Lucius Fabius Cilo facts for kids

Lucius Fabius Cilo, whose full name was Lucius Fabius Cilo Septiminus Catinius Acilianus Lepidus Fulcinianus, was an important Roman senator. He was a trusted friend and advisor to Septimius Severus, who later became emperor. Cilo held many important jobs during the reigns of emperors Commodus and Severus. He was a top leader (called a consul) two times: once in 193 and again in 204. His colleague in 204 was Marcus Annius Flavius Libo. We know about Cilo from many old stone carvings (inscriptions) and from histories written by Dio Cassius and in the Historia Augusta. He was married to Cilonia Fabia.

Early Life and Career

Fabius Cilo came from Hispania (which is modern-day Spain). Historians think he might have been from a region called Baetica, or perhaps a town named Iluro. His family was not from the very old, famous Roman families.

We don't know exactly when or how Cilo first came to Rome. But we do know about his career steps, called the cursus honorum, from two statue bases found in Rome.

First Steps in Politics

Cilo's first job was in a group called the decemviri stlitibus judicandis. This was one of the first steps for young men who wanted to become senators. After that, he became a military tribune, which is a military officer, with Legio XI Claudia. This army group was stationed in Moesia Inferior (modern-day Bulgaria), near the Danube River.

When his military service ended, Cilo returned to Rome. He was then appointed quaestor for the Roman province of Crete and Cyrenaica (modern-day Crete and parts of Libya). After this, he officially became a member of the Roman Senate.

He continued to move up the political ladder. He served as a plebeian tribune, which was a protector of the common people. Then, he worked as an assistant (called a legatus) to the governor of Gallia Narbonensis (a part of modern-day France).

Important Roles

Cilo returned to Rome again and became the urban praetor. This was an important judge and city official. Once a senator had finished being a praetor, they could hold many other important jobs.

Cilo's first big job after being praetor was as a commander (legatus legionis) of Legio XVI Flavia Firma. This army group was stationed in Roman Syria. He served there between 180 and 184 AD. Around 185 AD, he became the governor (proconsul) of Gallia Narbonensis.

Back in Rome, he was put in charge of the military treasury (aerarii militaris). He held this job from about 187 to 189 AD. After this, Cilo became the governor of Galatia (in modern-day Turkey) from about 189 AD. He returned to Rome in late 192 AD to become a consul in the following year.

Friend of Emperor Severus

When Emperor Commodus died, Fabius Cilo became very important as a supporter of Septimius Severus. Historians believe Cilo and Severus had many chances to meet and become friends. They might have met when Severus first came to Rome around 164 AD. Later, when Cilo commanded his army group in Syria, Severus was also a commander of another army group nearby. They were also close when Cilo governed Narbonensis and Severus governed the next-door province of Gallia Lugdunensis. It's clear they were good friends by the time Commodus was killed.

Cilo's role became public after Commodus's death. The Historia Augusta mentions that Cilo was given the emperor's body. Historians think Cilo, who was part of a special priestly group, placed Commodus's body in the Mausoleum of Hadrian.

Cilo mostly stayed out of the chaos that followed Commodus's death. However, some historians believe Cilo was responsible for protecting Severus's sons, who were in Rome at the time. This prevented them from being taken hostage. After Severus marched into Rome and became emperor, he gave Cilo the special title of comes Imperatoris, which means "companion of the Emperor." This title showed how much Severus trusted him.

Military and Governing Roles for Severus

Cilo was given command of a mixed group of soldiers called a vexillatio, and he went to Thracia (modern-day Bulgaria). The next year, he fought against Severus's rival, Pescennius Niger, near Perinthus. Cilo's troops suffered heavy losses in this battle. Another army arrived to help Cilo, and they eventually defeated Niger's army.

After this victory, Cilo was made governor of Bithynia and Pontus (in modern-day Turkey). This helped secure the area behind Severus's advancing forces. Once Niger was defeated, Severus focused on his other rival, Clodius Albinus. Severus then moved Cilo to govern the important province of Moesia Superior (around 195 AD), and then the strategic province of Pannonia Superior (from 197 to 201/202 AD). These appointments showed that Cilo was a very trusted associate who could manage important matters while Severus was away from Rome.

From Pannonia, Cilo returned to Rome to become the urban prefect. This was a very high position, like the mayor of Rome. He held this job from about 202 AD until after Severus died in 211 AD. While he was urban prefect, he saved the life of Marcus Opellius Macrinus, who later became emperor. Cilo also served as consul for the second time in 204 AD while he was urban prefect.

Emperor Severus gave Cilo a large house (a domus) on the Aventine Hill in Rome. This house is shown on an ancient map of Rome, the Forma Urbis Romae. It was located near the gardens of Cilonia Fabia, his wife.

Life Under Caracalla

Cilo also served under Caracalla, who was Septimius Severus's oldest son and became emperor after his father. Caracalla later decided to kill his own brother and co-ruler, Geta, and also a famous lawyer named Papinian. Cilo had advised the brothers to get along.

When Caracalla decided to kill Cilo, soldiers seized him. They tore off his senator's robe and pulled off his boots. Luckily, Caracalla stopped them. According to the historian Dio Cassius, Caracalla had often called Cilo "father" because Cilo had been his tutor and helped him. The soldiers had plundered Cilo's home and were leading him through the city to kill him. He was only wearing slippers and a short tunic because he had been in the bath when he was arrested.

The soldiers were rough with him, tearing his clothes and hurting his face. The people and soldiers in the city started to protest. Caracalla, seeing this, met the group and protected Cilo with his military cloak. He shouted, "Do not insult my father! Do not strike my tutor!" The military officer and soldiers who had been ordered to kill Cilo were later put to death. Caracalla pretended they were killed because they had plotted against Cilo, but it was really because they failed to kill him. Caracalla even claimed, "Those who have plotted against him have plotted against me."

See also

In Spanish: Lucio Fabio Cilón para niños