Marcus Silanus

Marcus Junius Silanus (c.26 BC-37) [Barrett (1989), p. 76] was a suffect consul in 15. [Barrett (1989), p. 32] His daughter Junia Claudilla was the first wife of Emperor Caligula. [Barrett (1989), p. 32] His brother was a senator named Decimus Junius Silanus who was banished for an affair with Vipsania Julia during the reign of Augustus. [Barrett (1989), p. 32]

Marcus Silanus was a highly respected man. When Tiberius came to power, any judicial decisions by Silanus that were appealed to the emperor, were not tried and were sent back to Silanus. [Ferrill (1991), p. 86] [Barrett (1989), p. 32] He had the honor of casting the first vote in the Senate, [Barrett (1989), p. 76] and Silanus successfully talked Tiberius into recalling the banishment of his brother Decimus. [Barrett (1989), p. 32]

In 33, his daughter Junia Claudilla married Caligula. [Barrett (1989), p. 32] [Garzetti (1974), p. 73] She died in 36 [Ferrill (1991), p. 106] or early 37 [Garzetti (1974), p. 86] but according to Philo, he continued to treat Caligula as his own son. [Philo, 65] In November or December of 37, Caligula had him executed for unclear reasons. Suetonius claims he plotted against Caligula [Suetonius, 23.3] while Philo and other sources claim the emperor was simply annoyed by him. [Barrett (1989), p. 76] [Philo, 65]

Citations

References

* Barrett, Anthony A. (1989). "Caligula: The Corruption of Power". New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN 0-300-04653-7.

* Ferrill, Arther (1991) "Caligula: Emperor of Rome". New York: Thames and Hudson. ISBN 0-500-25112-6.

* Garzetti, Albino (1976) "From Tiberius to the Antonines: A History of the Roman Empire from AD 12-192". London: Methuen & Co. LTD. ISBN 0-416-70480-8.

* Suetonius, "Life of Caligula"

* Philo, "On Embassy to Gaius"

External links

* [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Caligula*.html "Life of Caligula" by Suetonius]
* [http://www.brainfly.net/html/books/brn0285.htm "On Embassy to Gaius" by Philo]