Marcus Plautius Silvanus

Marcus Plautius Silvanus was a Roman politician and general who was consul in 2 BC.

Biography

Silvanus was the son of Urgulania, a close friend of the empress Livia, and it was Livia's intercession that allowed Silvanus to climb the cursus honorum, leading to the consulate in 2 BC alongside Augustus.^[1][2] He was then made proconsul of Asia in 4-5 AD,^[3] followed by a posting as imperial legate in Galatia in 6 AD, where he was involved in supressing the Isaurians.^[4]

Whilst there, news broke of the Great Illyrian Revolt. In 7 AD Silvanus was summoned by Tiberius who was in charge of the military situation in Illyricum, ordering him to bring his troops to help supress the revolt.^[5] He joined up with Caecina Severus, the imperial legate of Moesia and and fought a major battle against the rebels at Sirmium. The Roman forces were victorius, but suffered very heavy losses.^[6] Silvanus remaied at the head of his forces until 9 AD, during which time he served in Pannonia.^[7] Dalmatia,^[8] as well as Illyricum.^[9]

Although serving under Tiberius for the duration of the revolt, Tiberius had some doubts concering Silvanus, especially his close connection with Tiberius' mother Livia.^[10]

Sources

• Syme, Ronald, The Roman Revolution, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1939.

References

1. ^ Syme, pg. 422
2. ^ Dio Cassius, Epitome of Roman History LV.0
3. ^ Syme, pg. 435; Ronald Syme, The Augustan Aristocracy, Oxford University Press 1989, p. 340
4. ^ Syme, pgs. 399 & 435
5. ^ Syme, pgs. 399 & 436
6. ^ Syme, pg. 399
7. ^ Dio LV.34
8. ^ Dio LVI.12
9. ^ Velleius Paterculus II.112
10. ^ Syme, pgs 422-423

Preceded by Lucius Cornelius Lentulus and Marcus Valerius Messalla Messallinus

Ordinary consul of the Roman Empire with Octavianus Augustus 2 BC

Succeeded by Gaius Fufius Geminus and Lucius Caninius Gallus

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Name	Silvanus, Marcus Plautius
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