Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus

Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus
Marble relief of Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus (center right) with EmperorMarcus Aureliusin theCapitoline MuseumsinRome
Consulof theRoman Empire
In office 173 AD – 173 AD Serving withGnaeus Claudius Severus
Preceded by	Servius Calpurnius Scipio OrfitusandSextus Quintilius Maximus
Succeeded by	Lucius Aurelius GallusandQuintus Volusius Flaccus Cornelianus
Military GovernorofPannonia Inferior
In office 164 AD – 168 AD
Suffect Consulof theRoman Empire
In office 162 AD – 162 AD Serving withTiberius Claudius Paullinus
Preceded by	Junius RusticusandLucius Titius Plautius Aquilinus
Succeeded by	Marcus Insteius Bithynicusandignotus
Personal details
Born	125 AD Antioch,Syria,Roman Empire (modern-dayAntakya,Hatay,Turkey)
Died	193 AD (aged 68) Rome,Roman Empire (modern-dayRome,Italy)
Spouse	Lucilla(m.169;d.182)
Children	Lucius Aurelius Commodus Pompeianus, Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus Quintianus

Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus(Greek:Πομπηιανός;c.125 – 193 AD) was apoliticianandmilitary commanderduring the 2nd century in theRoman Empire.A general under EmperorMarcus Aurelius,Pompeianus distinguished himself during Rome's wars against theParthiansand theMarcomanni.He was a member of the imperial family due to his marriage toLucilla,a daughter of Marcus Aurelius, and was a key figure during the emperor's reign. Pompeianus was offered the imperial throne three times, though he refused to claim the title for himself.

Early life

A native ofAntiochinSyria,Pompeianus was from relatively humble origins. His father was a member of theequestrian order.As indicated by his name, his family first gainedRoman citizenshipduring the reign of EmperorClaudius.Pompeianus was anovus homo( "new man" ) as he was the first member of his family to be appointed as asenator.

Much of Pompeianus' early life has been lost to history. He participated in theRoman–Parthian War of 161–166under the command of EmperorLucius Verus,likely as alegionary commander.Sometime prior to the Parthian campaign, he was elevated to the rank of senator. He served with distinction during the war, earning him appointment assuffect consulfor the remainder of the year 162 AD.

Marcomannic Wars

Further information:Marcomannic Wars

Following the completion the Parthian campaign, EmperorMarcus Aureliusappointed himmilitary governorofPannonia Inferioron the empire's northern frontier along theDanube River.He likely served from 164 until 168. In late 166 or early 167, a force of 6,000Lombardsinvaded Pannonia. Pompeianus defeated the invasion with relative ease, but it marked the beginning of a larger barbarian invasion.

Late in 167, theMarcomannitribe invaded the empire by crossing in Pannonia. Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus planned a punitive expedition to drive the barbarians back across the Danube River, but due to the effects of theAntonine Plague,the expedition was postponed until early 168. Aided by Pompeianus, the two emperors were able to force the Marcomanni to retreat. Pompeianus' military skills earned him the confidence of Marcus Aurelius and he quickly became one of the Emperor's closest advisors.

As the emperors returned to their winter quarters inAquileia,Lucius Verus fell ill and died in January 169. Marcus Aurelius arranged for his daughterLucilla,Verus' widow, to marry Pompeianus.As son-in-law to the emperor, Pompeianus became a member of theNerva–Antonine dynasty.The emperor even offered to name PompeianusCaesarand his heir, but Pompeianus declined the title. Instead, Pompeianus was promoted and served as the emperor's chief general during the Marcomannic War. Under his guidance, the exiled senator and fellow Parthian war veteranPertinaxwas recalled and joined Pompeianus on his military staff.

Pompeianus' successes during the Marcomannic War further distinguished him, with the emperor awarding him a second consulship in 173.He took part in a number of military operations in the Danubian region and was still stationed in the region following the death of Marcus Aurelius.

Under Commodus

Marcus Aurelius died in 180 AD, and his 18-year-old sonCommodus,Pompeianus' brother-in-law, was proclaimedRoman emperor.Pompeianus tried to persuade Commodus to remain on the Danubian frontier to complete the conquest of the Marcomanni, but Commodus returned to Rome in the autumn of 180.

The relationship between the young emperor and the experienced officer quickly deteriorated. In 182, Lucilla, Pompeianus' wife and Commodus' sister, organized a failed assassination attempt against the emperor. Though Commodus executed Lucilla and other members of her family, Pompeianus had not participated in the conspiracy and was spared.Following the conspiracy, Pompeianus withdrew from public life, citing old age, and retired to his estates in Italy. He spent most of his time in the country away from Rome, claiming age and an ailment of the eyes as an excuse.

Later life

Commodus was assassinated in 192 AD by members of thePraetorian Guard.Pompeianus returned to Rome once the plot against Commodus succeeded, resuming his seat in the Senate.

