Publius Metilius Nepos facts for kids

Publius Metilius Nepos lived a long time ago, from about 45 AD to 127 AD. He was an important Roman official, a senator, during the late 90s AD. He became a special kind of leader called a suffect consul in 91 AD. Later, Emperor Domitian chose him to be the governor of Britannia (which is now England and Wales). He was governor from 96 AD to 98 AD.

A Roman Leader

Publius Metilius Nepos was a key figure in the Roman Empire. As a senator, he was part of the Roman government. Senators helped make laws and guide the empire.

Becoming a Consul

In 91 AD, Nepos became a suffect consul. A consul was one of the highest elected officials in Rome. They were like the top leaders of the government. A "suffect consul" meant he took over for someone else during the year.

Governor of Britannia

After being a consul, Nepos was chosen to be the governor of Britannia. This was a very important job. Governors were in charge of Roman provinces, making sure laws were followed and keeping peace. He served as governor from 96 AD to 98 AD.

While Publius Metilius Nepos was governor, he helped start new Roman towns in Britain. These towns were called colonies. They were built for retired Roman soldiers. Two important colonies founded during his time were:

• Colonia Domitiana Lindensium, which is now the city of Lincoln.
• Colonia Nervia Glevensium, which is now the city of Gloucester.

These colonies helped spread Roman culture and control throughout Britain.

Understanding His Life

It can be tricky to know all the details about ancient Romans. Sometimes, records are unclear. For Publius Metilius Nepos, there might have been two different people with very similar names.

Two Possible Nepos

Some old records mention a "Publius Metilius Sabinus Nepos." This person was part of a special group called the Frater Arvale, who performed religious ceremonies. This Nepos was recorded as attending meetings in 105, 110, and 111 AD. He seems to have died by 118 AD.

However, another record from Roman Egypt talks about a "P. Metilius Nepos II" who was a consul in 128 AD. This suggests he died in late 127 AD. It's likely that there were two different important Romans named Nepos, living at slightly different times. One died around 118 AD, and the other around 127 AD.

Family Connections

Historians also wonder if Publius Metilius Nepos had children. There was a "Publius Metilius P.f. Secundus" who was a consul in 123 AD. He could have been the son of either of the Metilii Nepotes. More information is needed to be sure about his family tree.