The gens Didia, or Deidia, as the name was spelled on coins, was a plebeian family at Rome, which first appears during the latter period of the Republic. Cicero calls them novi homines. The only member of the family who obtained the consulship under the Republic was Titus Didius, in 98 BC.
The Didii used the praenomina Titus, Sextus, Gaius, Quintus, Aulus, and Lucius.
Branches and cognomina
In the time of the Republic, no Didius bore a cognomen.
This list includes abbreviated praenomina. For an explanation of this practice, see filiation.
Sextus Didius, grandfather of the consul of 98 BC.
Titus Didius Sex. f., tribune of the people in 143 BC, was probably the author of the sumptuary law, lex Didia, which was binding on all of Italy, in contrast with the lex Fannia of 161, which had no power except in the city of Rome. He is probably the same Titus Didius who was sent as praetor against the revolted slaves in Sicily, about 138.
Titus Didius T. f. Sex. n., as praetor in 100 BC, triumphed over the Scordisci; consul in 98, he and his colleague passed the lex Caecilia Didia. Afterwards proconsul in Spain, he triumphed over the Celtiberians. Didius fell during the Social War, in the spring of 89.
Titus Didius (T. f. T. n.), tribune of the plebs in 95 BC, he and his colleague, Lucius Aurelius Cotta, were driven by force from the tribunal hearing the disputes arising from the accusation brought against Caepio.
Gaius Didius, legate of Caesar in 46 BC, was sent against Gnaeus Pompeius, and gained a naval victory over Quintus Attius Varus. Didius pursued Pompeius, and took or burnt his ships. After the death of Pompeius, Didius was attacked by his quarry's Lusitanian soldiers, and fell under their strokes.
Quintus Didius, governor of Syria in 31 BC. Although probably appointed by Marcus Antonius, he deserted his cause after the Battle of Actium, and prevailed upon the Arabs to burn the fleet that Antonius had built in the Red Sea.
Aulus Didius Gallus, superintendent of aqueducts during the reign of Caligula, AD 40; under Claudius, commanded a Roman army in Bosporus, AD 50, and subsequently appointed to succeed Publius Ostorius Scapula as governor of Britain.
Aulus Didius Gallus Fabricius Veiento, praetor during the reign of Nero, he was banished for publishing a number of libels, and for supposedly selling the honours granted by the emperor. He subsequently returned to Rome and became a favourite of Domitian. According to Aurelius Victor, served as consul under Domitian, although his name does not appear in the Fasti.
Didius Scaeva, one of the generals of Vitellius, who was slain at the taking of the Capitol in AD 69.
Lucius Didius Marinus, the second husband of Annia Cornificia Faustina Minor, daughter of the emperor Marcus Aurelius.
Quintus Petronius Didius Q. f. Severus, father of the emperor Didius Julianus.
Marcus Didius Q. f. Q. n. Salvius Julianus, afterwards Marcus Didius Commodus Severus Julianus, consul in AD 175 and 179, and Roman emperor for nine weeks in AD 193.
Didius Q. f. Q. n. Proculus, brother of the emperor Didius Julianus.
Didius Q. f. Q. n. Nummius Albunus, brother of the emperor Didius Julianus.
Didia Q. f. Q. n. Clara, daughter and only child of Didius Julianus.
