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{{Short description|Roman senator and consul (died 118 AD)}}
{{weasel|date=December 2012}}
'''Gaius Avidius Nigrinus''' (died 118) was a [[Roman Empire|Roman]] who lived between the 1st and 2nd centuries.
'''Gaius Avidius Nigrinus''' (died 118 AD) was a [[Roman Empire|Roman]] [[Roman senate|senator]] who lived between the 1st and 2nd centuries. Nigrinus served as [[Roman consul|suffect consul]] for the ''[[nundinium]]'' of April to June 110 with [[Tiberius Julius Aquila Polemaeanus]] as his colleague.


== Ancestry ==
Nigrinus’ ancestors were Romans of the highest political rank: he was the son of an elder Gaius Avidius Nigrinus, his brother was the consul [[Titus Avidius Quietus]] and his uncle was the consul [[Tiberius Avidius Quietus]]. Nigrinus’ family was wealthy, distinguished and well-connected politically in Faventia (modern [[Faenza]], [[Italy]]), where he was born and raised. Nigrinus and his family may have been related to Gaius Petronius Pontius Nigrinus, who was consul in the year 37.
Nigrinus’ ancestors were Romans of the highest political rank: he was the son of an elder [[Gaius Avidius Nigrinus (proconsul)|Gaius Avidius Nigrinus]], and his uncle was the consul [[Titus Avidius Quietus]]. Nigrinus’ family was wealthy, distinguished and well-connected politically in Faventia (modern [[Faenza]], [[Italy]]), where he was born and raised. Nigrinus and his family may have been related to [[Gaius Petronius Pontius Nigrinus]], who was consul in the year 37.


His family had strong links to [[Greece]]. The father of Nigrinus had served as [[Proconsul]] of [[Achaea (Roman province)|Achaea]] during the reign of [[Roman Emperor]] [[Domitian]] (81-96), as had his paternal uncle. His family was friendly with the Roman Senator [[Pliny the Younger]] and the Greek Historian [[Plutarch]], who dedicated ‘On Brotherly Love’ to the elder Nigrinus and Quietus.
His family had strong links to [[Greece]]. The father of Nigrinus had served as [[Proconsul]] of [[Achaea (Roman province)|Achaea]] during the reign of [[Roman Emperor|Emperor]] [[Domitian]] (81-96), as had his paternal uncle. His family was friendly with [[Pliny the Younger]] and [[Plutarch]], the latter of whom dedicated ‘On Brotherly Love’ to the elder Nigrinus and Quietus.


== Career ==
Nigrinus was a longstanding friend of the Roman Emperor [[Trajan]] and his family. He served Trajan as [[Tribune]] in 105. Nigrinus served as [[Legatus]] of Achaea and probably participated in Trajan’s attempt to recognize and stabilize the administration of the financially troubled province. Nigrinus later became the Roman Governor of Greece.
The earliest known office Nigrinus held was as [[plebeian tribune]] in 105; [[Ronald Syme]] raises the possibility that he is the Nigrinus [[Pliny the Younger]] praises for his speech indicting [[Varenus Rufus]] for corruption during his administration of [[Bithynia and Pontus]].<ref>Syme, ''Tactius'' (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1958) p. 669. Pliny, ''[[Epistulae (Pliny)|Epistulae]]'', V.20.6; Pliny mentions Nigrinus twice more: V.13.6f, and VII.6</ref> Nigrinus later became [[proconsul]]ar governor of [[Achaea (Roman province)|Achaea]], although it is unclear during what years this was;<ref> Werner Eck, "Jahres- und Provinzialfasten der senatorischen Statthalter von 69/70 bis 138/139", ''[[Chiron (journal)|Chiron]]'', 13 (1983), p. 186 and n. 479</ref> this was probably part of [[Trajan]]’s attempt to recognize and stabilize the administration of the financially troubled province.


