Marcus Junius Silanus Torquatus
Encyclopedia
Marcus Junius M. f. M. n. Silanus Torquatus (AD 14-54), was the eldest son of Marcus Junius Silanus Torquatus
and Aemilia Lepida
. His mother was the great-granddaughter of the emperor Augustus
. As a member of the imperial family, Silanus could therefore be considered a possible candidate for the succession. Although he was honoured with a consulship by the Emperor Claudius
in 46, according to Cassius Dio (60.1), and he served his proconsulship as Governor of the Province of Asia, Torquatus did not survive the death of that Emperor, whom the historian Tacitus hints was speeded on his way to Godhood by consuming funghi porcini doused with a dose of poison [infusum delectabili cibo boleto venenum]—said to have been administered at the instigation of the emperor's fourth wife, Agrippina the Younger
. (Annales
12.57; cf. Suetonius
, 'Deified Claudius' 44). Although Tacitus exonerates the young Emperor Nero
of Torquatus' death, the 'first crime of the new principate,' (Ann. 13.1), the historian casts Agrippina, Nero's mother, as the architect of the murder, on the grounds that she feared that Torquatus would act as the avenger of his brother's death, of which, Tacitus implies, she was the perpetrator (Agrippina fratri eius L. Silano necem molita ultorem metuebat [Ann. 13.1]). As with Claudius, poison was the means to Torquatus' end; the epitomator of Dio Cassius' 'Roman History' even tells us that Agrippina sent Torquatus the same poison with which she dispatched her late husband (61.4); and Tacitus informs us that the lethal drug was administered by a Roman of the Equestrian class named P. Celer, with the aid of a freed slave named Helius. The pair committed the crime openly, and the Province of Asia eventually prosecuted Celer for this deed, among others; moreover, according to Tacitus, Nero saw to it that the prosecution was delayed to such an extent that Celer died of old age (Ann. 13.33).
Torquatus' son, Lucius Junius Silanus Torquatus
, whom Tacitus calls a young man of moderation (modesta iuventa [Ann. 16.7]), was considered a threat on similar grounds as his father had been, and informers soon cooked up a conspiracy implicating him and his aunt Junia Calvina
on charges of magic rites and incest (Ann. 16.10). Upon being exiled to Bari
, he was set upon by a centurion
and some guards. Young Silanus, however, did not open his veins, when invited to do so; he went down fighting with his fists, and Tacitus notes that the centurion was forced to run him through with his sword; his fatal wound, according to the historian, was in front [Ann. 16.9].
Marcus Junius Silanus Torquatus (consul AD 19)
Marcus Junius M. f. M. n. Silanus Torquatus was consul in AD 19 with Lucius Norbanus Balbus.-Biography:Silanus was a descendant of the noble Roman house of the Junii Silani. His grandfather was Marcus Junius Silanus, consul with the emperor Augustus in 25 BC...
and Aemilia Lepida
Aemilia Lepida
Aemilia Lepida is a Roman woman belonging to the gens Aemilia. All but the first Aemilia Lepida lived in the imperial era. The name was given to daughters of men belonging to the Lepidus branch of the gens Aemilia. The first Aemilia Lepida to be mentioned by Roman historians was the former fiancee...
. His mother was the great-granddaughter of 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...
. As a member of the imperial family, Silanus could therefore be considered a possible candidate for the succession. Although he was honoured with a consulship by the Emperor 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...
in 46, according to Cassius Dio (60.1), and he served his proconsulship as Governor of the Province of Asia, Torquatus did not survive the death of that Emperor, whom the historian Tacitus hints was speeded on his way to Godhood by consuming funghi porcini doused with a dose of poison [infusum delectabili cibo boleto venenum]—said to have been administered at the instigation of the emperor's fourth wife, Agrippina the Younger
Agrippina the Younger
Julia Agrippina, most commonly referred to as Agrippina Minor or Agrippina the Younger, and after 50 known as Julia Augusta Agrippina was a Roman Empress and one of the more prominent women in the Julio-Claudian dynasty...
. (Annales
Annales
Annals or annales are a concise form of historical writing which record events chronologically, year by year.-List of Annales:*Annales , an epic poem by Quintus Ennius covering Roman history from the fall of Troy down to the censorship of Cato the Elder* Annals Ab excessu divi Augusti "Following...
12.57; cf. Suetonius
Suetonius
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, commonly known as Suetonius , was a Roman historian belonging to the equestrian order in the early Imperial era....
, 'Deified Claudius' 44). Although Tacitus exonerates the young Emperor Nero
Nero
Nero , was Roman Emperor from 54 to 68, and the last in the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Nero was adopted by his great-uncle Claudius to become his heir and successor, and succeeded to the throne in 54 following Claudius' death....
of Torquatus' death, the 'first crime of the new principate,' (Ann. 13.1), the historian casts Agrippina, Nero's mother, as the architect of the murder, on the grounds that she feared that Torquatus would act as the avenger of his brother's death, of which, Tacitus implies, she was the perpetrator (Agrippina fratri eius L. Silano necem molita ultorem metuebat [Ann. 13.1]). As with Claudius, poison was the means to Torquatus' end; the epitomator of Dio Cassius' 'Roman History' even tells us that Agrippina sent Torquatus the same poison with which she dispatched her late husband (61.4); and Tacitus informs us that the lethal drug was administered by a Roman of the Equestrian class named P. Celer, with the aid of a freed slave named Helius. The pair committed the crime openly, and the Province of Asia eventually prosecuted Celer for this deed, among others; moreover, according to Tacitus, Nero saw to it that the prosecution was delayed to such an extent that Celer died of old age (Ann. 13.33).
Torquatus' son, Lucius Junius Silanus Torquatus
Lucius Junius Silanus Torquatus
In the 1st century, lived two noblemen uncle and nephew, that shared the name Lucius Junius Silanus Torquatus who were two descendants of Roman Emperor Augustus....
, whom Tacitus calls a young man of moderation (modesta iuventa [Ann. 16.7]), was considered a threat on similar grounds as his father had been, and informers soon cooked up a conspiracy implicating him and his aunt Junia Calvina
Junia Calvina
Junia Calvina was a noble Roman woman. She was the first born daughter and among the children of Aemilia Lepida and Marcus Junius Silanus Torquatus, a member of the Junii Silani, a family of Ancient Rome. Her maternal grandparents were the princess Julia the Younger and consul Lucius Aemilius...
on charges of magic rites and incest (Ann. 16.10). Upon being exiled to Bari
Bari
Bari is the capital city of the province of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, in Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy after Naples, and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the city of Saint Nicholas...
, he was set upon by a centurion
Centurion
A centurion was a professional officer of the Roman army .Centurion may also refer to:-Military:* Centurion tank, British battle tank* HMS Centurion, name of several ships and a shore base of the British Royal Navy...
and some guards. Young Silanus, however, did not open his veins, when invited to do so; he went down fighting with his fists, and Tacitus notes that the centurion was forced to run him through with his sword; his fatal wound, according to the historian, was in front [Ann. 16.9].