The Senatorial Ascent
Marcus Peducaeus Stloga Priscinus in the Age of Antoninus Pius: An Examination of Roman Governance, Family Ties, and Provincial Administration in the Mid-Second Century AD.
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Overview
A Figure in Roman Governance
Marcus Peducaeus Stloga Priscinus was a distinguished Roman senator whose active career spanned the middle of the second century AD. His prominence is primarily understood through the lens of his senatorial rank and his attainment of the ordinary consulship, a position of immense prestige and political significance within the Roman Empire.
Historical Context
Operating during the era of the Emperor Antoninus Pius (138โ161 AD), Priscinus navigated a period often characterized by relative peace and stability, known as the Pax Romana. This era saw the consolidation of Roman power and the flourishing of its administrative structures, within which senators like Priscinus played crucial roles.
Limited Direct Evidence
While his senatorial career is acknowledged, the specific details of Marcus Peducaeus Stloga Priscinus's public life are not extensively documented in surviving historical narratives. Our understanding is largely derived from epigraphic evidenceโinscriptions found on stone monumentsโwhich provide crucial, albeit sometimes fragmented, insights into his career trajectory and familial connections.
Family and Lineage
The Peducaei Gens
Priscinus hailed from the Peducaei, a family with Republican roots, indicating a lineage that predated the imperial system and likely held significant standing across generations. Membership in such established families was often a prerequisite for high political office in the Roman senatorial order.
Paternal Heritage
His father was Marcus Peducaeus Priscinus, who himself achieved the esteemed position of ordinary consul in 110 AD. This direct familial connection to a former consul underscores the established political pedigree of the Priscinus line within the Roman elite.
Potential Adoption and Succession
Scholarly discourse has often posited that Marcus Peducaeus Stloga Priscinus may have adopted Marcus Peducaeus Plautius Quintillus. Quintillus, who later served as ordinary consul in 177 AD, was the biological son of Plautius Quintillus (consul in 159 AD). Such adoptions were common mechanisms within Roman aristocratic families to ensure the continuation of names, fortunes, and political influence across generations.
The Ordinary Consulship
Attaining the Highest Office
The pinnacle of Priscinus's documented political career was his service as an ordinary consul in the year 141 AD. This was a highly coveted position, typically held by two individuals who presided over the Roman Senate and administered the state. Serving as ordinary consul marked an individual as a member of the highest echelon of Roman political leadership.
Collegial Partnership
During his consulship in 141 AD, Marcus Peducaeus Stloga Priscinus served alongside Titus Hoenius Severus. The collaboration between consuls was essential for the functioning of the Roman government, and their joint tenure signifies a shared responsibility in governing the empire during that specific year.
Consular Succession
The following table outlines Priscinus's position within the consular sequence, indicating his predecessors and successors as ordinary consuls for the year 141 AD.
The Proconsulship of Asia: A Scholarly Debate
Epigraphic Evidence from Ephesus
An inscription discovered in the Great Theatre at Ephesus provides a crucial, yet debated, piece of evidence regarding Priscinus's career. This inscription names a Marcus Peducaeus Priscinus as the proconsular governor of the Roman province of Asia.
Conflicting Interpretations
The identification of this individual with Marcus Peducaeus Stloga Priscinus has been a subject of scholarly discussion:
- Gรฉza Alfรถldy, a prominent historian of Roman social and political structures, has supported the identification, suggesting this role was part of Priscinus's senatorial career.
- Conversely, Ronald Syme, another highly influential Roman historian, contested this attribution. Syme argued that the inscription likely referred to Priscinus's father, Marcus Peducaeus Priscinus (the consul of 110 AD), rather than the son.
This discrepancy highlights the challenges in reconstructing the careers of Roman officials based solely on fragmented inscriptions, where precise dating and differentiation between individuals with similar names can be difficult.
Enduring Legacy and Unanswered Questions
A Career Defined by Office
Beyond his consulship and the debated proconsulship, the specific trajectory of Marcus Peducaeus Stloga Priscinus's senatorial career remains largely unelaborated in extant historical records. His known public life is primarily defined by the high offices he held, reflecting the structured progression expected of Roman elites.
The Importance of Inscriptions
The surviving inscriptions serve as the primary testament to Priscinus's existence and his participation in the Roman political system. They are invaluable sources that allow historians to piece together the administrative and social fabric of the Roman Empire, even for figures whose lives are not detailed in narrative histories.
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References
References
- Olli Salomies, Adoptive and Polyonymous Nomenclature in the Roman Empire (Helsinki: Societas Scientiarum Fennica, 1992), p. 101
- Gรยฉza Alfรยถldy, Konsulat und Senatorenstand unter den Antoninen (Bonn: Habelt Verlag, 1977), p. 214.
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Disclaimer
Historical Interpretation and AI Generation
This page has been generated by an Artificial Intelligence, synthesizing information from available sources, primarily the Wikipedia article on Marcus Peducaeus Stloga Priscinus. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy and adherence to the provided source material, historical interpretation can be complex, and AI-generated content may contain nuances or omissions.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for rigorous academic research or professional historical consultation. The information presented reflects a specific interpretation based on limited data and scholarly debate, particularly concerning the proconsulship of Asia. Users are encouraged to consult primary sources and peer-reviewed historical scholarship for a comprehensive understanding.
The creators of this page are not responsible for any inaccuracies, omissions, or interpretations derived from this AI-generated content.