Marcus Velleius Paterculus

Jane Bellemore (University of Newcastle)

Ed. by William John Dominik, University of Otago
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.1.2: Ancient Roman Writing and Culture (Republic and Empire), -750-476.
Vol. editors: William John Dominik (University of Otago), Giacomo Fedeli (University of Exeter), Thomas Habinek (University of Southern California), Emily Kneebone (University of Nottingham), Elodie Paillard (University of Sydney), Sophia Papaioannou (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), Jula Wildberger (American University of Paris)

Dates

Born c. -19
Died 31
Activity 2-30

Places

Born in Ancient Rome (Republic & Empire)
Active in Ancient Rome (Republic & Empire)

Activities

Primary

Historian / Chronicler

Resources

Velleius' Works

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Although of Italian stock, Velleius (b. ca 20 BC) was a high-ranking Roman (2.76.1, 2.104.3), boasting senators on both sides of his family (2. 16.2-3, 69.5). He entered military service (ca 2 BC) in Thrace and Macedonia as a lowly officer, a tribune (

tribunus militum

), and served in other eastern provinces (2.101.2-3). Velleius witnessed the meeting between Augustus’ son Gaius and the Parthian king on the Euphrates ca AD 1 (2.101.1-3), but he was perhaps in Rome in 4 when Augustus adopted Tiberius (2.103.3-4). As a ranking officer (

praefectus equitum

), Velleius went to Germany under the command of Tiberius in 4, where he replaced his own father as prefect, and he campaigned with Tiberius for nine consecutive years in Germany and the Balkans (2.104.3). He gained deep respect for his…

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877 words

Citation: Bellemore, Jane. "Marcus Velleius Paterculus". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 09 March 2012 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=12631, accessed 19 April 2024.]

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