Servilia gens: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 18: Line 18:
The Prisci ("antique") were an ancient family of the Servilia gens, and filled the highest offices of the state during the early years of the Republic. They also bore the agnomen of ''Structus'', which is always appended to their name in the Fasti, till it was supplanted by that of ''Fidenas'', which was first obtained by Quintus Servilius Priscus Structus, who took [[Fidenae]] in his [[Roman dictator|dictatorship]], in 435 BC, and which was also borne by his descendants.<ref>''Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology'', vol. III, p. 528 ("[[s:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology/Servilius Priscus|Servilius Priscus]]").</ref>
The Prisci ("antique") were an ancient family of the Servilia gens, and filled the highest offices of the state during the early years of the Republic. They also bore the agnomen of ''Structus'', which is always appended to their name in the Fasti, till it was supplanted by that of ''Fidenas'', which was first obtained by Quintus Servilius Priscus Structus, who took [[Fidenae]] in his [[Roman dictator|dictatorship]], in 435 BC, and which was also borne by his descendants.<ref>''Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology'', vol. III, p. 528 ("[[s:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology/Servilius Priscus|Servilius Priscus]]").</ref>


''Ahala'', of which ''Axilla'' is merely another form, is a diminutive of ''ala'', a wing. A popular legend related that the name was first given to [[Gaius Servilius Ahala|Gaius Servilius Structus]], [[magister equitum]] in 439 BC, because he hid the knife with which he slew [[Spurius Maelius]] in his armpit (also ''ala''). However, this does not appear to be the case, since the name had been in use by the family for at least a generation before that event.<ref>''Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology'', vol. I, pp. 83 ("[[s:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology/Ahala|Ahala]]"), 448 ("[[s:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology/Axilla|Axilla]]").</ref>
''Ahala'', of which ''Axilla'' is merely another form, is a diminutive of ''ala'', a wing. A popular legend related that the name was first given to [[Gaius Servilius Ahala|Gaius Servilius]], [[magister equitum]] in 439 BC, because he hid the knife with which he slew [[Spurius Maelius]] in his armpit (also ''ala''). However, this does not appear to be the case, since the name had been in use by the family for at least a generation before that event.<ref>''Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology'', vol. I, pp. 83 ("[[s:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology/Ahala|Ahala]]"), 448 ("[[s:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology/Axilla|Axilla]]").</ref>


