Gnaeus Hosidius Geta
Encyclopedia
Gaius or Gnaeus Hosidius Geta (ca 20 - aft. 95) was a Roman Senator and General
who lived in the 1st century. Geta was a praetor
some time before 42. In 42, commanding a legion
, probably the Legio IX Hispana
in the Africa Province
, he was a part of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus
' campaigns into Mauretania
.
Geta defeated Sabalus
, a chief of the Mauri, twice, and after gathering as much water as could be carried, pursued him into the desert. Sabalus' forces were more used to the conditions and the legion's water began to run out. A native friendly to the Romans persuaded Geta to perform a rain ritual used by his people and rain began to fall. The Romans' thirst was relieved and the Mauri, seeing the heavens come to their enemies' aid, surrendered.
Geta and his legion were part of the Roman conquest of Britain
, led by Aulus Plautius
, the following year. Geta was almost captured in the Battle of the Medway
in the early part of the campaign, but recovered and turned the battle so decisively that he received the ornamenta triumphalia, which was unusual as he had not yet been a Consul
. He was a Legatus
in Britannia
circa 45. An inscription found in Rome
reveals that he became Suffect Consul
in 49.
Geta married, but the name of his wife is unknown. He had a daughter called Hosidia, born ca 65. Hosidia married Marcus Vitorius Marcellus
, a man of consular rank and a friend of the poet Statius
. Hosidia and Marcellus had a son called Gaius Vitorius Hosidius Geta
and a daughter Vitoria, wife of Lucius Septimius Severus and mother of Publius Septimius Geta
.
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
who lived in the 1st century. Geta was a 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...
some time before 42. In 42, commanding a legion
Roman legion
A Roman legion normally indicates the basic ancient Roman army unit recruited specifically from Roman citizens. The organization of legions varied greatly over time but they were typically composed of perhaps 5,000 soldiers, divided into maniples and later into "cohorts"...
, probably the Legio IX Hispana
Legio IX Hispana
Legio Nona Hispana was a Roman legion, which operated from the first century BCE until mid 2nd century CE. The Spanish Legion's disappearance has raised speculations over its fate, largely of its alleged destruction in Scotland in about 117 CE, though some scholars believe it was destroyed in the...
in the Africa Province
Africa Province
The Roman province of Africa was established after the Romans defeated Carthage in the Third Punic War. It roughly comprised the territory of present-day northern Tunisia, and the small Mediterranean coast of modern-day western Libya along the Syrtis Minor...
, he was a part of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus
Gaius Suetonius Paulinus
Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, also spelled Paullinus, was a Roman general best known as the commander who defeated the rebellion of Boudica.-Career:...
' campaigns into Mauretania
Mauretania
Mauretania is a part of the historical Ancient Libyan land in North Africa. It corresponds to present day Morocco and a part of western Algeria...
.
Geta defeated Sabalus
Sabalus
Sabalus was a man of Berber descent from North Africa who lived in the 1st century. Sabalus was one of the tribal chiefs in the Roman Client Kingdom of Mauretania. Little is known of Sabalus’ origins....
, a chief of the Mauri, twice, and after gathering as much water as could be carried, pursued him into the desert. Sabalus' forces were more used to the conditions and the legion's water began to run out. A native friendly to the Romans persuaded Geta to perform a rain ritual used by his people and rain began to fall. The Romans' thirst was relieved and the Mauri, seeing the heavens come to their enemies' aid, surrendered.
Geta and his legion were part of the Roman conquest of Britain
Roman conquest of Britain
The Roman conquest of Britain was a gradual process, beginning effectively in AD 43 under Emperor Claudius, whose general Aulus Plautius served as first governor of Britannia. Great Britain had already frequently been the target of invasions, planned and actual, by forces of the Roman Republic and...
, led by Aulus Plautius
Aulus Plautius
Aulus Plautius was a Roman politician and general of the mid-1st century. He began the Roman conquest of Britain in 43, and became the first governor of the new province, serving from 43 to 47.-Career:...
, the following year. Geta was almost captured in the Battle of the Medway
Battle of the Medway
The Battle of the Medway took place in 43 AD on the River Medway in the lands of the Iron Age tribe of the Cantiaci, now the English county of Kent...
in the early part of the campaign, but recovered and turned the battle so decisively that he received the ornamenta triumphalia, which was unusual as he had not yet been a Consul
Roman consul
A consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic.Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. Each consul was given veto power over his colleague and the officials would alternate each month...
. He was a Legatus
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...
in Britannia
Roman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
circa 45. An inscription found in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
reveals that he became Suffect Consul
Roman consul
A consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic.Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. Each consul was given veto power over his colleague and the officials would alternate each month...
in 49.
Geta married, but the name of his wife is unknown. He had a daughter called Hosidia, born ca 65. Hosidia married Marcus Vitorius Marcellus
Marcus Vitorius Marcellus
Marcus Vitorius Marcellus or Vitorius Marcellus was a Roman Senator and a man of consular rank who lived in the 1st century and 2nd century. His father was probably named Gaius Vitorius and little is known on his origins....
, a man of consular rank and a friend of the poet Statius
Statius
Publius Papinius Statius was a Roman poet of the 1st century CE . Besides his poetry in Latin, which include an epic poem, the Thebaid, a collection of occasional poetry, the Silvae, and the unfinished epic, the Achilleid, he is best known for his appearance as a major character in the Purgatory...
. Hosidia and Marcellus had a son called Gaius Vitorius Hosidius Geta
Gaius Vitorius Hosidius Geta
Gaius Vitorius Hosidius Geta was a Roman who lived in the 1st century and 2nd century. Geta was an only son and might have had a sister called Vitoria. His father was Roman consul and senator Marcus Vitorius Marcellus and his mother was Hosidia Geta...
and a daughter Vitoria, wife of Lucius Septimius Severus and mother of Publius Septimius Geta
Publius Septimius Geta (father of Septimius Severus)
Publius Septimius Geta was the father of Lucius Septimius Severus, father-in-law of the Roman empress Julia Domna and the paternal grandfather of Roman emperors Caracalla and Geta. His name was found as an inscription in Cirta, Africa.Geta was of Libyco-Punic origin...
.