Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus | |
|---|---|
 Marble relief of Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus (center right) with EmperorMarcus Aurelius in theCapitoline Museums inRome | |
| Consul of theRoman Empire | |
| In office 173 AD – 173 AD Serving with Gnaeus Claudius Severus | |
| Preceded by | Servius Calpurnius Scipio Orfitus andSextus Quintilius Maximus |
| Succeeded by | Lucius Aurelius Gallus andQuintus Volusius Flaccus Cornelianus |
| Military Governor ofPannonia Inferior | |
| In office 164 AD – 168 AD | |
| Suffect Consul of theRoman Empire | |
| In office 162 AD – 162 AD Serving with Tiberius Claudius Paullinus | |
| Preceded by | Junius Rusticus andLucius Titius Plautius Aquilinus |
| Succeeded by | Marcus Insteius Bithynicus andignotus |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 125 AD |
| Died | 193 AD (aged 68) |
| Spouse | Lucilla (m. 169;d. 182) |
| Children | Lucius Aurelius Commodus Pompeianus,Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus Quintianus |
Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus[1] (Greek: Πομπηιανός;c. 125 – 193 AD) was apolitician andmilitary commander during the 2nd century in theRoman Empire. A general under EmperorMarcus Aurelius, Pompeianus distinguished himself during Rome's wars against theParthians and 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.[citation needed]
A native ofAntioch inSyria, Pompeianus was from relatively humble origins. His father was a member of theequestrian order.[2] As indicated by his name, his family first gainedRoman citizenship during 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 161–166 under 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 consul for the remainder of the year 162 AD.[3]
Following the completion the Parthian campaign, EmperorMarcus Aurelius appointed himmilitary governor ofPannonia Inferior on the empire's northern frontier along theDanube River.[I 1][4] He likely served from 164 until 168. In late 166 or early 167, a force of 6,000Lombards invaded Pannonia. Pompeianus defeated the invasion with relative ease, but it marked the beginning of a larger barbarian invasion.[5]
Late in 167, theMarcomanni tribe 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.[2][6] As son-in-law to the emperor, Pompeianus became a member of theNerva–Antonine dynasty. The emperor even offered to name PompeianusCaesar and his heir, but Pompeianus declined the title.[citation needed]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 veteranPertinax was 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.[6][7][I 2] 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.[I 3]
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.[8][9]
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.[10][11] 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.[12]
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.[12]
Pertinax, who was theurban prefect at the time, offered the throne to Pompeianus, but he declined.[13] 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 Julianus bribed 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 Severus after ruling for only 66 days.[14]
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 theSeverans could have seen them as possible competition.Aurelius, son of Pompeianus, was consul in 209, but was later assassinated at the instigation ofCaracalla.[15] Later descendants of Pompeianus would become consuls in 231 and 241.[16]
Russell Crowe's characterMaximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 filmGladiator is loosely based on Pompeianus and others, includingNarcissus.
Nerva–Antonine family tree | |
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| Notes: Except where otherwise noted, the notes below indicate that an individual's parentage is as shown in the above family tree.
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| Military offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Military Governor ofPannonia Inferior 164–168 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded byas suffect consuls | Consul of theRoman Empire 162 withTiberius Claudius Paullinus | Succeeded by Marcus Insteius Bithynicus, as suffect consulsandignotus |
| Preceded byas ordinary consuls | Consul of theRoman Empire 173 withGnaeus Claudius Severus | Succeeded byas ordinary consuls |
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