Quintus Junius Blaesus (died AD 31) was aRoman politician who lived during the reigns ofAugustus andTiberius. He was the maternal uncle ofLucius Aelius Sejanus, thePraetorian Prefect ofEmperorTiberius.
Almost nothing is known of the career of Quintus Junius Blaesus prior to AD 10, when he served as suffect consul withServius Cornelius Lentulus Maluginensis. The exception is a lead ingot attesting he was proconsul ofSicily; the date of his office can be dated no closer than the long reign ofAugustus.[1]
Blaesus subsequently appears as commander of the armies stationed inPannonia when a mutiny broke out after the death of Augustus in the year 14. According toTacitus, after military service in theGreat Illyrian Revolt, soldiers were unhappy with their payment of swampy and mountainous Pannonian lands and demanded restitution. To ease tensions, Blaesus offered to commit suicide, but his request was ignored.[2] According to the Roman historianCassius Dio, the soldiers arrested and tortured his slaves, and then attempted to kill Blaesus. However, he managed to restore order temporarily by convincing them to send envoys to theRoman Senate.[3] In response, Tiberius sent his sonDrusus to put down the rebellion, accompanied by Sejanus and two Praetoriancohorts.
Blaesus' next post was that of proconsul ofAfrica from 21 to 23. He was helped to achieve this office due to his nephew,Sejanus, insofar as their relationship convinced the other possible choice,Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, to withdraw from contention.[4]
During his time as governor in Africa, Blaesus was successful in defeating a revolt by the Roman-bornMusulamii warlordTacfarinas, a victory for which he earnedtriumphal honors and the title ofimperator.[5]
Blaesus' career came to an end in the year 31, when his nephew Sejanus was accused of treason and executed by order of Tiberius. Blaesus was put on trial as one of his associates. Instead of awaiting execution, he chose to commit suicide.[6]
The identity of the wife of Quintus Junius Blaesus is not known, nor is the date of their marriage. However, Blaesus is known to have had at least two children, both sons, each of whom became consul in his own right:Quintus Junius Blaesus (suffect consul 26) andLucius Junius Blaesus (suffect consul 28).[7]
These sons both committed suicide in 36, when Tiberius transferred to others the priesthoods that had previously been promised to the Blaesi during their family's ascendance.[8]
The last known descendant of this Quintus Junius Blaesus was a grandson (or great-grandson),[9]Junius Blaesus the governor ofGallia Lugdunensis, who was murdered in the year 69 byEmperorVitellius.[10]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byas ordinary consuls | Suffect consul of theRoman Empire 10 withServius Cornelius Lentulus Maluginensis | Succeeded byas ordinary consuls |
| Preceded by | Proconsul of Africa 21 – 23 | Succeeded by |