Gaius Julius Alpinus Classicianus

Gaius Julius Alpinus Classicianus was procurator of Roman Britain from 61 to his death in 65.^[1]

A replica of Classicianus's tombstone at the Museum of London

He was appointed after his predecessor, Catus Decianus, had fled to Gaul in the aftermath of the rebellion of Boudica. Classicianus expressed concern to the Emperor Nero that the punitive policies of the governor, Suetonius Paulinus, would lead to continued hostilities. Nero despatched his freedman, Polyclitus, to lead an inquiry. An excuse, that Suetonius had lost some ships, was found to relieve him of command and replace him with Publius Petronius Turpilianus.^[2]

Classicianus died in London in 65. London had been destroyed by Boudica only four years before, so Classicianus must have overseen considerable reconstruction. His funerary monument was erected by his wife Julia Pacata, daughter of Julius Indus, a nobleman of the Gaulish Treveri who became commander of the Ala Gallorum Indiana cavalry unit.^[3] The stone was re-used in the medieval wall of London, and, reconstructed, is now in the British Museum.^[4]

He may have been related to the Julius Alpinus who was executed after leading the Helvetii of Aventicum against Aulus Caecina Alienus,^[5] or the Julius Classicus who led a unit of Treviran auxiliary cavalry in Otho's army,^[6] both in 69.

References

1. Graham Webster (6 August 2013). Boudica: The British Revolt Against Rome AD 60. Taylor & Francis. pp. 127–. ISBN 978-1-134-97160-2.
2. Tacitus, Annals 14.38-39
3. R.D. Grasby & R.S.O. Tomlin. 2002. "The sepulchral monument of C. Julius Classicianus." Britannia 33:43-76.
4. British Museum: tombstone of Gaius Julius Alpinus Classicianus
5. Tacitus, Histories 1.68
6. Tacitus, Histories 2.14