Quintus Antistius Adventus facts for kids

Quintus Antistius Adventus was an important Roman politician and general who lived a long time ago, from about 120 AD to after 175 AD. He was a leader in the Roman army, commanding a group of soldiers called the II Adiutrix. He led them in a big war against the Parthian Empire between 161 and 166 AD. Later, around 166 AD, he became a consul, which was a very high-ranking official in the Roman government.

His full name was Quintus Antistius Adventus Postumius Aquilinus. We know this from two old stone carvings found in what is now Algeria. Some historians believe his brother was Lucius Antistius Mundicius Burrus. They also think his nephew was likely Lucius Antistius Burrus, who became a consul in 181 AD.

His Journey to Power

Quintus Antistius Adventus had many important jobs during his life. He started his career in Rome, working with a group called the quattuorviri viarum curandarum. These four officials were in charge of keeping the streets and public places in Rome tidy. This was one of the first steps a young man took to become a senator.

Early Military and Government Roles

After his first job, Adventus became a tribunus laticlavius in the Legio I Minervia. This meant he was a high-ranking officer in a Roman legion. When he returned to Rome, he was chosen as a quaestor. A quaestor was like a financial manager. Adventus went to Macedonia to manage its money.

Once he finished being a quaestor, he officially joined the Roman Senate. Next, he was a sevir equitum Romanorum, which meant he led a yearly review of the Roman knights. Then, he held the traditional job of a plebeian tribune. This role protected the rights of common people.

Serving in Africa and as Praetor

Adventus was then chosen to be an assistant, or legatus, to the governor of Africa. He stayed there for a year. After that, he returned to Rome to become a praetor. A praetor was an important judge and leader. Historians believe he was a praetor around 158 AD.

Military Commands and Governorships

After being a praetor, Adventus became the commander of the Legio VI Ferrata. He was in this role when the war with the Parthian Empire began. He was then moved to command the II Adiutrix around 162 AD. He received many military awards, called dona militaria, for his bravery in fighting the Parthians. This shows he was a very active and successful general.

Governing Roman Provinces

Around 164 AD, Adventus was appointed governor of Arabia. An old stone carving from a city called Bostra says he was going to be a consul while in Arabia. His next job was back in Rome, where he was in charge of public buildings and projects.

Leading the German Expedition

Later, Quintus Antistius Adventus was given a very special command. He became a general in the German Expedition, which was a big military campaign launched by the emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus in 168 AD. His job was to protect the passes through the Julian Alps from German tribes. He commanded two newly formed legions, the II Italica and III Italica. Even though the tribes did get through the Alps in 170 AD, Adventus had likely moved on to become the governor of Germania Inferior by then. This was his last known job listed on the inscription from Thibilis.

Governor of Roman Britain

Another old inscription found near Hadrian's Wall in Lanchester (called RIB 1083) tells us that Adventus was also the governor of Roman Britain. Historians think he was there from about 173 to 176 AD. During his time in Britain, 5,500 Sarmatian cavalry soldiers arrived. One of his tasks was to find land for these soldiers to live on. We don't know what he did after being governor of Britain.

Family Life

Quintus Antistius Adventus was married to Novia Crispina. Some historians believe she was the daughter of Lucius Novius Crispinus Martialis Saturninus, who was a consul around 150 or 151 AD. This marriage might have helped Adventus start his career in the Senate. Historians also think that Lucius Antistius Burrus, who became a consul in 181 AD and was the son-in-law of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, was his son.