Governors of Roman Britain
Encyclopedia
This is a partial list of Governors of Roman Britain. As Britannia, Roman Britain
was a consular province, which means its governors need to be appointed consul by Rome
before they could govern it. While this rank could be obtained either as a suffect or ordinares, a number of governors were consul ordinares, and also appear in the List of Early Imperial Roman Consuls. Later governors could be of the lower, equestrian rank.
Not all the governors are recorded by Roman historians and many from epigraphic
evidence or from sources such as the Vindolanda
letters. Beyond the recall of Gnaeus Julius Agricola
the dates of service of those who can be named can only be inferred. Others are still entirely anonymous and by the time of the division of Britain into separate provinces, the record is very patchy.
Some sources list a further governor, a second Ulpius Marcellus
. He was interpreted as a son of the first Ulpius Marcellus
, serving. c. 211
. This is based on a misdated inscription and it is now accepted that it refers to the earlier Ulpius Marcellus only.
The two sons of emperor Septimius Severus
, Caracalla
and Publius Septimius Geta
, administered the province to some degree during and immediately after their father's campaigns there which took place between 208
and 211
.
or a year or two before.
, this time into four separate provinces, Maxima Caesariensis
in the southeast, with its capital at London, Flavia Caesariensis
in the east, with its capital at Lincoln
, Britannia Secunda
in the north, with its capital at York
, and Britannia Prima
in the west (including present day Wales
), with its capital at Cirencester
. A fifth province called Valentia
also briefly existed, probably in the far north. Each had a governor of equestrian rank (a praeses) and they were overseen by a vicarius
. Later in the fourth century, the governor of Maxima Caesariensis had to be of consular rank. The following names are the few which have survived from this era, covering the almost 100 years until c. 408
, when the Roman cilvilian administration was expelled by the native population.
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...
was a consular province, which means its governors need to be appointed consul by Rome
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
before they could govern it. While this rank could be obtained either as a suffect or ordinares, a number of governors were consul ordinares, and also appear in the List of Early Imperial Roman Consuls. Later governors could be of the lower, equestrian rank.
Not all the governors are recorded by Roman historians and many from epigraphic
Epigraphy
Epigraphy Epigraphy Epigraphy (from the , literally "on-writing", is the study of inscriptions or epigraphs as writing; that is, the science of identifying the graphemes and of classifying their use as to cultural context and date, elucidating their meaning and assessing what conclusions can be...
evidence or from sources such as the Vindolanda
Vindolanda
Vindolanda was a Roman auxiliary fort just south of Hadrian's Wall in northern England. Located near the modern village of Bardon Mill, it guarded the Stanegate, the Roman road from the River Tyne to the Solway Firth...
letters. Beyond the recall of Gnaeus Julius Agricola
Gnaeus Julius Agricola
Gnaeus Julius Agricola was a Roman general responsible for much of the Roman conquest of Britain. His biography, the De vita et moribus Iulii Agricolae, was the first published work of his son-in-law, the historian Tacitus, and is the source for most of what is known about him.Born to a noted...
the dates of service of those who can be named can only be inferred. Others are still entirely anonymous and by the time of the division of Britain into separate provinces, the record is very patchy.
Claudian Governors
- Aulus PlautiusAulus PlautiusAulus 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:...
4343Year 43 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Caesar and Vitellius...
- 4747Year 47 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Caesar and Vitellius... - Publius Ostorius ScapulaPublius Ostorius ScapulaPublius Ostorius Scapula was a Roman statesman and general who governed Britain from 47 until his death, and was responsible for the defeat and capture of Caratacus.-Career:...
4747Year 47 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Caesar and Vitellius...
- 5252Year 52 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Sulla and Otho... - Aulus Didius GallusAulus Didius GallusAulus Didius Gallus was a Roman general and politician of the 1st century AD. He was governor of Britain between 52 and 57 AD.-Career:The career of Aulus Didius Gallus up to 51 can be partly reconstructed from an inscription from Olympia. He was quaestor under Tiberius, probably in 19...
5252Year 52 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Sulla and Otho...
- 5757Year 57 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Caesar and Piso... - Quintus VeraniusQuintus VeraniusQuintus Veranius was the name of two notable Roman politicians of the 1st century.-Quintus Veranius:The elder Quintus Veranius was governor of Cappadocia in 18. He was involved in the prosecution of Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, who was accused of poisoning Germanicus, in 20...
