Lucceius Albinus

Lucceius Albinus was the Roman Procurator of Judea from 62 until 64 AD and the governor of Mauretania from 64 until 69 AD.

Appointed procurator by the Emperor Nero following the death of his predecessor, Porcius Festus, Albinus faced his first challenge while traveling from Alexandria to his new position in Judea. The Jewish High Priest Ananus ben Ananus used the opportunity created by Festus' death to convene the Sanhedrin and have James the brother of Jesus sentenced to death by stoning for violation of religious law. A delegation sent by citizens upset over the perceived breach of justice met Albinus before he reached Judea, and Albinus responded with a letter informing Ananus that it was illegal to convene the Sanhedrin without Albinus' permission and threatening to punish the priest. Ananus was deposed by Agrippa II before Albinus' arrival.

Immediately upon his arrival in Jerusalem, Albinus began an effort to remove the sicarii from the region. Josephus also records that Albinus became the friend of a High Priest named Ananus due to the priest's gift-giving. The sicarii responded to Albinus's efforts by capturing an assistant to the priest Eleazar, son of Ananus, and demanding the release of ten imprisoned sicarii in exchange for the assistant. The release was arranged by Ananus.

When Albinus learned that he was to be succeeded by Gessius Florus, he emptied the prisons by executing prisoners charged with more serious offenses and allowing the remaining prison population to pay for their release.

Following his time in Judea, Albinus was chosen by Nero to be governor of Mauretania Caesariensis. The province of Mauretania Tingitana was added to Albinus's governor duties by the Emperor Galba. Following Galba's death, Albinus supported Otho in the year of political anarchy (69), which followed Nero's death. Following Otho's death, Albinus was rumored to have styled himself as a king using the title "Juba". Albinus and his wife were assassinated shortly afterwards.