial era....
, his family were of Equestrian
Equestrian (Roman)
The Roman equestrian order constituted the lower of the two aristocratic classes of ancient Rome, ranking below the patricians , a hereditary caste that monopolised political power during the regal era and during the early Republic . A member of the equestrian order was known as an eques...
rank. He was the namesake of his father. Clemens' mother could have been named Julia and his sister was Arrecina Tertulla
Arrecina Tertulla
Arrecina Tertulla was a Roman woman that lived in the 1st century. She came from obscure origins and her family were of Equestrian rank.Tertulla’s father was called Marcus Arrecinus Clemens. Clemens was an honourable Praetorian Prefect, that served in 38 in the reign of Emperor Caligula...
, who became the first wife of the future Emperor Titus
Titus
Titus , was Roman Emperor from 79 to 81. A member of the Flavian dynasty, Titus succeeded his father Vespasian upon his death, thus becoming the first Roman Emperor to come to the throne after his own father....
. There is a possibility that Clemens would be related to the paternal side of Vespasian
Vespasian
Vespasian , was Roman Emperor from 69 AD to 79 AD. Vespasian was the founder of the Flavian dynasty, which ruled the Empire for a quarter century. Vespasian was descended from a family of equestrians, who rose into the senatorial rank under the Emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty...
. Vespasian's paternal grandmother bore the cognomen Tertulla and this cognomen was also bore by his sister and paternal grandmother.
Clemens served as prefect in the early reign of 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...
Vespasian
Vespasian
Vespasian , was Roman Emperor from 69 AD to 79 AD. Vespasian was the founder of the Flavian dynasty, which ruled the Empire for a quarter century. Vespasian was descended from a family of equestrians, who rose into the senatorial rank under the Emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty...
, from 70 until 71. Clemens acceded to this position by appointment of Vespasian's political ally, Gaius Licinius Mucianus
Mucianus
Gaius Licinius Mucianus was a general, statesman and writer of ancient Rome.His name shows that he had passed by adoption from the gens Mucia to the gens Licinia. He was sent by Claudius to Armenia with Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo. Under Nero he is recorded as suffect consul ca...
, amidst concerns that his predecessor Arrius Varus was growing too influential. According to Tacitus
Tacitus
Publius Cornelius Tacitus was a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire. The surviving portions of his two major works—the Annals and the Histories—examine the reigns of the Roman Emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero and those who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors...
, Clemens was chosen because his father, also named Marcus Arrecinus Clemens
Marcus Arrecinus Clemens (prefect 38)
Marcus Arrecinus Clemens was a prefect of the Roman imperial bodyguard, known as the Praetorian Guard.Born in Pisaurum, Italy, Clemens came from obscure origins and according to the historian Suetonius, his family were of Equestrian rank...
, had honourably commanded the Guard during the reign of Emperor 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...
in 38.
In June of 71, he was replaced by Vespasian's eldest son Titus
Titus
Titus , was Roman Emperor from 79 to 81. A member of the Flavian dynasty, Titus succeeded his father Vespasian upon his death, thus becoming the first Roman Emperor to come to the throne after his own father....
. He held two suffect consulships
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 73 and 85, respectively, governed the province of Hispania Tarraconensis
Hispania Tarraconensis
Hispania Tarraconensis was one of three Roman provinces in Hispania. It encompassed much of the Mediterranean coast of Spain along with the central plateau. Southern Spain, the region now called Andalusia, was the province of Hispania Baetica...
in between this period, and was finally made city prefect of Rome in 86. It is believed he died during the reign of Titus' brother Domitian
Domitian
Domitian was Roman Emperor from 81 to 96. Domitian was the third and last emperor of the Flavian dynasty.Domitian's youth and early career were largely spent in the shadow of his brother Titus, who gained military renown during the First Jewish-Roman War...
.