Marcus Vinicius (consul 30)

Marcus Vinicius (c. 5 BC - 46 AD) was a Roman consul and, as husband of Julia Livilla, grandson-in-law (progener) of the emperor Tiberius. He was the son and grandson of two consuls, Publius Vinicius (consul 2 AD) and Marcus Vinicius (consul 19 BC).

Life

Born at Cales in Campania, Vinicius started his senatorial career as quaestor in 20 AD. In the Senatus Consultum de Cn. Pisone patre, the quaestor Vinicius is listed among the senators that were present when this decree was written.

In 30 AD, Vinicius reached the consulship, which he held with L. Cassius Longinus. In the same year, Velleius Paterculus published his Histories, which he dedicated to M. Vinicius.

In 33 AD, Tiberius selected him as the husband for Julia Livilla, the youngest daughter of Germanicus. On that occasion, Tacitus describes Vinicius as "mild in character and an elaborate orator."

From 38-39 AD, Vinicius governed the Roman province of Asia as proconsul; two years earlier, he had been appointed to a committee that was supposed to estimate the damages caused by a fire on the Aventine hill.

Vinicius was involved in the assassination of the emperor Caligula and, for a short time, even tried to succeed to the throne.

After Claudius became emperor, Vinicius accompanied him during the conquest of Britain in 43 AD and was awarded the ornamenta triumphalia. In 45 AD, he was honored with the rare distinction of a second consulship. He held the office, however, only from January 1 until March 1. His colleague that year was Titus Statilius Taurus Corvinus.

At Messalina's instigation, Vinicius was killed in 46 AD. He nevertheless received a state funeral.

Secondary sources

• Syme, Ronald (1939). The Roman Revolution. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
• Vogel-Weidemann, Ursula (1982). Die Statthalter von Africa und Asia in den Jahren 14-68 n. Chr.: Eine Untersuchung zum Verhältnis Princeps und Senat. Bonn: Habelt.

Appearance in Fiction

• The lead character in the novel Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiewicz, also named Marcus Vinicius, is the fictional son of the historical Marcus Vinicius.