Tonantius Ferreolus was the praetorian prefect of Gaul

Praetorian prefecture of Gaul

The praetorian prefecture of the Gauls was one of four large praetorian prefectures into which the Late Roman Empire was divided.- History :...

 (praefectus praetorio Galliarum) from 451.

He was either "personally related to" or "connected through (...) relatives" with Sidonius Apollinaris

Sidonius Apollinaris

Gaius Sollius Apollinaris Sidonius or Saint Sidonius Apollinaris was a poet, diplomat, and bishop. Sidonius is "the single most important surviving author from fifth-century Gaul" according to Eric Goldberg...

, and was associated with Thaumastus

Thaumastus

Thaumastus was a friend and uncle of Sidonius Apollinaris. His brother, the elder Apollinaris was born around 405 and was the praetorian prefect of Gaul under Valentinian III between 425 and 455. Thaumastus and his brother were both sons of another Apollinaris, praetorian prefect of Gaul before...

 in the impeachment of Arvandus

Arvandus

Arvandus was a Gaul who rose through the hierarchy of Imperial Roman society to twice be appointed Praetorian prefect of Gaul.On the first occasion, 461, he was appointed by Emperor Libius Severus. This appointment ended when Severus died in 465...

. He was the son of Ferreolus, born c390, and wife Syagria, clarissima femina (?), born c.390, and thus maternal grandson of Flavius Afranius Syagrius

Flavius Afranius Syagrius

Flavius Afranius Syagrius was a Roman politician and administrator.- Life :Afranius' father was Clodoreius; it is unknown who his mother was. Afranius was also a member of the Gallic-Roman aristocratic family of the Syagrii, which originated in Lyon...

, Consul

Consul

Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...

 in 382. He married Papianilla, clarissima femina, born ca 415, a niece of Emperor Avitus

Avitus

Eparchius Avitus was Western Roman Emperor from July 8 or July 9, 455 to October 17, 456. A Gallic-Roman aristocrat, he was a senator and a high-ranking officer both in the civil and military administration, as well as Bishop of Piacenza.A representative of the Gallic-Roman aristocracy, he...

 and the first cousin of another Papianilla, wife of Sidonius Apollinaris

Sidonius Apollinaris

Gaius Sollius Apollinaris Sidonius or Saint Sidonius Apollinaris was a poet, diplomat, and bishop. Sidonius is "the single most important surviving author from fifth-century Gaul" according to Eric Goldberg...

, and they had many children, among whom Tonantius Ferreolus

Tonantius Ferreolus (senator)

Tonantius Ferreolus , was a vir clarissimus, or Gallo-Roman senator, and Praetorian prefect of Gaul.He lived in Narbo...

. She was a partner who shared his troubles, according to Sidonius.

Sources and citations

• Sidonius Apollinaris
  Sidonius Apollinaris
  Gaius Sollius Apollinaris Sidonius or Saint Sidonius Apollinaris was a poet, diplomat, and bishop. Sidonius is "the single most important surviving author from fifth-century Gaul" according to Eric Goldberg...
  
  , The Letters of Sidonius (Oxford: Clarendon, 1915), pp. clx-clxxxiii