Name Gaius Silanus | ||
Gaius Junius Silanus was a Roman consul in 10 AD. At some time after that he was appointed proconsul of Asia. In 22 AD he was accused of malversation (misconduct). To this alleged crime his accusers in the senate added the charges of treason (majestas) and sacrilege to the divinity of Augustus.
Tacitus suggests that the charge of treason was added to his charges in order to intimidate Silanus' friends from defending him. Silanus, deserted by his friends and without experience in pleading, abandoned his defence.
It was proposed to outlaw and banish him to the island of Gyarus; but Tiberius changed the place of his exile to the less inhospitable island of Cynthus which his sister Torquata had begged might be his place of punishment. He had at least three sons: Appius Junius Silanus, consul in 28, Decimus Junius Silanus who was in an affair with Julia the Younger and Marcus Junius Silanus, consul suffectus in 15.