In 110, Nigrinus served as suffect consul. During the year of his consulship, Trajan sent Nigrinus to [[Delphi]], Greece as a member of an advisory council to assist the politician, later Greek historian [[Arrian]] in settling boundary disputes. This event is recorded in Delphi, where there are honorific inscriptions dedicated to Nigrinus in Greek and Latin.
Nigrinus was a trusted lieutenant of the Emperor Trajan. During the year of his consulship, Trajan sent Nigrinus to [[Delphi]], Greece as a member of an advisory council to assist the future historian [[Arrian]] in settling boundary disputes. This event is recorded in Delphi, where there are honorific inscriptions dedicated to Nigrinus in Greek and Latin.


Following his consulate, Nigrinus was appointed governor of [[Dacia (Roman province)|Dacia]]; he held this office from 113 until his death.<ref>Eck, "Jahres- und Provinzialfasten der senatorischen Statthalter von 69/70 bis 138/139", ''Chiron'', 12 (1982), pp. 355-361</ref>
Nigrinus was a trusted lieutenant of Trajan. Trajan appointed him as a Roman Governor of [[Dacia]]. Nigrinus commanded considerable political respect, for he was a leading military general and could have been seen as a possible heir of Trajan's.


In 117, Trajan died and he was succeeded by his paternal second cousin [[Hadrian]]. In the summer of 118, the [[Roman Senate]] ordered the execution of Nigrinus, on the grounds that he had been one of four senators involved in a plot to overthrow Hadrian. Nigrinus was probably involved in the plot because of differences with Hadrian’s imperial policy.{{citation required|date=December 2012}} It is also possible that Hadrian could have viewed Nigrinus as a potential threat, given his previous high standing and close relationship with Trajan.{{citation required|date=December 2012}}
In 117, Trajan died and he was succeeded by his paternal second cousin [[Hadrian]]. In the summer of 118, Nigrinus was executed at Faventia on orders of the Senate. According to the ''[[Historia Augusta]]'' Nigrinus was one of four senators who plotted to kill Hadrian while he was sacrificing, while adding that Hadrian had intended to make Nigrinus his heir apparent; the other three senators were [[Aulus Cornelius Palma]], [[Lucius Publilius Celsus]], and [[Lusius Quietus]].<ref>[[Historia Augusta]], ''Hadrian'', 7.1; translated by Antony Birley, ''The Lives of the Later Caesars'' (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1976), p. 64</ref> It is possible that Hadrian could have viewed Nigrinus as a potential threat, given his previous high standing and close relationship with Trajan.<ref>As suggested by John D. Grainger, ''Nerva and the Roman Succession Crisis of AD 96-99'' (London: Routledge, 2004), pp. 127f</ref> [[Anthony Birley]] mentions the suggestion that Hadrian may have later felt remorse for this act, thus explaining why Hadrian adopted Nigrinus' son-in-law, Ceionius Commodus (who later, following his adoption of [[Marcus Aurelius]], took the name [[Lucius Aelius]]). However, Birley also suggests Hadrian adopted Commodus out of "sheer perversity -- Hadrian's desire to infuriate other aspirants."<ref>Birley, ''Marcus Aurelius'', (London: Routledge, 1987), p. 42. Syme had previously raised the possibility of Hadrian's remorse motivating him here in ''Tactius'', p. 600.</ref>


== Family ==
Nigrinus had at least one child, a daughter called [[Avidia Plautia]]. Plautia would marry Hadrian’s first adopted heir [[Lucius Aelius]] Verus Caesar, and thus Nigrinus would become the grandfather of the Roman Emperor [[Lucius Verus]], as well as Gaius Avidius Ceionius Commodus, [[Ceionia Fabia]], and [[Ceionia Plautia]].
Nigrinus is known to have had two wives. The name of his first wife is not known, but their daughter [[Avidia (mother of Lucius Verus)|Avidia]] married [[Lucius Aelius Caesar|Ceionius Commodus]]; together they had a son, the future [[Lucius Verus]], co-emperor with [[Marcus Aurelius]]. His second wife [[Plautia (mother of Aelius Caesar)|Plautia]], had previously been married to [[Lucius Ceionius Commodus (consul 106)|Lucius Ceionius Commodus]] (ordinary consul 106), and after Nigrinus' death married [[Sextus Vettulenus Civica]]. Plautia and Nigrinus had a daughter, Avidia Plautia, who had two children, [[Lucius Titius Plautius Aquilinus (consul 162)|Lucius Titius Plautius Aquilinus]] (ordinary consul 162) and [[Plautius Quintillus]] (ordinary consul 159).<ref>Birley, ''Marcus Aurelius'', pp. 238, 246</ref>


