Marcus Cornelius Nigrinus Curiatius Maternus facts for kids

Marcus Cornelius Nigrinus Curiatius Maternus was an important Roman senator and a skilled general. He lived during the time of Domitian, who was a Roman emperor. In AD 83, he held the important position of suffect consul for a few months, sharing the role with Lucius Calventius Sextius Carminius Vetus. While some historians think he might have been a possible successor to Emperor Nerva, he is mostly known today from old stone carvings and writings called inscriptions.

His full name, Marcus Cornelius Nigrinus Curiatius Maternus, is quite long and has led to different ideas about his family. Some experts believe he was born into the Cornelius family and later adopted by someone named Curiatius Maternus. However, the order of his names makes this less likely. Another idea is that his mother might have been from the Curiatius family.

Life of a Roman General

Maternus was born into a respected family of knights (a class of wealthy Romans below senators). His hometown was Liria in Hispania (modern-day Spain), where an inscription honoring him was discovered.

Early Military Career

Before becoming a senator, Maternus served as a military officer, specifically a military tribune, with the Legio XIV Gemina (a Roman legion or army unit). This legion was stationed in Roman Britain at the time.

Becoming a Senator

Later, Emperor Vespasian chose Maternus to join the Roman Senate. This was a special honor because Maternus had shown great loyalty to Vespasian during a difficult period known as the Year of Four Emperors. He was given the rank of an ex-praetor, which was a high-ranking Roman official.

Governing Roman Provinces

Maternus held several important governor positions in different Roman provinces:

• He was the governor of Gallia Aquitania (part of modern-day France) from AD 80 until at least 83.
• He then became the governor of Moesia (a region near the Danube River) from AD 85. When Moesia was divided into two parts, Moesia Inferior and Moesia Superior, he continued as governor of Moesia Inferior until AD 89.

During his time as governor of Moesia, Maternus likely took part in Domitian's Dacian War. He received many military awards, called dona militaria, for his bravery and success. These awards included two mural crowns (for being the first to scale an enemy wall) and two camp crowns (for being the first to enter an enemy camp).

A few years later, in AD 95, Maternus was appointed to govern Syria, an important province in the eastern part of the Roman Empire. He held this position into the reign of Emperor Nerva.

Maternus and Emperor Nerva

The Roman writer Pliny the Younger wrote a letter mentioning a powerful man in charge of a large army in the eastern empire. There were many rumors about this person, some causing concern. It is generally believed that this unnamed person was the governor of Syria at the time, and that he might have been a rival to Trajan for the position of successor to Emperor Nerva.

For a while, people thought this unnamed person was Gaius Octavius Tidius Tossianus Lucius Javolenus Priscus, who was also a governor of Syria. However, some historians now believe it was more likely Marcus Cornelius Nigrinus Curiatius Maternus. Javolenus Priscus was known more as a legal expert than a military leader, making it less likely he would challenge for the throne.

Maternus, on the other hand, was a successful general with a large army under his command in Syria. After AD 97, there are no more records of Maternus. It is possible that if he was seen as a rival to Trajan, he would have been removed from his important position, or worse, after Trajan became emperor.

See also

In Spanish: Marco Cornelio Nigrino para niños