Arrogant Roman senator
who played a pivotal role in the rise of the Flavian dynasty. A former
consul & lieutenant of
Corbulo in Armenia, Gaius Licinius Mucianus was sent by Nero
to be governor of Syria when
Gallus died (67
CE). At first there was friction
between him & Vespasian,
whom Nero had already sent to quell the revolt in Judea, an area that
for the previous half century Romans had subordinated to Syria. But
after Nero's murder the two generals became allies, due to the mediation
of Vespasian's son Titus.
When Vitellius seized
Rome, Mucianus urged Vespasian
to challenge him. His forces moved west while Vespasian secured control
of Egypt. Arriving in Rome the day after Vitellius' death,
Mucianus became de facto ruler of the city until the new emperor
arrived (Oct 70
CE).
Aside from the fact that he served as consul two years later his
name disappears from the records once Vespasian
assumed power.
References:
Tacitus,
Histories 2.4-7,
74-84;
4.4,
11,
39,
44-46,
68,
80,
85.
Cassius Dio,
Roman History 64.9-10, 22;
65.2, 9, 13.
Suetonius,
Life of Vespasian 6.
Other online resources:
Perspective on the
World of Jesus 