The surnames ''Caepio'' and ''Geminus'' appear almost simultaneously in the middle of the third century BC, with the consuls of 253 and 252. Each was the grandson of a Gnaeus Servilius, suggesting that the two cognomina belonged to two branches of the same family. ''Caepio'', an onion, belongs to a large class of surnames derived from ordinary objects, while ''Geminus'' originally denoted a twin, and was typically given to the younger of two brothers. In a discussion concerning appearances, [[Cicero]] mentions a certain Quintus Servilius Geminus, who was frequently mistaken for his brother, Publius, the consul of 252 BC. The Servilii Vatiae ("cross-legged") seem to be descended from the Gemini.<ref>''Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology'', vol. I, pp. 533–535 ("[[s:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology/Caepio|Caepio]]"), vol. II, p. 239 ("[[s:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology/Geminus|Geminus]]"), vol. III, pp. 1232, 1233 ("[[s:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology/Vatia|Vatia]]").</ref><ref>Chase, pp. 111–113.</ref><ref>Cicero, ''Academica Priora'', ii. 84.</ref>
The surnames ''Caepio'' and ''Geminus'' appear almost simultaneously in the middle of the third century BC, with the consuls of 253 and 252. Each was the grandson of a Gnaeus Servilius, suggesting that the two cognomina belonged to two branches of the same family. ''Caepio'', an onion, belongs to a large class of surnames derived from ordinary objects, while ''Geminus'' originally denoted a twin, and was typically given to the younger of two brothers. In a discussion concerning appearances, [[Cicero]] mentions a certain Quintus Servilius Geminus, who was frequently mistaken for his brother, Publius, the consul of 252 BC. The Servilii Vatiae ("cross-legged") seem to be descended from the Gemini.<ref>''Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology'', vol. I, pp. 533–535 ("[[s:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology/Caepio|Caepio]]"), vol. II, p. 239 ("[[s:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology/Geminus|Geminus]]"), vol. III, pp. 1232, 1233 ("[[s:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology/Vatia|Vatia]]").</ref><ref>Chase, pp. 111–113.</ref><ref>Cicero, ''Academica Priora'', ii. 84.</ref>
Line 38: Line 38:
===Servilii Ahalae===
===Servilii Ahalae===
* [[Gaius Servilius Structus Ahala (consul 478 BC)|Gaius Servilius Structus Ahala]], consul in 478 BC, died in his year of office.<ref name="Fasti Capitolini"/><ref>Livy, ii. 49.</ref>
* [[Gaius Servilius Structus Ahala (consul 478 BC)|Gaius Servilius Structus Ahala]], consul in 478 BC, died in his year of office.<ref name="Fasti Capitolini"/><ref>Livy, ii. 49.</ref>
* [[Gaius Servilius Ahala|Gaius Servilius Structus Ahala]], magister equitum in 439 BC, slew [[Spurius Maelius]].
* [[Gaius Servilius Ahala]], magister equitum in 439 BC, slew [[Spurius Maelius]].
* Quintus Servilius C. f. Structus Ahala, father of the consul of 427 BC.
* Quintus Servilius, father of the consular tribune of 419 BC.
* [[Gaius Servilius Structus Ahala (consul 427 BC)|Gaius Servilius Q. f. C. n. Structus Ahala]], consul in 427 BC.<ref>Livy, iv. 30.</ref>
* [[Gaius Servilius Structus Ahala (consul 427 BC)|Gaius Servilius Structus Ahala]], consul in 427 BC.<ref>Livy, iv. 30.</ref>{{sfn|Broughton|loc=vol. I, p. 66}}
* Gaius Servilius Q. f. C. n. (Structus) Ahala or Axilla, consular tribune in 419 and 418 BC, and magister equitum in 418. He might be the same person as Gaius Servilius Structus Ahala, consul in 427 BC.<ref name="Fasti Capitolini"/><ref>Livy, iv. 45, 46.</ref>
* Gaius Servilius Q. f. C. n. Axilla, consular tribune in 419, 418 and 417 BC, and magister equitum in 418. He might be the same person as Gaius Servilius Structus Ahala, consul in 427 BC.<ref name="Fasti Capitolini"/><ref>Livy, iv. 45, 46.</ref>{{sfn|Broughton|loc=vol. I, pp. 71–73}}
* Publius Servilius Q. n. Structus Ahala, father of Gaius Servilius Structus Ahala, the magister equitum of 408 BC.
* Publius Servilius Q. n. Ahala, father of Gaius Servilius Ahala, the magister equitum of 408 BC.
* [[Gaius Servilius Ahala (consular tribune 408 BC)|Gaius Servilius P. f. Q. n. Structus Ahala]], consular tribune in 408, 407, and 402 BC, and magister equitum in 408.
* [[Gaius Servilius Ahala (consular tribune 408 BC)|Gaius Servilius P. f. Q. n. Ahala]], consular tribune in 408, 407, and 402 BC, and magister equitum in 408.
* [[Gaius Servilius Ahala (magister equitum 389 BC)|Gaius Servilius Ahala]], magister equitum in 389 and 385 BC.
* [[Gaius Servilius Ahala (magister equitum 389 BC)|Gaius Servilius Ahala]], magister equitum in 389 and 385 BC.
* Quintus Servilius Q. f. Ahala, father of Quintus Servilius Ahala, the consul of 365 BC.
* Quintus Servilius Q. f. Ahala, father of Quintus Servilius Ahala, the consul of 365 BC.
Line 55: Line 55:


===Servilii Caepiones===
===Servilii Caepiones===
* Gnaeus Servilius Caepio, grandfather of the consul of 253 BC.
* Gnaeus Servilius, grandfather of the consul of 253 BC.
* Gnaeus Servilius Cn. f. Caepio, father of the consul of 253 BC.
* Gnaeus Servilius Cn. f., father of the consul of 253 BC.
* [[Gnaeus Servilius Caepio (consul 253 BC)|Gnaeus Servilius Cn. f. Cn. n. Caepio]], consul in 253 BC, during the [[First Punic War]], sailed to the coast of Africa with his colleague, [[Gaius Sempronius Blaesus (consul 253 BC)|Gaius Sempronius Blaesus]].
* [[Gnaeus Servilius Caepio (consul 253 BC)|Gnaeus Servilius Cn. f. Cn. n. Caepio]], consul in 253 BC, during the [[First Punic War]], sailed to the coast of Africa with his colleague, [[Gaius Sempronius Blaesus (consul 253 BC)|Gaius Sempronius Blaesus]].
* Gnaeus Servilius Cn. f. Cn. n. Caepio, father of the consul of 203 BC.
* Gnaeus Servilius Cn. f. Cn. n. Caepio, father of the consul of 203 BC.
Line 81: Line 81:
* Quintus Servilius Q. f. Cn. n. Geminus, twin brother of the consul Publius Servilius Geminus.
* Quintus Servilius Q. f. Cn. n. Geminus, twin brother of the consul Publius Servilius Geminus.
* [[Gnaeus Servilius Geminus|Gnaeus Servilius P. f. Q. n. Geminus]], consul in 217 BC, slain at the [[Battle of Cannae]] in 216.
* [[Gnaeus Servilius Geminus|Gnaeus Servilius P. f. Q. n. Geminus]], consul in 217 BC, slain at the [[Battle of Cannae]] in 216.
* [[Gaius Servilius Geminus (prisoner of war)|Gaius Servilius P. f. Geminus]], praetor before 218 BC, taken prisoner by the [[Boii]] that year. Either he or his sons went over to the plebeians.
* [[Gaius Servilius Geminus (prisoner of war)|Gaius Servilius P. f. (Geminus)]], praetor before 218 BC, taken prisoner by the [[Boii]] that year. Either he or his sons went over to the plebeians.
* [[Gaius Servilius Geminus (consul)|Gaius Servilius C. f. P. n. Geminus]], consul in 203 and dictator in 202 BC, and later [[pontifex maximus|Pontifex Maximus]].
* [[Gaius Servilius Geminus (consul)|Gaius Servilius C. f. P. n. (Geminus)]],{{efn-lr|The ''Fasti'' do not give him the surname Geminus, but do so for his brother, Marcus Servilius Pulex. Livy, however, refers to him as such several times.{{sfn|Broughton|loc=vol. I, p. 314 (note 1)}} }} consul in 203 and dictator in 202 BC, and later [[pontifex maximus]].
* [[Marcus Servilius Pulex Geminus|Marcus Servilius C. f. P. n. Pulex Geminus]], consul in 202 BC.
* [[Marcus Servilius Pulex Geminus|Marcus Servilius C. f. P. n. Pulex Geminus]], consul in 202 BC.
* Marcus Servilius Geminus, consul in AD 3.<ref>Valerius Maximus, i. 8. § 11.</ref>
* [[Marcus Servilius|Marcus Servilius M. f. (Geminus)]], consul in AD 3.<ref>Valerius Maximus, i. 8. § 11.</ref>


===Servilii Cascae===
===Servilii Cascae===

Revision as of 15:26, 7 March 2021

The gens Servilia was a patrician family at ancient Rome. The gens was celebrated during the early ages of the Republic, and the names of few gentes appear more frequently at this period in the consular Fasti. It continued to produce men of influence in the state down to the latest times of the Republic, and even in the imperial period. The first member of the gens who obtained the consulship was Publius Servilius Priscus Structus in 495 BC, and the last of the name who appears in the consular Fasti is Quintus Servilius Silanus, in AD 189, thus occupying a prominent position in the Roman state for nearly seven hundred years.