5757Year 57 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Caesar and Piso...
- 5757Year 57 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Caesar and Piso... - Gaius Suetonius PaulinusGaius Suetonius PaulinusGaius Suetonius Paulinus, also spelled Paullinus, was a Roman general best known as the commander who defeated the rebellion of Boudica.-Career:...
5858Year 58 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Caesar and Messalla...
- 6262Year 62 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Marius and Asinius... - Publius Petronius TurpilianusPublius Petronius TurpilianusPublius Petronius Turpilianus was a Roman politician and general.He was consul in AD 61, but in the second half of that year he laid down that office and was appointed governor of Britain, replacing Gaius Suetonius Paulinus who had been removed from office in the wake of the rebellion of Boudica...
6262Year 62 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Marius and Asinius...
- 6363Year 63 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Regulus and Rufus... - Marcus Trebellius MaximusMarcus Trebellius MaximusMarcus Trebellius Maximus was a Roman politician.He was consul in AD 56, and in 61 served on a commission to revise the census list and tax assessments in Gaul, together with Quintus Volusius Saturninus and Titus Sextius Africanus. Saturninus and Africanus were rivals, and both hated Trebellius,...
6363Year 63 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Regulus and Rufus...
- 6969Year 69 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Augustus and Rufinus...
Flavian Governors
- Marcus Vettius BolanusMarcus Vettius BolanusMarcus Vettius Bolanus was a Roman soldier and politician.He served in Asia under Corbulo in AD 62 and was consul in AD 66.He became governor of Britain in AD 69 in the midst of the Year of four emperors, appointed by the short-lived emperor Vitellius...
6969Year 69 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Augustus and Rufinus...
- 7171Year 71 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Augustus and Nerva... - Quintus Petillius CerialisQuintus Petillius CerialisQuintus Petilius Cerialis Caesius Rufus was a Roman general and administrator who served in Britain during Boudica's rebellion and who went on to participate in the civil wars after the death of Nero. He later defeated the rebellion of Julius Civilis and returned to Britain as its governor.His...
7171Year 71 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Augustus and Nerva...
- 7474Year 74 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Augustus and Vespasianus... - Sextus Julius FrontinusSextus Julius FrontinusSextus Julius Frontinus was one of the most distinguished Roman aristocrats of the late 1st century AD, but is best known to the post-Classical world as an author of technical treatises, especially one dealing with the aqueducts of Rome....
7474Year 74 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Augustus and Vespasianus...
- 7878Year 78 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Novius and Commodus...
also a military writer - Gnaeus Julius AgricolaGnaeus Julius AgricolaGnaeus Julius Agricola was a Roman general responsible for much of the Roman conquest of Britain. His biography, the De vita et moribus Iulii Agricolae, was the first published work of his son-in-law, the historian Tacitus, and is the source for most of what is known about him.Born to a noted...
7878Year 78 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Novius and Commodus...
- 8484Year 84 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Augustus and Sabinus...
conqueror of Caledonia - Sallustius LucullusSallustius LucullusSallustius Lucullus was a governor of Roman Britain during the late 1st century, holding office after Gnaeus Julius Agricola although it is unclear whether he directly inherited the post or if there was another unknown governor in between...
(uncertain) 8484Year 84 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Augustus and Sabinus...
- c. 8989Year 89 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Fulvus and Atratinus... - Aulus Vicirius Proculus ... 9393Year 93 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Pompeius and Priscinus...
... - Publius Metilius NeposPublius Metilius NeposPublius Metilius Nepos was a Roman politician during the late 1st century.He was the son of Publius Metilius . He was Consul Suffectus in 91 and was appointed Governor of Britannia sometime before the murder of the Emperor Domitian in 96, perhaps 92, 94 or 95, or at least Legatus pro praetore in 98...
(uncertain) c. 9696Year 96 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Valens and Vetus...
- c. 9797Year 97 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Augustus and Rufus...
Trajanic Governors
- Tiberius Avidius QuietusTiberius Avidius QuietusTiberius Avidius Quietus was a Roman politician the lived between the 1st century and the 2nd century.Quietus came from a wealthy, distinguished and well connected political family in Faventia...
c. 9797Year 97 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Augustus and Rufus...
