| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
His name suggests that he was an adopted son of a Caesius family into the Petilii. Cerialis was married to Flavia, oldest sister of Vespasian.
His first important assignment was as legate of the Roman legion IX Hispana in the Roman province of Britain, under governor Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. During this term, his swift action contributed to the defeat of the 60/ 61 rebellion led by Queen Boudicca of the Icenii , although he himself suffered several defeats. As a relative of Vespasian, Vitellius made him an hostage during 69 AD, in the crisis of the four emperorsThe forced suicide of emperor Nero, in 68 AD, was followed by a brief period of civil war (the first Roman civil war since Antony's death in 31 BC) known as the Year of the four emperors . Between June of 68 and December of 69 AD, Rome witnessed the succe. Cerialis managed to escape and was one of the cavalry leaders that conquered Rome to the aproaching Vespasian. This success and his brother in law's trust gave him the command of Legio XIV GeminaLegio XIV Gemina Martia Victrix was a legion of the Roman Empire created by Octavian. The name gemina (twin in latin) suggests that the legion resulted from fusion of two previous ones; martia victrix (martial victory) were cognomens added by Nero followi, then stationed in the difficult province of Germania InferiorGermania Inferior (in English Lower Germany was a Roman province, located along the west margin of the Rhine, on today's southern Netherlands and western Germany. The principal settlements of the province were today's Bonn Bona , Xanten Vetera , Utrecht T, in. Again, Cerialis had to deal with a local revolt, known as the Batavian rebellionThe Batavian rebellion took place in the Roman province of Germania Inferior between 69 and 70 AD. The rebels led by Civilis managed to destroy four legions and inflicted humiliating defeats on the Roman army. After a few original successes, a massive Rom, in which the local tribes, led by Civilis, a romanized prince, besieged two Roman legions at Xanten. Cerialis was again successful and received honours from emperor Vespasian. In 71Alternate uses, see Number 71 Centuries: 1st century BC 1st century 2nd century Decades: 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s 70s 80s 90s 100s 110s 120s Years: 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 Events The Romans establish a fortress at York (Eboracum), as a base for their Cerialis was appointed governor of Britain, with Gnaeus Julius AgricolaGnaeus Julius Agricola ( July 13 40 August 23 93 AD) was a Roman general responsible for much of the Roman conquest of Britain. Agricola was born in Gallia Narbonensis (modern southern France), as the son of Julius Graecinus and his wife Procilla. Agricol as second in command. As governor, Cerialis campaigned against the BrigantesThe Brigantes were a British Celtic tribe which lived between Tyne and Humber. Their name comes from the Celtic goddess Brigantia. During the Roman invasion of 43 AD the Brigantes were arguably the most powerful Celtic tribe in Britain. In the beginning, of Northern England. In 74, Cerialis left Britain and returned to Rome as suffect consul. In 83 he was nominated consul for the second time, as a junior partner of the Emperor Domitian.
Tacitus says that he was a bold soldier rather than a careful general, and preferred to stake everything on the issue of a single engagement. He possessed natural eloquence of a kind that readily appealed to his soldiers. His loyalty to his superiors was unshakable.
| Preceded by: Marcus Vettius Bolanus | Roman governors of Britain | Followed by: Sextus Julius Frontinus |