Like other Roman gentes, the Servilii of course had their own sacra; and they are said to have worshipped a triens, or copper coin, which is reported to have increased or diminished in size at various times, thus indicating the increase or diminution of the honors of the gens. Although the Servilii were originally patricians, in the later Republic there were also plebeian Servilii.[1][2][3]

Origin

According to tradition, the Servilia gens was one of the Alban houses removed to Rome by Tullus Hostilius, and enrolled by him among the patricians. It was, consequently, one of the gentes minores. The nomen Servilius is a patronymic surname, derived from the praenomen Servius (meaning "one who keeps safe" or "preserves"), which must have been borne by the ancestor of the gens.[4][5]

Praenomina

The different branches of the Servilii each used slightly different sets of praenomina. The oldest stirpes used the praenomina Publius, Quintus, Spurius, and Gaius. The Servilii Caepiones used primarily Gnaeus and Quintus. The Servilii Gemini employed Gnaeus, Quintus, Publius, Gaius, and Marcus. The ancestors of the gens must have used the praenomen Servius, but the family no longer used it in historical times.

Branches and cognomina

The Servilii were divided into numerous families; of these the names in the Republican period are Ahala, Axilla, Caepio, Casca, Geminus, Glaucia, Globulus, Priscus (with the agnomen Fidenas), Rullus, Structus, Tucca, and Vatia (with the agnomen Isauricus). The Structi, Prisci, Ahalae, and Caepiones were patricians; the Gemini originally patrician, and later plebeian; the Vatiae and Cascae plebeians. Other cognomina appear under the Empire. The only surnames found on coins are those of Ahala, Caepio, Casca, and Rullus.[1][6]

The cognomen Structus almost always occurs in connection with those of Priscus or Ahala. The only Structus who is mentioned with this cognomen alone is Spurius Servilius Structus, who was consular tribune in 368 BC. The fact that Structus appears in two of the oldest stirpes of the Servilii, neither of which clearly predates the other, could indicate that persons bearing this surname were ancestral to both great houses.[7]

The Prisci ("antique") were an ancient family of the Servilia gens, and filled the highest offices of the state during the early years of the Republic. They also bore the agnomen of Structus, which is always appended to their name in the Fasti, till it was supplanted by that of Fidenas, which was first obtained by Quintus Servilius Priscus Structus, who took Fidenae in his dictatorship, in 435 BC, and which was also borne by his descendants.[8]

Ahala, of which Axilla is merely another form, is a diminutive of ala, a wing. A popular legend related that the name was first given to Gaius Servilius, magister equitum in 439 BC, because he hid the knife with which he slew Spurius Maelius in his armpit (also ala). However, this does not appear to be the case, since the name had been in use by the family for at least a generation before that event.[9]

The surnames Caepio and Geminus appear almost simultaneously in the middle of the third century BC, with the consuls of 253 and 252. Each was the grandson of a Gnaeus Servilius, suggesting that the two cognomina belonged to two branches of the same family. Caepio, an onion, belongs to a large class of surnames derived from ordinary objects, while Geminus originally denoted a twin, and was typically given to the younger of two brothers. In a discussion concerning appearances, Cicero mentions a certain Quintus Servilius Geminus, who was frequently mistaken for his brother, Publius, the consul of 252 BC. The Servilii Vatiae ("cross-legged") seem to be descended from the Gemini.[10][11][12]

Members

Servilii Prisci

Servilii Ahalae

Servilii Structi

  • Gaius Servilius Structus, grandfather of the consular tribune.
  • Gaius Servilius C. f. Structus, father of the consular tribune.
  • Spurius Servilius C. f. C. n. Structus, consular tribune in 368 BC.[2][25][26]

