Name Marcus Vinicius Parents Publius Vinicius Spouse Julia Livilla (m. 33 AD) | Died 46 AD Role Julia Livilla's husband Grandparents Marcus Vinicius | |
Similar People Julia Livilla, Germanicus, Caligula, Agrippina the Elder, Agrippina the Younger | ||
Marcus Vinicius (c. 5 BC – AD 46) was a Roman consul and, as husband of Julia Livilla, grandson-in-law (progener) of the emperor Tiberius. He was the son and grandson of two consuls, Publius Vinicius (consul 2 AD) and Marcus Vinicius (consul 19 BC).
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Life
Born at Cales in Campania, Vinicius started his senatorial career as quaestor in AD 20. That same year, Vinicius was requested to take part in the defense of Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso for the murder of Germanicus, but refused. He was present for the trial, as his name appears as one of seven witnesses of the Senatus consultum de Cn. Pisone patre, the Roman Senate's official act concerning Piso' trial and punishmen.
In 30, Vinicius reached the consulship, which he held with Lucius Cassius Longinus. In the same year, Velleius Paterculus published his Histories, which he dedicated to M. Vinicius.
In 33, Tiberius selected him as the husband for Julia Livilla, the youngest daughter of Germanicus. On that occasion, Tacitus describes Vinicius as "mild in character and an elaborate orator."
Between 38-39, Vinicius governed the Roman province of Asia as proconsul; two years earlier, he had been appointed to a committee assigned to estimate the damages caused by a fire on the Aventine Hill.
Vinicius was involved in the assassination of the emperor Caligula and, for a short time, even tried to succeed to the throne.
After Claudius became emperor, Vinicius accompanied him during the Roman conquest of Britain in 43 and was awarded the ornamenta triumphalia. In 45, he was honored with the rare distinction of a second consulship as prior consul; his colleague that year was Titus Statilius Taurus Corvinus.
At Messalina's instigation, Vinicius was killed in 46. He nevertheless received a state funeral.