- c. 101101Year 101 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Traianus and Paetus... - Lucius Neratius MarcellusLucius Neratius MarcellusLucius Neratius Marcellus was a governor of Roman Britain early in the 2nd century.He held the office by 103 and probably succeeded Tiberius Avidius Quietus a year or two earlier. He was a former senator and friend of Pliny the Younger and their letters discussing the Roman Principate are recorded...
c. 101101Year 101 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Traianus and Paetus...
- c. 103103Year 103 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Traianus and Maximus... - Unknown c. 103103Year 103 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Traianus and Maximus...
- 115115Year 115 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Messalla and Vergilianus... - Marcus Appius BraduaMarcus Appius BraduaMarcus Appius Bradua, also known by his full name Marcus Atilius Metilius Bradua was a distinguished Roman Politician who lived in the second half of the 1st century and the first half of the 2nd century in the Roman Empire.-Biography:Bradua was a member of the Atilia...
(uncertain) 115115Year 115 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Messalla and Vergilianus...
- 118118Year 118 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Hadrianus and Fuscus...
Hadrianic Governors
- Quintus Pompeius FalcoQuintus Pompeius FalcoQuintus Pompeius Falco was a Roman politician of the early 2nd century.His complete name was Quintus Roscius Coelius Murena Silius Decianus Vibullius Pius Iulius Eurycles Herculanus Pompeius Falco. Pompeius Falco was governor of Moesia Inferior between 116 and 117...
118118Year 118 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Hadrianus and Fuscus...
- 122122Year 122 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Aviola and Neratius... - Aulus Platorius NeposAulus Platorius NeposAulus Platorius Nepos was a Roman politician of the early 2nd century.Platorius Nepos was governor of Germania Inferior. He was a close friend and possible kinsman of the Emperor Hadrian and may have accompanied Hadrian on his visit to Britain in 122. In this year he was made governor of Roman...
122122Year 122 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Aviola and Neratius...
- c. 125125Year 125 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Paullinus and Titius... - Trebius GermanusTrebius Germanus... Trebius Germanus is thought to have been the name of the governor of Roman Britain around 126.This information however is based on a semi-legible inscription found at Bewcastle and a military diploma from the period that mentions his name in connection with Britain. Construction of Hadrian's...
(uncertain) c. 127127Year 127 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Rufus and Squilla... - Sextus Julius SeverusSextus Julius SeverusSextus Julius Severus was an accomplished Roman General of the 2nd century.Julius Severus served as Governor of Moesia; he was appointed Governor of Britain around 131.In 133 he was transferred to Judea, to help suppress the Bar Kochba rebellion there...
c. 131131Year 131 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Laenas and Rufinus...
- c. 133133Year 133 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Hiberus and Sisenna... - Publius Mummius SisennaPublius Mummius SisennaPublius Mummius Sisenna was drafted in by the Emperor Hadrian to serve as governor of Roman Britain around 133 to replace Sextus Julius Severus who was sent to Iudaea to suppress a rebellion there. He had previously served as consul in Rome that same year and was governor until the mid 130s...
(uncertain) c. 133133Year 133 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Hiberus and Sisenna...
- c. 135135Year 135 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Lupercus and Atilianus...
or later
Antonine Governors
- Quintus Lollius UrbicusQuintus Lollius UrbicusQuintus Lollius Urbicus was governor of Roman Britain between the years 139 and 142, during the reign of the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius. He is named in the text known as the Augustan History, and his name appears on five Roman inscriptions from Britain; his career is set out in detail on a pair...
c. 138138Year 138 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Niger and Camerinus...
- c. 144144Year 144 was a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Rufus and Maximus... - Gnaeus Papirius AelianusGnaeus Papirius AelianusGnaeus Papirius Aelianus was a governor of Roman Britain between 145 and 147.Little is known of him although he was probably in charge of the occupation of Lowland Scotland following its reconquest by Quintus Lollius Urbicus. This may have been peaceful as he was able to spare troops to take part...
c. 145145Year 145 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Hadrianus and Caesar...
- c. 147147Year 147 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Messalinus and Largus... - Unknown c. 147147Year 147 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Messalinus and Largus...
- c. 154154Year 154 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Aurelius and Lateranus... - Gnaeus Julius VerusGnaeus Julius VerusGnaeus Iulius Verus was Roman general and senator of the mid-2nd century AD, eventually becoming governor of Britain.Verus came from Aequum in Dalmatia, probably the son of Sextus Julius Severus , born in 112. He served as tribune in the legio X Fretensis when his father was governor of Judaea in...
c. 154154Year 154 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Aurelius and Lateranus...