Servilii Caepiones

Servilii Gemini

Servilii Cascae

Servilii Vatiae

Servilii Rulli

Others

Descent of the Servilii of the late Republic

This family tree depicts the Servilii Caepiones, Gemini, and Vatiae, from the third century BC to their known descendants in imperial times, extending down to the family of the emperor Galba. The chart is based on one by Friedrich Münzer.[51]

Stemma Caepionum et Geminorum
Cn. Servilius
Cn. ServiliusQ. Servilius
Cn. Servilius
Caepio
cos. 253 BC		Q. Servilius
Geminus		P. Servilius
Geminus
cos. 252,
248 BC
Cn. Servilius
Caepio		Cn. Servilius
Geminus
cos. 217 BC		C. Servilius
Geminus
pr. c. 220 BC
Cn. Servilius
Caepio
cos. 203 BC		C. Servilius
Geminus
cos. 203 BC,
dict. 202		M. Servilius
Pulex
Geminus
cos. 202 BC
Cn. Servilius
Caepio
cos. 169 BC		C. Servilius
(Geminus)
aed. pl. 173 BC		M. Servilius
(Geminus)
trib. mil. 181 BC
pont. 170
Q. Fabius
Maximus
Servilianus
cos. 142 BC		Cn. Servilius
Caepio
cos. 141 BC,
cens. 125		Q. Servilius
Caepio
cos. 140 BC		M. ServiliusC. Servilius
Vatia
pr. after 146 BC
Q. Fabius
Maximus
Eburnus
cos. 116 BC		Q. Servilius
Caepio
cos. 106 BC		C. Servilius
IIIvir mon.
93 BC		C. Servilius
(Vatia)
pr. 102 BC		P. Servilius
Vatia Isauricus
cos. 79 BC
cens. 55		M. Servilius
Vatia
IIIvir mon. 89 BC
Q. Servilius
Caepio
pr. 91 BC
m. Livia		Cn. Servilius
Caepio
pr. 90 BC		C. Servilius
IIIvir mon. 63 BC		P. Servilius
Vatia
Isauricus
cos. 48, 41 BC
Servilia
Major
m. (1) M. Junius
Brutus
d. 77 BC
m. (2) D. Junius
Silanus
cos. 62 BC		Q. Servilius
Caepio
d. 59 BC		Servilia
Minor
m. L. Licinius
Lucullus
cos. 74 BC		P. Servilius
Vatia
pr. 25 BC		Servilia
m. M. Aemilius
Lepidus
M. Junius
Brutus
d. 42 BC
m. (1) Claudia
Pulcha
m. (2) Porcia		Junia
Prima		Junia
Secunda
m. M. Aemilius
Lepidus
cos. 46, 42 BC
IIIvir		Junia
Tertia
m. C. Cassius
Longinus
d. 42 BC		L. Licinius
Lucullus
M. Aemilius
Lepidus
d. 30 BC
m. Servilia		C. Cassius
Longinus
M'. Aemilius
Lepidus
cos. AD 11		Aemilia Lepida
ex. AD 20
m. (1) Mam. Aemilius Scaurus
cos. suf. AD 21
m. (2) P. Sulpicius Quirinius
cos. 12 BC
Aemilia Lepida
m. Ser. Sulpicius
Galba
cos. AD 33
Imp. 68–69		Aemilia
C. Livius
Ocella Galba
d. c. AD 48		Ser. Livius
Ocella Galba
d. c. AD 60

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The Fasti do not give him the surname Geminus, but do so for his brother, Marcus Servilius Pulex. Livy, however, refers to him as such several times.[38]
  2. ^ T.J. Cadoux distinguishes him from Gaius Casca, tribune of the plebs in 44 BC, who was probably not a Servilius. Appian counted only one of the brothers, Publius, among the assassins, but incorrectly called him Gaius, probably in confusion with the tribune that year. Cadoux's arguments for the existence of 3 Cascae – the two conspirators and the tribune – were accepted by Shackleton Bailey and Broughton.