{{Nerva-Antonine family tree|state=collapsed}}
{{Nerva-Antonine family tree|state=collapsed}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}


==Sources==
==Sources==
Line 22: Line 28:
*C. Konrad, ''Plutarch's Sertorius: A Historical Commentary'' Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1994
*C. Konrad, ''Plutarch's Sertorius: A Historical Commentary'' Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1994
*Alan K. Bowman, Peter Garnsey, Dominic Rathbone, ''The Cambridge ancient history'', Volume 11, 2nd Edition 2000
*Alan K. Bowman, Peter Garnsey, Dominic Rathbone, ''The Cambridge ancient history'', Volume 11, 2nd Edition 2000
*Anthony Richard Birley, ''Marcus Aurelius'', Routledge, 2000
*Anthony Richard Birley, ''The Roman Government of Britain'' Oxford, 2005
*Anthony Richard Birley, ''The Roman Government of Britain'' Oxford, 2005
⚫
*Anthony R. Birley, [http://www.uni-koeln.de/phil-fak/ifa/zpe/downloads/1997/116pdf/116209.pdf "Hadrian and Greek Senators"], ''[[Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik]]'', '''116''' (1997), pp. 209–245
*http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/2310.html
⚫
*Anthony R. Birley, [http://www.uni-koeln.de/phil-fak/ifa/zpe/downloads/1997/116pdf/116209.pdf "Hadrian and Greek Senators"], ''Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik'', '''116''' (1997), pp. 209–245
*http://romansonline.com/Persns.asp?IntID=1713&Ename=Gaius+Avidius+Nigrinus
*http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Historia_Augusta/Aelius*.html#2.8
*http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Historia_Augusta/Aelius*.html#2.8
*http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Historia_Augusta/Lucius_Verus*.html
*http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Historia_Augusta/Lucius_Verus*.html


{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Marcus Peducaeus Priscinus]],<br/>and [[Servius Cornelius Scipio Salvidienus Orfitus (consul 110)|Servius Cornelius Scipio Salvidienus Orfitus]]|as=Ordinary consul}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of early imperial Roman consuls|Suffect consul]] of the [[Roman Empire]] | years=110 |regent1=[[Tiberius Julius Aquila Polemaeanus]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Lucius Catilius Severus|Lucius Catilius Severus Julianus Claudius Reginus]],<br/>and [[Gaius Erucianus Silo]]|as=Suffect consul}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Avidius Nigrinus, Gaius}}
[[Category:2nd-century Romans]]
[[Category:2nd-century Romans]]
[[Category:Roman governors of Achaia]]
[[Category:Suffect consuls of Imperial Rome]]
[[Category:Suffect consuls of Imperial Rome]]
[[Category:Roman governors of Dacia]]
[[Category:Roman governors of Dacia]]
[[Category:Avidii]]
[[Category:Avidii|Nigrinus, Gaius]]
[[Category:118 deaths]]
[[Category:1st-century births]]

[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:Executed ancient Roman people]]
[[Category:People executed by the Roman Empire]]

Latest revision as of 08:22, 1 January 2024

Gaius Avidius Nigrinus (died 118 AD) was a Roman senator who lived between the 1st and 2nd centuries. Nigrinus served as suffect consul for the nundinium of April to June 110 with Tiberius Julius Aquila Polemaeanus as his colleague.

Ancestry[edit]

Nigrinus’ ancestors were Romans of the highest political rank: he was the son of an elder Gaius Avidius Nigrinus, and his uncle was the consul Titus Avidius Quietus. Nigrinus’ family was wealthy, distinguished and well-connected politically in Faventia (modern Faenza, Italy), where he was born and raised. Nigrinus and his family may have been related to Gaius Petronius Pontius Nigrinus, who was consul in the year 37.