- c. 158158Year 158 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Tertullus and Sacerdos... - LonginusLonginus (Roman governor)... Longinus, Longus or Lentullus is the partial name of a governor of Roman Britain between 158 and 161.The only evidence for him is a fragment of an inscription which lists a few letters of the name and is open to interpretation....
c. 158158Year 158 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Tertullus and Sacerdos...
- 161161Year 161 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Caesar and Aurelius... - Marcus Statius PriscusMarcus Statius PriscusMarcus Statius Priscus Licinius Italicus was a Roman politician and general of the mid 2nd century.His career began as an equestrian officer, receiving a decoration from Hadrian during the Jewish rebellion...
c. 161161Year 161 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Caesar and Aurelius...
- c. 162162Year 162 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Rusticus and Plautius... - Sextus Calpurnius AgricolaSextus Calpurnius AgricolaSextus Calpurnius Agricola was a Roman general and politician of the 2nd century.Calpurnius Agricola was governor of Germania Superior around 158....
c. 163163Year 163 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Laelianus and Pastor...
- c. 166166Year 166 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Pudens and Pollio... - Unknown c. 166166Year 166 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Pudens and Pollio...
- 175175Year 175 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Piso and Iulianus... - Quintus Antistius AdventusQuintus Antistius AdventusQuintus Antistius Adventus was a Roman politician and general.He served in the Parthian War under Lucius Verus. Antistius Adventus became governor of Germania Inferior, and then of Roman Britain between c. 175 and 178. In 175, 5,500 Sarmatian cavalry troops arrived in Britain...
c. 175175Year 175 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Piso and Iulianus...
- c. 178178Year 178 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Scipio and Rufus... - Caerellius PriscusCaerellius PriscusCaerellius Priscus was a governor of Roman Britain in the late 170s.His rule is recorded on an altar at Mainz, and he probably governed Britain between 178 and 180. He also served in Thracia, Moesia, Raetia and Germania....
(uncertain) c. 178178Year 178 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Scipio and Rufus...
- c. 181181Year 181 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Aurelius and Burrus... - Ulpius MarcellusUlpius MarcellusUlpius Marcellus was a Roman consular governor of Britannia who returned there as general of the later 2nd century.Ulpius Marcellus is recorded as governor of Roman Britain in an inscription of 176-80, and apparently returned to Rome after a tenure without serious incident...
c. 181181Year 181 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Aurelius and Burrus...
- c. 185185Year 185 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Lascivius and Atilius... - Publius Helvius Pertinax c. 185185Year 185 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Lascivius and Atilius...
- c. 187187Year 187 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Quintius and Aelianus...
, later Roman EmperorRoman EmperorThe Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor... - Unknown c. 187187Year 187 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Quintius and Aelianus...
- c. 191191Year 191 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Apronianus and Bradua... - Decimus Clodius Albinus c. 191191Year 191 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Apronianus and Bradua...
- c. 197197Year 197 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Magius and Rufinus...
Imperial usurperRoman usurperUsurpers are individuals or groups of individuals who obtain and maintain the power or rights of another by force and without legal authority. Usurpation was endemic during roman imperial era, especially from the crisis of the third century onwards, when political instability became the rule.The...
Severan Governors
- Virius LupusVirius LupusVirius Lupus was a Roman soldier and politician of the late second and early 3rd century.His parents were Lucius Virius, born c. 140, and wife Antonia, also born c. 140 and daughter of Marcus Antonius Zeno. His paternal grandparents were Quintus Virius, born c. 110, and wife Larcia, born c...
197197Year 197 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Magius and Rufinus...
- c. 201201Year 201 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Fabianus and Arrius... - Marcus Antius Crescens CalpurnianusMarcus Antius Crescens CalpurnianusMarcus Antius Crescens Calpurnianus was a Roman politician, fl. around 200.Calpurnianus served as governor of Macedonia. He was acting governor of Roman Britain around 202, where he officially served as Iuridicus Britanniae...
c. 202202Year 202 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Severus and Antoninus...
(Acting governor) - Gaius Valerius PudensGaius Valerius PudensGaius Valerius Pudens was a Roman politician and general of the late 2nd - early 3rd centuries.Valerius Pudens, a native of Cuicul, now Djémila, held command in Pannonia Inferior before becoming governor of Germania Inferior. Around 202 or 203 he became governor of Roman Britain, serving until c...
c. 202202Year 202 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Severus and Antoninus...