Pertinax, who was theurban prefectat the time, offered the throne to Pompeianus, but he declined.The Praetorian Guard then proclaimed Pertinax the emperor, but they assassinated him after only 87 days for attempting to impose order upon the long-undisciplined unit. SenatorDidius Julianusbribed the Praetorian Guard to proclaim him emperor, but had difficulty garnering support within the ranks of his own troops. In a desperate attempt to save himself, Julianus asked Pompeianus to become co-emperor with him. Pompeianus again declined, on the grounds of his advanced years and eye problems. Julianus was executed on the orders ofSeptimius Severusafter ruling for only 66 days.

Pompeianus appears to have died sometime in 193. His children survived and prospered as members of an important family: they were the grandchildren of Marcus Aurelius. This prestige was dangerous because the new dynasty of theSeveranscould have seen them as possible competition.Aurelius,son of Pompeianus, was consul in 209, but was later assassinated at the instigation ofCaracalla.Later descendants of Pompeianus would become consuls in 231 and 241.

In popular culture

Russell Crowe's characterMaximus Decimus Meridiusin the 2000 filmGladiatoris loosely based on Pompeianus and others, includingNarcissus.

Nerva–Antonine family tree

Nerva–Antonine family tree
Q. Marcius Barea Soranus Q. Marcius Barea Sura Antonia Furnilla M. Cocceius Nerva Sergia Plautilla P. Aelius Hadrianus Titus (r. 79–81) Marcia Furnilla Marcia Trajanus Pater Nerva (r. 96–98) Ulpia Aelius Hadrianus Marullinus Flavia Marciana C. Salonius Matidius Trajan (r. 98–117) Plotina P. Acilius Attianus P. Aelius Afer Paulina Major Lucius Mindius(2) Libo Rupilius Frugi(3) Salonia Matidia L. Vibius Sabinus(1) Paulina Minor L. Julius Ursus Servianus Matidia Minor Sabina Hadrian(r. 117–138) Antinous C. Fuscus Salinator I Julia Serviana Paulina M. Annius Verus Rupilia Faustina Boionia Procilla Cn. Arrius Antoninus L. Ceionius Commodus Appia Severa C. Fuscus Salinator II L. Caesennius Paetus Arria Antonina Arria Fadilla T. Aurelius Fulvus L. Caesennius Antoninus L. Commodus Plautia unknown C. Avidius Nigrinus M. Annius Verus Calvisia Domitia Lucilla Fundania M. Annius Libo Faustina Antoninus Pius (r. 138–161) L. Aelius Caesar Avidia Cornificia Marcus Aurelius (r. 161–180) Faustina Minor C. Avidius Cassius Aurelia Fadilla Lucius Verus (r. 161–169)(1) Ceionia Fabia Plautius Quintillus Q. Servilius Pudens Ceionia Plautia Cornificia Minor M. Petronius Sura Commodus (r. 177–192) Fadilla M. Annius Verus Caesar Ti. Claudius Pompeianus(2) Lucilla M. Plautius Quintillus Junius Licinius Balbus Servilia Ceionia Petronius Antoninus L. Aurelius Agaclytus (2) Aurelia Sabina L. Antistius Burrus(1) Plautius Quintillus Plautia Servilla C. Furius Sabinus Timesitheus Antonia Gordiana Junius Licinius Balbus? Furia Sabina Tranquillina Gordian III (r. 238–244)
(1) = 1st spouse (2) = 2nd spouse (3) = 3rd spouse Reddish-purple indicatesemperorof the Nerva–Antonine dynasty lighter purple indicates designated imperial heir of said dynasty who never reigned grey indicates unsuccessful imperial aspirants bluish-purple indicates emperors of other dynasties dashed lines indicate adoption; dotted lines indicate love affairs/unmarried relationships Small Caps= posthumously deified (Augusti,Augustae,or other)
Notes: Except where otherwise noted, the notes below indicate that an individual's parentage is as shown in the above family tree.
References: DIRcontributors (2000)."De Imperatoribus Romanis: An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Rulers and Their Families".Retrieved14 April2015. Giacosa, Giorgio (1977).Women of the Caesars: Their Lives and Portraits on Coins.Translated by R. Ross Holloway. Milan: Edizioni Arte e Moneta.ISBN0-8390-0193-2. Lambert, Royston (1984).Beloved and God: The Story of Hadrian and Antinous.New York: Viking.ISBN0-670-15708-2. Levick, Barbara(2014).Faustina I and II: Imperial Women of the Golden Age.Oxford University Press.ISBN978-0-19-537941-9. Smith, William,ed. (1870).Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.

Inscriptions

• CILVI, 41120;
• CILXVI, 127= CIL 03, p 2328,72 = ILSard-01, 00182 = ZPE-133-279 = AE 1898, 00078 = AE 2008, +00022 = AE 2008, +00613;
• CILIII, 8484= CIL 03, 01790a (p 2328,121) = CIL 03, 06362a = D 03381 = CINar-01, 00011a;
• ILTG,239 (AE1934, 96);
• MaybeAnnée ÉpigraphiqueAE1971, 208(AE1974, no. 411)
• PIRC 973