Lucius Neratius Marcellus facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lucius Neratius Marcellus
Consul of the Roman Republic
In office 13 January 95 – April 95 Serving with Titus Flavius Clemens
Preceded by	Domitian with Titus Flavius Clemens
Succeeded by	Aulus Bucius Lappius Maximus with Publius Ducenius Verus
In office January 129 – February 129 Serving with Publius Juventius Celsus Titus Aufidius Hoenius Severianus
Preceded by	Aulus Egrilius Plarianus with Q. [...]
Succeeded by	Quintus Julius Balbus
Personal details
Born	Unknown
Died	Unknown (After 129 AD)
Spouses	Corellia Hispulla Domitia Vettilla
Military service
Allegiance	Roman Empire
Commands	Military tribune of Legio XII Fulminata Governor of Britannia

Lucius Neratius Marcellus was an important Roman official and soldier who lived during the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. He held many jobs serving the Roman Emperor. Marcellus became a consul (a top leader) twice. First, he was consul in 95 AD under Emperor Domitian. Later, he was consul again in 129 AD under Emperor Hadrian. His life shows how "patronage" worked in ancient Rome. Patronage meant powerful people helped others get important jobs.

Marcellus was a military tribune, which is a high-ranking officer, with the Legio XII Fulminata (a Roman army group). He was the first person known to be the "recorder of the minutes of the Senate." This meant he wrote down what happened in the Roman Senate meetings. He also served as the Governor of Britannia (Roman Britain) from 101 to 104 AD. During this time, Britain did not have enough soldiers. Local tribes were causing trouble. Marcellus helped make the situation safer. He also oversaw the army moving back to a new border line. This new line later became Hadrian's Wall.

Early Life and Family

The Neratia family came from a town called Saepinum in Italy. Experts believe that Lucius Neratius Marcellus was the natural son of Lucius Neratius Priscus. However, he was adopted by his uncle, Marcus Hirrius Fronto Neratius Pansa. His uncle was a consul in 73 or 74 AD and had no children of his own.

Marcellus is believed to have been married twice. One of his wives was Domitia Vettilla. She was the daughter of Lucius Domitius Apollinaris, who was a consul in 97 AD. Some historians also think he married Corellia Hispulla. She was the daughter of Pliny the Younger's friend, Quintus Corellius Rufus. It was common for Romans to have more than one wife during their lifetime.

Early Career in Rome

An old stone inscription found in Saepinum tells us about Marcellus's early career. When he was a teenager, he was one of the tresviri monetalis. These were young officials in charge of making coins. This was a very important job, usually given to people from noble families.

An inscription found in Xanthos suggests he went with his adoptive father to the Roman province of Lycia. His father was the imperial governor there. When they returned to Rome, both Marcellus and his father were "adlected" (promoted) into the patrician class. This happened around 73 or 74 AD. Being a patrician was a high social status. It meant he did not have to hold some of the usual lower offices before becoming a consul.

Marcellus then became the "recorder of the minutes of the Senate." He was the first person known to hold this specific job. At age 25, he became a quaestor. A quaestor was a financial officer. Marcellus was chosen to work directly for the Emperor. Part of his job was to read the Emperor's speeches to the Senate. After this, he joined a very old priestly group called the Salius Palatinus.

Marcellus continued to serve the Emperor as a tribunus laticlavius (a military officer) with the Legio XII Fulminata. This army group was part of an expedition led by his adoptive father in Cappadocia. This military trip likely happened in 75 and 76 AD.

Because he was a patrician, Marcellus did not have to hold certain jobs between being a praetor (another type of judge/official) and becoming a consul. He became a suffect consul (a consul who takes over for someone else) in 95 AD. He replaced Emperor Domitian. This was a great honor, almost as good as being a regular consul. After his first time as consul, Marcellus became the curator aquarum urbis. This meant he was in charge of the city's aqueducts, which brought water to Rome. He held this job before becoming governor of Roman Britain in 101 AD. We know he was governor by 103 AD because of a military diploma (an official document) from that time.

Governor of Britain and Later Life

Britannia (yellow), within the Roman Empire

Marcellus was the Governor of Britannia from 101 to 104 AD. Around this time, the Roman army in Britain was struggling. They found it hard to control the land that Agricola had conquered years before. Some Roman army groups had been moved to other parts of the empire. Emperor Trajan also needed more soldiers for a war, so he took some detachments (small groups of soldiers) from Britain.

The local tribes in Britain took advantage of the smaller Roman army. Places like Newstead show signs of being burned down. This suggests attacks by hostile tribes. The Roman border was moved back from the area of the Antonine Wall to the line of the Stanegate. This new line later became Hadrian's Wall. Marcellus was in charge of at least part of this big change and reorganization.

Lucius Neratius Marcellus was a friend of Pliny the Younger, a famous Roman writer. Pliny wrote a letter that mentions Marcellus. Pliny had asked Marcellus to make Suetonius (another famous writer) a military tribune in Britain. Marcellus agreed, showing his power to make military appointments. Suetonius later turned down the job, so Pliny gave it to one of Suetonius's relatives instead. This story shows how Marcellus could use his connections to help his friends.

Another example of Marcellus's influence comes from a letter found at the Roman fort of Vindolanda. The commander of a Batavian army group, Flavius Cerialis, wrote to his friend Crispinus. He wrote about meeting Governor Marcellus. Historians think Cerialis was asking Crispinus to help him get along well with important people. This would make his military service more pleasant.

The next time we hear about Neratius Marcellus is many years after he returned from Britain. He became a regular consul again in 129 AD. He served alongside Publius Juventius Celsus Titus Aufidius Hoenius Severianus. Emperor Hadrian relied on Marcellus's brother for advice. Because of this, historians believe Marcellus was also close to Hadrian. This might be why he received the great honor of being consul for a second time.