- c. 205205Year 205 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Aurelius and Geta... - Lucius Alfenus SenecioLucius Alfenus SenecioLucius Alfenus Senecio was a Roman figure of the late 2nd - early 3rd centuries.-Career:Born in Curculum, now Djemila, in Africa, Lucius Alfenus Senecio was a Romanized North African. He served as consul and as governor of Syria in 200. Between c...
c. 205205Year 205 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Aurelius and Geta...
- c. 207207Year 207 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Maximus and Severus...
Some sources list a further governor, a second Ulpius Marcellus
Ulpius Marcellus (son)
Ulpius Marcellus was formerly thought to be the latest-recorded governor of Britannia, before it was divided into separate provinces. He was supposed to be the son of Ulpius Marcellus, governor of Britannia during the reign of Commodus...
. He was interpreted as a son of the first Ulpius Marcellus
Ulpius Marcellus
Ulpius Marcellus was a Roman consular governor of Britannia who returned there as general of the later 2nd century.Ulpius Marcellus is recorded as governor of Roman Britain in an inscription of 176-80, and apparently returned to Rome after a tenure without serious incident...
, serving. c. 211
211
Year 211 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Terentius and Bassus...
. This is based on a misdated inscription and it is now accepted that it refers to the earlier Ulpius Marcellus only.
The two sons of emperor Septimius Severus
Septimius Severus
Septimius Severus , also known as Severus, was Roman Emperor from 193 to 211. Severus was born in Leptis Magna in the province of Africa. As a young man he advanced through the customary succession of offices under the reigns of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. Severus seized power after the death of...
, Caracalla
Caracalla
Caracalla , was Roman emperor from 198 to 217. The eldest son of Septimius Severus, he ruled jointly with his younger brother Geta until he murdered the latter in 211...
and Publius Septimius Geta
Publius Septimius Geta
Geta , was a Roman Emperor co-ruling with his father Septimius Severus and his older brother Caracalla from 209 to his death.-Early life:Geta was the younger son of Septimius Severus by his second wife Julia Domna...
, administered the province to some degree during and immediately after their father's campaigns there which took place between 208
208
Year 208 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Aurelius and Geta...
and 211
211
Year 211 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Terentius and Bassus...
.
Division into Britannia Superior and Inferior
This list assumes the final division occurred c. 213213
Year 213 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Aurelius and Calvinus...
or a year or two before.
Britannia Superior
- Tiberius Julius Pollienus AuspexTiberius Julius Pollienus AuspexTiberius Julius Pollienus Auspex was a governor of Britannia Superior, a province of Roman Britain possibly between AD 223 and 226.He may also have been the same man who was governor of Numidia c. 217 to 220....
in period c. 223223Year 223 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Maximus and Aelianus...
- 226226Year 226 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Severus and Marcellus... - Gaius Junius Faustinus Postumianus
- RufinusRufinus (Roman governor)... Rufinus is the fragment of the name of a governor of Britannia Superior, a province of Roman Britain probably some time during the early third century AD. He may have been the same man as Aulus Triarius Rufinus who held the consulship in 210 although Quintus Aradius Rufinus who was consul ten...
- Marcus Martiannius PulcherMarcus Martiannius PulcherMarcus Martiannius Pulcher was a governor of Britannia Superior, a province of Roman Britain probably some time during the third century AD.The only evidence of his work is an inscription which was found in 1975, re-used as part of the fourth century riverside defences in London. It states that he...
- Titus Desticius JubaTitus Desticius JubaTitus Desticius Juba was a Roman governor of Britain during the 250s.He had served in Rome as consul and some time later was posted to Britannia Superior. The barracks at Caerleon were refurbished under his governorship between the years 253 and 255....
in period 253253Year 253 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Volusianus and Claudius...
- 255255Year 255 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Valerianus and Gallienus...
Britannia Inferior
- Gaius Julius MarcusGaius Julius MarcusGaius Iulius Marcus is the name of one of the early governors of Britannia Inferior, c. 213 -214.His name is recorded on a milestone on the Military Way at Hadrian's Wall although it has been partially erased, suggesting that he had brought disfavour on himself sometime later...
by 213213Year 213 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Aurelius and Calvinus... - Marcus Antonius Gordianus by 216216Year 216 was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Sabinus and Anullinus...
