Name Gaius Fronto | ||
Gaius Caristanius Fronto was a Roman soldier and equites whom Vespasian promoted to the Roman Senate for his loyalty to the latter in the Year of Four Emperors (AD 69). He was appointed suffect consul in AD 90.
According to an inscription found at Antioch in Pisidia, which has been assumed to be his home, Caristanius had a typical equestrian career, first as a prefect of a cohort, followed by serving as tribunus angusticlavus, and lastly as prefect of an auxiliary alae raised from natives of the Bosporus. It was after he was promoted to the Senate with first tribunician rank, then adlected with praetorian status -- thus excusing him from the trouble and expenses of the praetorship -- he was appointed governor of Bithynia et Pontus in the 70s. Next Caristanius served as legatus or commander of the Legio IX Hispana; Birley believes this was c. 76-9, during the administrations of Sex. Julius Frontinus and Agricola. Afterwards Caristanius served as governor of Lycia et Pamphylia from 81 to 84 according to Werner Eck, then became suffect consul. A fragmentary inscription found near Synnada led Cheesman to suggest he might have been Proconsul of Asia.
Other inscriptions found at Antioch in Pisidia provide further personal information. Caristanius was the descendant of C. Caristanius Fronto Casesianus Julius, a Roman colonist settled there during the reign of Augustus. Married to Sergia L. f. Paulla, likely a daughter of the Proconsul of Cyprus, the colonist is known to have two sons, Fronto and Paulinus. C. Caristanius Julianus, proconsul of Achaea around 101, was either Fronto's younger brother or a cousin.