Gaius Aufidius Victorinus facts for kids
Gaius Aufidius Victorinus was an important Roman senator and general who lived in the second century. He was a close friend of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. He was also the son-in-law of a famous speaker and lawyer named Marcus Cornelius Fronto. Victorinus served as a consul (a high-ranking official) twice and governed several Roman provinces.
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Victorinus's Life and Work
Victorinus came from a town called Pisaurum in Umbria, a region in Italy. He studied with Fronto at the same time as Marcus Aurelius, which is how their friendship began.
Early Career and Governorships
In 155 AD, Victorinus became a suffect consul. This meant he filled a consul position that had become empty. From about 162 to 166 AD, he was the governor of Germania Superior, a Roman province in what is now Germany. His job there was to push back the Chatti, a Germanic tribe that was invading. He did this successfully.
His teacher, Fronto, wrote two letters to Victorinus while he was governor. In one letter, Fronto asked for Victorinus's help to get a job for a teacher named Antoninus Aquila. In the second letter, Fronto updated Victorinus about his two sons, whom Victorinus had left with Fronto while he was away.
After his time in Germania Superior, Victorinus became governor of Dacia (around 168-169 AD). Then he governed Hispania Baetica (probably 170-171 AD) and Hispania Tarraconensis (171-172 AD), both in what is now Spain.
Later Career and Challenges
Victorinus then became the proconsul of Africa (around 173-175 AD), a very important province. Between 177 and 179 AD, he was the governor of Syria.
His last major role was as the Urban Prefect, a high official in Rome, probably from 179 to 183 AD. During this time, he was consul for a second time in 183 AD, serving alongside Emperor Commodus.
Even after Marcus Aurelius died and Commodus became emperor, Victorinus was still highly respected. However, the historian Cassius Dio suggests that Commodus, perhaps influenced by a powerful official named Sextus Tigidius Perennis, might have wanted to harm Victorinus.
Family Life
Victorinus married Gratia, the daughter of his teacher Fronto. They had at least three sons. Sadly, one of their sons died at the age of three while Victorinus was governor in Germania Superior.
His other two sons grew up to be important figures themselves:
- Marcus Aufidius Fronto became a consul in 199 AD.
- Gaius Aufidius Victorinus became a consul in 200 AD.