- Modius JuliusModius JuliusModius Julius was a governor of Britannia Inferior, a province of Roman Britain during AD 219 under Elagabalus. Inscriptions at Birdoswald and Netherby attest to his rule although little else is known of him.-See also:* Modia...
by 219219Year 219 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Antonius and Sacerdos... - Tiberius Claudius PaulinusTiberius Claudius PaulinusTiberius Claudius Paulinus was a Roman general and politician of the early third century.He was the commander of Legio II Augusta at Caerleon and then he later held two governorships in Gaul before becoming the governor of Britannia Inferior, a province of Roman Britain in 220.He was a popular man...
c. 220220Year 220 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Antonius and Eutychianus... - Marius ValerianusMarius Valerianus... Marius Valerianus was a governor of Britannia Inferior, a province of Roman Britain probably some time between 221 and 222/223. Little else is known of him from the inscriptions he left at Chesters, Netherby and South Shields. His rule therefore overlapped with the accession of Severus...
221221Year 221 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Gratus and Vitellius...
- 222222Year 222 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Antoninus and Severus...
/223223Year 223 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Maximus and Aelianus... - Claudius Xenophon 223223Year 223 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Maximus and Aelianus...
- MaximusMaximusMaximus is the Latin term for "greatest" or "largest". In this connexion it is used to refer to:*Circus Maximus *Pontifex Maximus, the highest priest of the ancient Roman College of Pontiffs...
by 225225Year 225 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Fuscus and Domitius... - Claudius ApellinusClaudius ApellinusClaudius Apellinus was a Governor of Britannia Inferior, a province of Roman Britain some time between AD 222 and 235. Little else is known of him although he did repair a ballistarium at Bremenium, today High Rochester, Northumberland....
in period 222222Year 222 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Antoninus and Severus...
- 235235Year 235 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Severus and Quintianus... - Calvisius RufusCalvisius Rufus... Calvisius Rufus was a governor of Britannia Inferior, a province of Roman Britain some time between AD 222 and 235. Little else is known of him although an inscription does record him adding a building at Old Penrith....
in period 222222Year 222 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Antoninus and Severus...
- 235235Year 235 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Severus and Quintianus... - Valerius Crescens FulvianusValerius Crescens Fulvianus... Valerius Crescens Fulvianus was a governor of Britannia Inferior, a province of Roman Britain some time between AD 222 and 235. Little else is known of him although an inscription does record him restoring a temple at Bremetennacum ....
in period 222222Year 222 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Antoninus and Severus...
- 235235Year 235 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Severus and Quintianus... - TuccianusTuccianus... Tuccianus is s possible name for a governor of Britannia Inferior, a province of Roman Britain around AD 237. Little else is known of him although the damaged inscription bearing his name does record him adding a building at Carrawburgh under Maximinus....
by 237237Year 237 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Perpetuus and Felix... - Maecilius FuscusMaecilius FuscusMaecilius Fuscus was a governor of Britannia Inferior, a province of Roman Britain some time between AD 238 and 244. Little else is known of him although he seems to have been involved in the rebuilding and expansion of the fort at Durham along with his successor, Egnatius Lucilianus....
in period 238238Year 238 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Pius and Pontianus...
- 244244Year 244 was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Armenius and Aemilianus... - Egnatius Lucillianus in period 238238Year 238 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Pius and Pontianus...
- 244244Year 244 was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Armenius and Aemilianus... - Nonius PhilippusNonius Philippus... Nonius Philippus was a governor of Britannia Inferior, a province of Roman Britain by AD 242. Little else is known of him as he is mentioned only on a dedication at Old Carlisle....
by 242242Year 242 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Gratus and Lepidus... - Octavius SabinusOctavius SabinusOctavius Sabinus was a governor of Britannia Inferior, a province of Roman Britain some time between c. AD 262 and 266.An inscription at Lancaster mentions him in connection with repairs there. It indicates that he was of the senatorial rank rather than the third century norm of giving military...
in period 260260Year 260 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Saecularis and Donatus...
- 269269Year 269 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Claudius and Paternus...
(under the Gallic EmpireGallic EmpireThe Gallic Empire is the modern name for a breakaway realm that existed from 260 to 274. It originated during the Roman Empire's Crisis of the Third Century....