His family had strong links to Greece. The father of Nigrinus had served as Proconsul of Achaea during the reign of Emperor Domitian (81-96), as had his paternal uncle. His family was friendly with Pliny the Younger and Plutarch, the latter of whom dedicated ‘On Brotherly Love’ to the elder Nigrinus and Quietus.

Career[edit]

The earliest known office Nigrinus held was as plebeian tribune in 105; Ronald Syme raises the possibility that he is the Nigrinus Pliny the Younger praises for his speech indicting Varenus Rufus for corruption during his administration of Bithynia and Pontus.[1] Nigrinus later became proconsular governor of Achaea, although it is unclear during what years this was;[2] this was probably part of Trajan’s attempt to recognize and stabilize the administration of the financially troubled province.

Nigrinus was a trusted lieutenant of the Emperor Trajan. During the year of his consulship, Trajan sent Nigrinus to Delphi, Greece as a member of an advisory council to assist the future historian Arrian in settling boundary disputes. This event is recorded in Delphi, where there are honorific inscriptions dedicated to Nigrinus in Greek and Latin.

Following his consulate, Nigrinus was appointed governor of Dacia; he held this office from 113 until his death.[3]

In 117, Trajan died and he was succeeded by his paternal second cousin Hadrian. In the summer of 118, Nigrinus was executed at Faventia on orders of the Senate. According to the Historia Augusta Nigrinus was one of four senators who plotted to kill Hadrian while he was sacrificing, while adding that Hadrian had intended to make Nigrinus his heir apparent; the other three senators were Aulus Cornelius Palma, Lucius Publilius Celsus, and Lusius Quietus.[4] It is possible that Hadrian could have viewed Nigrinus as a potential threat, given his previous high standing and close relationship with Trajan.[5] Anthony Birley mentions the suggestion that Hadrian may have later felt remorse for this act, thus explaining why Hadrian adopted Nigrinus' son-in-law, Ceionius Commodus (who later, following his adoption of Marcus Aurelius, took the name Lucius Aelius). However, Birley also suggests Hadrian adopted Commodus out of "sheer perversity -- Hadrian's desire to infuriate other aspirants."[6]

Family[edit]

Nigrinus is known to have had two wives. The name of his first wife is not known, but their daughter Avidia married Ceionius Commodus; together they had a son, the future Lucius Verus, co-emperor with Marcus Aurelius. His second wife Plautia, had previously been married to Lucius Ceionius Commodus (ordinary consul 106), and after Nigrinus' death married Sextus Vettulenus Civica. Plautia and Nigrinus had a daughter, Avidia Plautia, who had two children, Lucius Titius Plautius Aquilinus (ordinary consul 162) and Plautius Quintillus (ordinary consul 159).[7]

Nerva–Antonine family tree[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Syme, Tactius (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1958) p. 669. Pliny, Epistulae, V.20.6; Pliny mentions Nigrinus twice more: V.13.6f, and VII.6
  2. ^ Werner Eck, "Jahres- und Provinzialfasten der senatorischen Statthalter von 69/70 bis 138/139", Chiron, 13 (1983), p. 186 and n. 479
  3. ^ Eck, "Jahres- und Provinzialfasten der senatorischen Statthalter von 69/70 bis 138/139", Chiron, 12 (1982), pp. 355-361
  4. ^ Historia Augusta, Hadrian, 7.1; translated by Antony Birley, The Lives of the Later Caesars (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1976), p. 64
  5. ^ As suggested by John D. Grainger, Nerva and the Roman Succession Crisis of AD 96-99 (London: Routledge, 2004), pp. 127f
  6. ^ Birley, Marcus Aurelius, (London: Routledge, 1987), p. 42. Syme had previously raised the possibility of Hadrian's remorse motivating him here in Tactius, p. 600.
  7. ^ Birley, Marcus Aurelius, pp. 238, 246

Sources[edit]

Political offices
Preceded byas Ordinary consul Suffect consul of the Roman Empire
110
with Tiberius Julius Aquila Polemaeanus 		Succeeded byas Suffect consul
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