The gens Bellicia was an aristocratic plebeian family at ancient Rome, which flourished during the first and second centuries. The Bellicii rose to prominence from Gallia Narbonensis, attaining senatorial status with Gaius Bellicius Natalis, who was appointed consul suffectus in AD 68.
The nomen Bellicius, spelt Vellicius in several inscriptions of Lucius Bellicius Sollers,[1] belongs to a class of gentilicia formed from cognomina ending in -icus.[2] The root, Bellicus, means "fierce" or "warlike",[3] being one of an abundant type of surname originally derived from the character of the bearer.[4]
The earliest Bellicii appearing in history bore the cognomen Natalis, a Latin adjective referring to the circumstances of one's birth or nativity,[5] although the circumstance through which this became their surname is unknown. Sollers, belonging to a soldier of the early second century, denoted someone thought particularly skilled or clever.[6] The names of subsequent generations of this family probably indicate their descent from other distinguished families of the era, as well as several illustrious families of the Republic. Of particular note are Flaccus, a common surname originally bestowed on someone with large or floppy ears,[7] borne by prominent branches of the Fulvii and Valerii, and Torquatus, famous from the Manlia gens, who acquired it as the result of a legendary combat between Titus Manlius Imperiosus and a giant Gaul, whose torque Manlius claimed as a token of his victory.[8] The surname was borne for centuries by the Manlii, and later by a branch of the Junii who were descended from them.