)
Diocese of the Britains
Following the reabsorption of Britain into the Roman Empire, the island was further repartitioned by DiocletianDiocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
, this time into four separate provinces, Maxima Caesariensis
Maxima Caesariensis
Maxima Caesariensis was the name of one of the four provinces of later Roman Britain . Its capital was Londinium and probably encompassed what is now south east England. Originally, its governors were of equestrian rank but by the mid fourth century they had to be of consular rank...
in the southeast, with its capital at London, Flavia Caesariensis
Flavia Caesariensis
Flavia Caesariensis was one of the provinces of Roman Britain.It was created in the early 4th century under the reforms of Diocletian and it has been suggested that its capital may have been at Lincoln...
in the east, with its capital at Lincoln
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
, Britannia Secunda
Britannia Secunda
Britannia Secunda was one of the provinces of Roman Britain in existence by c. 312 AD and probably created as part of the administrative reforms of the Roman Emperor Diocletian after the defeat of the usurper Allectus by Constantius Chlorus in 296 AD. The governors of Britannia Secunda were of...
in the north, with its capital at York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, and Britannia Prima
Britannia Prima
Britannia Prima was one of the provinces of Roman Britain in existence by c. 312 AD. It was probably created as part of the administrative reforms of the Roman Emperor Diocletian after the defeat of the usurper Allectus by Constantius Chlorus in 296 AD. In the 3rd century, the Romans created...
in the west (including present day Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
), with its capital at Cirencester
Cirencester
Cirencester is a market town in east Gloucestershire, England, 93 miles west northwest of London. Cirencester lies on the River Churn, a tributary of the River Thames, and is the largest town in the Cotswold District. It is the home of the Royal Agricultural College, the oldest agricultural...
. A fifth province called Valentia
Valentia
Valentia may refer to:*Valentia Island, off the coast of Ireland*Valentia , a province of Roman Britain*Valence, Drôme, France, known in Roman times as Valentia*Nuragus, Sardinia, Italy, known in Roman times as Valentia...
also briefly existed, probably in the far north. Each had a governor of equestrian rank (a praeses) and they were overseen by a vicarius
Vicarius
Vicarius is a Latin word, meaning substitute or deputy. It is the root and origin of the English word "vicar" and cognate to the Persian word most familiar in the variant vizier....
. Later in the fourth century, the governor of Maxima Caesariensis had to be of consular rank. The following names are the few which have survived from this era, covering the almost 100 years until c. 408
408
Year 408 was a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Bassus and Philippus...
, when the Roman cilvilian administration was expelled by the native population.
Vicarii
- PacatianusPacatianus (vicarius)Pacatianus was vicarius of Roman Britain in 319. His holding the post is recorded in the Codex Theodosianus although little else is known of him. He presided over a period of economic instability with coin hoards indicating high inflation although several high status villas were rebuilt around this...
c. 319319Year 319 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Constantinus and Licinius... - Flavius MartinusFlavius MartinusFlavius Martinus was a vicarius of Roman Britain c. 353 under Constantius II.He tried to control the violent recriminations following the defeat of Magnentius. Martinus tried to rein in the vengeance of Constantius' notary Paulus Catena who had been sent to Britain to ruthlessly hunt down...
c. 353353Year 353 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Magnentius and Decentius... - Alypius of AntiochAlypius of AntiochAlypius of Antioch was a geographer and a vicarius of Roman Britain, probably in the late 350s AD. He replaced Flavius Martinus after that vicarius' suicide...
, 361-363 soon after Martinus. - CivilisCivilis (vicarius)Civilis is all that is known of the name of a vicarius of Roman Britain around AD 368. Dulcitius was appointed Dux Britanniarum at the same time under Count Theodosius' reforms....
369369Year 369 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Galates and Victor... - VictorinusVictorinus (vicarius)Victorinus is the recorded name of a vicarius of Roman Britain probably serving between 395 and 406. He is mentioned by the Gaul Rutilius Claudius Namatianus in his De reditu i, 493-510 who had met him later in Gaul around 417....
probably in period 395395Year 395 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Olybrius and Probinus...
- 406406Year 406 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Arcadius and Probus... - Chrysanthus probably in period 395395Year 395 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Olybrius and Probinus...
- 406406Year 406 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Arcadius and Probus...
Governors
- Aurelius ArpagiusAurelius ArpagiusAurelius Arpagius was a governor of one of the provinces of Roman Britain, probably Britannia Secunda. He is known from a single building inscription from Birdoswald which describes the rebuilding of several buildings at the fort under the Tetrarchy, it dates to the period AD296-305.This was just...
