Publius Galerius Trachalus was a Roman senator, who was active during the middle of the first century AD. He was consul for the year 68 as the colleague of Silius Italicus[1] and a noted Roman orator praised by Quintilian.[2][3]

Hailing from Ariminum, Trachalus is thought to possibly be a descendant of the equites Gaius Galerius, praefectus or governor of Egypt (AD 16–23).[4] He was also likely related to Galeria Fundana, the second wife of Otho.[5]

An inscription from Mediolanum (modern Milan), now lost, attests that Trachalus had been co-opted into the Septemviri epulones, one of the four most prestigious ancient Roman priesthoods.[6] Trachalus' skill in oratory and at the bar led Otho, upon becoming Emperor during the Year of the Four Emperors (AD 69), to make him an advisor.[7] With the suicide of Otho and the advent of his rival Vitellius to Rome and imperial power, Trachalus' life was in danger. Here he was protected by Vitellius' wife Galeria.[8] He evaded further danger in that tumultuous year and was permitted to be governor of Africa proconsularis for the term 78/79.[9]

References

  1. ^ Paul A. Gallivan, "Some Comments on the Fasti for the Reign of Nero", Classical Quarterly, 24 (1974), pp. 292, 311
  2. ^ Institutes 10.1.119
  3. ^ William Dominik; Jon Hall (11 January 2010). A Companion to Roman Rhetoric. John Wiley & Sons. p. 511. ISBN 978-1-4443-3415-9.
  4. ^ Werner Eck, "Galerius (4)", Brill's New Pauly, Volume 4 (Stuttgart:Metzler, 1998), Col. 758 ISBN 3-476-01474-6
  5. ^ Gwyn Morgan, 69 A.D., the Year of Four Emperors (Oxford: University Press, 2006), p. 77
  6. ^ CIL V, 5812
  7. ^ Tacitus Histories I.90.2
  8. ^ Tacitus, Histories, II.60
  9. ^ Werner Eck, "Jahres- und Provinzialfasten der senatorischen Statthalter von 69/70 bis 138/139", Chiron, 12 (1982), p. 300
Political offices Preceded byAppius Annius Gallus,and Lucius Verulanus Severusas Suffect consuls Consul of the Roman Empire 68with Silius Italicus Succeeded byNero V,and ignotusas Suffect consul
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