References

  1. ^ a b Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, vol. III, p. 793 ("Servilia Gens").
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Fasti Capitolini, AE 1900, 83; 1904, 114; AE 1927, 101; 1940, 59, 60.
  3. ^ Gaius Plinius Secundus, Historia Naturalis, xxxiv. 13. s. 38.
  4. ^ Titus Livius, Ab Urbe Condita, i. 30.
  5. ^ George Davis Chase, "The Origin of Roman Praenomina", in Harvard Studies in Classical Philology, vol. VIII (1897).
  6. ^ Joseph Hilarius Eckhel, Doctrina Numorum Veterum, v. p. 308 ff.
  7. ^ Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, vol. III, p. 928 ("Structus").
  8. ^ Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, vol. III, p. 528 ("Servilius Priscus").
  9. ^ Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, vol. I, pp. 83 ("Ahala"), 448 ("Axilla").
  10. ^ Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, vol. I, pp. 533–535 ("Caepio"), vol. II, p. 239 ("Geminus"), vol. III, pp. 1232, 1233 ("Vatia").
  11. ^ Chase, pp. 111–113.
  12. ^ Cicero, Academica Priora, ii. 84.
  13. ^ Dionysius, vi. 40.
  14. ^ Livy, iii. 6, 7.
  15. ^ Dionysius, ix. 67, 68.
  16. ^ Orosius, ii. 12.
  17. ^ Livy, vi. 22, 31, 36.
  18. ^ Livy, vi. 31.
  19. ^ Livy, ii. 49.
  20. ^ Livy, iv. 30.
  21. ^ Broughton, vol. I, p. 66.
  22. ^ Livy, iv. 45, 46.
  23. ^ Broughton, vol. I, pp. 71–73.
  24. ^ Livy, vii. 22, 38.
  25. ^ Livy, vi. 38.
  26. ^ Diodorus Siculus, xv. 78.
  27. ^ Cicero, Epistulae ad Atticum, xii. 5, De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum, ii. 16, In Verrem, i. 55.
  28. ^ Frontinus, De Aquaeductu, 8.
  29. ^ Velleius Paterculus, ii. 10.
  30. ^ Cicero, In Verrem, ii. 8.
  31. ^ Cicero, Epistulae ad Atticum, xii. 20.
  32. ^ Broughton, vol. I, pp. 556, 558 (note 6).
  33. ^ Cicero, Pro Fonteio 14.
  34. ^ Livy, Epitome, 72.
  35. ^ Appian, Bellum Civile, ii. 14.
  36. ^ Suetonius, "The Life of Caesar", 21.
  37. ^ Plutarch, "The Life of Caesar", 14, "The Life of Pompeius", 47.
  38. ^ Broughton, vol. I, p. 314 (note 1).
  39. ^ Valerius Maximus, i. 8. § 11.
  40. ^ Livy, xxv. 3.
  41. ^ Broughton, The Magistrates of the Roman Republic, vol. 3, pp. 194–195
  42. ^ Crawford, Roman Republican Coinage, p. 329.
  43. ^ Cassius Dio, xlviii. 28.
  44. ^ Appian, Bellum Civile, v. 58.
  45. ^ Plutarch, "The Life of Sulla", 9.
  46. ^ Cicero, In Verrem, iii. 71.
  47. ^ Cicero, In Verrem, v. 54.
  48. ^ Cicero, Epistulae ad Familiares, viii. 8 § 3, Epistulae ad Atticum, vi. 3. § 10.
  49. ^ Cicero, Epistulae ad Familiares, xii. 7, Philippicae, iv. 6.
  50. ^ Aelius Lampridius, "The Life of Commodus", 11.
  51. ^ Realencyclopädie der Classischen Altertumswissenschaft, "Servilius", p. 1778.

Bibliography

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Servilia_gens&oldid=1010829096"