(possibly Britannia SecundaBritannia SecundaBritannia Secunda was one of the provinces of Roman Britain in existence by c. 312 AD and probably created as part of the administrative reforms of the Roman Emperor Diocletian after the defeat of the usurper Allectus by Constantius Chlorus in 296 AD. The governors of Britannia Secunda were of...
) in period 296296Year 296 was a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Valerius and Constantius...
- 305305Year 305 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Constantius and Valerius... - Flavius SanctusFlavius SanctusFlavius Sanctus was a governor of one of the provinces of Roman Britain during the mid fourth century AD.He was well-connected, being an associate of the Gallo-Roman poet Ausonius but little else is known of him....
mid fourth century - Lucius Septimius (Britannia PrimaBritannia PrimaBritannia Prima was one of the provinces of Roman Britain in existence by c. 312 AD. It was probably created as part of the administrative reforms of the Roman Emperor Diocletian after the defeat of the usurper Allectus by Constantius Chlorus in 296 AD. In the 3rd century, the Romans created...
) date unknown.
Usurpers and British-based rulers of the Western Empire
- In c. 278278Year 278 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Probus and Lupus...
an unknown governor rebelled but was quickly defeated. - CarausiusCarausiusMarcus Aurelius Mausaeus Valerius Carausius was a military commander of the Roman Empire in the 3rd century. He was a Menapian from Belgic Gaul, who usurped power in 286, declaring himself emperor in Britain and northern Gaul. He did this only 13 years after the Gallic Empire of the Batavian...
, British-based usurper emperor 286286Year 286 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Maximus and Aquilinus...
- 293293Year 293 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Valerius and Valerius... - AllectusAllectusAllectus was a Roman usurper-emperor in Britain and northern Gaul from 293 to 296.-History:Allectus was treasurer to Carausius, a Menapian officer in the Roman navy who had seized power in Britain and northern Gaul in 286...
, Carausius' successor 293293Year 293 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Valerius and Valerius...
- 296296Year 296 was a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Valerius and Constantius... - MagnentiusMagnentiusFlavius Magnus Magnentius was a usurper of the Roman Empire .-Early life and career:...
rebel emperor of much of Western Europe 350350Year 350 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Sergius and Nigrinianus...
– 353353Year 353 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Magnentius and Decentius... - Another Carausius, dubbed by historians Carausius IICarausius IICarausius II is the name given by historians to a possible imperial usurper in Roman Britain between the years 354 and 358. Coins appear during this period bearing the name which is the same as an earlier British usurper emperor, Carausius....
may have attempted usurpation sometime between 354354Year 354 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Constantius and Constantius...
and 358358Year 358 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Datianus and Cerealis... - Magnus MaximusMagnus MaximusMagnus Maximus , also known as Maximianus and Macsen Wledig in Welsh, was Western Roman Emperor from 383 to 388. As commander of Britain, he usurped the throne against Emperor Gratian in 383...
recognised as emperor of the west by Theodosius ITheodosius ITheodosius I , also known as Theodosius the Great, was Roman Emperor from 379 to 395. Theodosius was the last emperor to rule over both the eastern and the western halves of the Roman Empire. During his reign, the Goths secured control of Illyricum after the Gothic War, establishing their homeland...
383383Year 383 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Merobaudes and Saturninus...
– 388388Year 388 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Augustus without colleague... - MarcusMarcus (usurper)-Career:He was a soldier in Roman Britain who was proclaimed emperor by the army there some time in 406. He may have risen to power as a reaction to the increasing raids from abroad at a time when the Empire was withdrawing troops from its distant provinces like Britain to protect its heartland...
, proclaimed emperor by the Army of Britain, 406406Year 406 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Arcadius and Probus... - GratianGratian (usurper)-Career:Following the death of the usurper Marcus, Gratian was acclaimed as emperor by the army in Britain in early 407. His background, as recorded by Orosius, was that he was a native Briton and one of the urban aristocracy...
, British-based emperor, 407407Year 407 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Honorius and Theodosius... - Constantine IIIConstantine III (usurper)Flavius Claudius Constantinus, known in English as Constantine III was a Roman general who declared himself Western Roman Emperor in Britannia in 407 and established himself in Gaul. Recognised by the Emperor Honorius in 409, collapsing support and military setbacks saw him abdicate in 411...
, a British soldier who became a upsurper in the West.