Titus Clodius Eprius Marcellus
Encyclopedia
Titus Clodius Eprius Marcellus (committed suicide 79 CE) was a prominent Roman senator
, twice Consul
, best known for his prosecution of the Stoic senator Thrasea Paetus and his bitter quarrel with Helvidius Priscus
. Eprius was also notorious for his ability to ingratiate himself with the reigning Emperors – especially Nero
and Vespasian
– and his hostility to any senatorial opposition, but in the last year of Vespasian, in circumstances that remain obscure, he was accused of treason and committed suicide.
' from a family of no social distinction. He may have benefitted from the patronage of the Emperor Claudius
's powerful minister Lucius Vitellius
, who caused him to be made praetor
for a day - the last day of the year 48. According to an inscription recovered in Paphos
, in the earlier part of his career he commanded a legion, was legate
of Lycia-Pamphylia
(in the period 53-56) and proconsul
of Cyprus
. He was noted as a skilful but fierce and angry orator who 'blazed with his eyes, countenance and voice'. He was one of the suffect consuls of the year 62. At the trial of Thrasea Paetus on a trumped-up charge of treason Eprius was the principal prosecutor, asserting that Thrasea was a traitor to Roman tradition and religion. This was held against him by Thrasea’s son-in-law Helvidius Priscus, who in 68 impeached Eprius, but dropped the charge, as the condemnation of Eprius would have involved a number of other senators. In December 69, when Vespasian had just gained victory in the civil war of that year, Helvidius, as praetor-elect, attacked Eprius’s former conduct in the Senate; Eprius defended himself vigorously as one of those loyal servants 'who had striven to serve the State under bad Emperors'. It was, he said, 'all very well to emulate Brutus
and Cato
in fortitude: but one was only a senator, and they had all been slaves together.'
In the sequel he rose to become one of Vespasian’s closest friends and advisers. In 70-73 he held the Proconsulate of Asia
, anomalously extended to three years, then returned to Rome for his second suffect consulship in 74. At this time Helvidius Priscus was banished and later murdered, supposedly against Vespasian's wish, a process in which some saw the hand of Eprius. In 79 he was apparently involved in plotting with the former Vitellian
general Aulus Caecina Alienus
against the Flavian dynasty. Arraigned before the senate and condemned, Eprius cut his own throat with a razor.
Roman Senate
The Senate of the Roman Republic was a political institution in the ancient Roman Republic, however, it was not an elected body, but one whose members were appointed by the consuls, and later by the censors. After a magistrate served his term in office, it usually was followed with automatic...
, twice 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...
, best known for his prosecution of the Stoic senator Thrasea Paetus and his bitter quarrel with Helvidius Priscus
Helvidius Priscus
Helvidius Priscus, Stoic philosopher and statesman, lived during the reigns of Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitellius and Vespasian.Like his father-in-law, Thrasea Paetus, he was distinguished for his ardent and courageous republicanism. Although he repeatedly offended his rulers, he held several high offices...
. Eprius was also notorious for his ability to ingratiate himself with the reigning Emperors – especially 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....
and 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...
– and his hostility to any senatorial opposition, but in the last year of Vespasian, in circumstances that remain obscure, he was accused of treason and committed suicide.
Career
Eprius was 'said to have been born in CapuaCapua
Capua is a city and comune in the province of Caserta, Campania, southern Italy, situated 25 km north of Naples, on the northeastern edge of the Campanian plain. Ancient Capua was situated where Santa Maria Capua Vetere is now...
' from a family of no social distinction. He may have benefitted from the patronage of 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...
's powerful minister Lucius Vitellius
Lucius Vitellius
Lucius Vitellius the Elder was the youngest of four sons of quaestor Publius Vitellius and the only one that did not die through politics. Under Emperor Tiberius, he was Consul in 34 and Governor of Syria in 35. He deposed Pontius Pilate in 36 after complaints from the people in Samaria...
, who caused him to be made 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...
for a day - the last day of the year 48. According to an inscription recovered in Paphos
Paphos
Paphos , sometimes referred to as Pafos, is a coastal city in the southwest of Cyprus and the capital of Paphos District. In antiquity, two locations were called Paphos: Old Paphos and New Paphos. The currently inhabited city is New Paphos. It lies on the Mediterranean coast, about west of the...
, in the earlier part of his career he commanded a legion, was 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...
of Lycia-Pamphylia
Lycia et Pamphylia
Lycia et Pamphylia was the name of a province of the Roman empire, located in southern Anatolia. It was created by the emperor Vespasianus , who merged Lycia, which was organized as a province in AD 43 by Claudius, and Pamphylia, which was a part of the province of Galatia, into a single...
(in the period 53-56) and proconsul
Proconsul
A proconsul was a governor of a province in the Roman Republic appointed for one year by the senate. In modern usage, the title has been used for a person from one country ruling another country or bluntly interfering in another country's internal affairs.-Ancient Rome:In the Roman Republic, a...
of Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
. He was noted as a skilful but fierce and angry orator who 'blazed with his eyes, countenance and voice'. He was one of the suffect consuls of the year 62. At the trial of Thrasea Paetus on a trumped-up charge of treason Eprius was the principal prosecutor, asserting that Thrasea was a traitor to Roman tradition and religion. This was held against him by Thrasea’s son-in-law Helvidius Priscus, who in 68 impeached Eprius, but dropped the charge, as the condemnation of Eprius would have involved a number of other senators. In December 69, when Vespasian had just gained victory in the civil war of that year, Helvidius, as praetor-elect, attacked Eprius’s former conduct in the Senate; Eprius defended himself vigorously as one of those loyal servants 'who had striven to serve the State under bad Emperors'. It was, he said, 'all very well to emulate Brutus
Marcus Junius Brutus
Marcus Junius Brutus , often referred to as Brutus, was a politician of the late Roman Republic. After being adopted by his uncle he used the name Quintus Servilius Caepio Brutus, but eventually returned to using his original name...
and Cato
Cato the Younger
Marcus Porcius Cato Uticensis , commonly known as Cato the Younger to distinguish him from his great-grandfather , was a politician and statesman in the late Roman Republic, and a follower of the Stoic philosophy...
in fortitude: but one was only a senator, and they had all been slaves together.'
In the sequel he rose to become one of Vespasian’s closest friends and advisers. In 70-73 he held the Proconsulate of Asia
Proconsul
A proconsul was a governor of a province in the Roman Republic appointed for one year by the senate. In modern usage, the title has been used for a person from one country ruling another country or bluntly interfering in another country's internal affairs.-Ancient Rome:In the Roman Republic, a...
, anomalously extended to three years, then returned to Rome for his second suffect consulship in 74. At this time Helvidius Priscus was banished and later murdered, supposedly against Vespasian's wish, a process in which some saw the hand of Eprius. In 79 he was apparently involved in plotting with the former Vitellian
Vitellius
Vitellius , was Roman Emperor for eight months, from 16 April to 22 December 69. Vitellius was acclaimed Emperor following the quick succession of the previous emperors Galba and Otho, in a year of civil war known as the Year of the Four Emperors...
general Aulus Caecina Alienus
Aulus Caecina Alienus
Aulus Caecina Alienus, Roman general, was born in Vicetia .He was quaestor of Hispania Baetica in AD 68. On the death of Nero, he attached himself to Galba, who appointed him to the command of Legio IV Macedonica at Mogontiacum in Germania Superior...
against the Flavian dynasty. Arraigned before the senate and condemned, Eprius cut his own throat with a razor.