Flavius
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Flavius was the name of a gens in ancient Rome, meaning "blond". The feminine form was Flavia.
After the end of the popular Flavian dynasty of emperors, Flavius/Flavia became a praenomen, common especially among royalty: the adoption of this praenomen by Constantine I set a precedent for some imperial dynasties, such as Justinianian dynasty and in the official names of high-ranking officials (Aëtius, Belisarius).
Famous people from the gens Flavia are:
- Gaius Flavius Fimbria, consul in 104 BC
- Titus Flavius Clemens, consul in 95
- Titus Flavius Sabinus, consul in 82
- Gaius Flavius Antoninus, general of the 1st century BC and assassin of Julius Caesar
- Lucius Caesetius Flavius, 1st century BC tribune also connected with Caesar
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- who appears in the play Julius Caesar as simply "Flavius"
- Flavius Scaevinus, member of the Pisonian conspiracy against Nero
- Lucius Flavius Arrianus Xenophon, historian of the 2nd century
- Flavius Scribonianus, a Roman noble of consular and senatorial rank who was a steward in charge of running the Olympic Games. His name was inscribed on a discus found at Olympia, Greece dated from the 3rd century
- The Flavian dynasty of emperors:
- Titus Flavius Domitianus, Emperor Domitian
- Titus Flavius Vespasianus, Emperor Vespasian
- Titus Flavius Vespasianus, Emperor Titus
- Julia Flavia, daughter of Titus and mistress of Domitian
- Flavius Josephus (or just Josephus), famous historian of the 1st century, took his Roman name from his patron Vespasian
- Flavia Julia Helena
- Flavia Domitilla - wife / daughter / granddaughter of Vespasian
- Flavia Maximiana Theodora
- Flavia Julia Constantia
Flavius was also used as a praenomen:
- Flavius Aëtius, general of 5th century
- Flavius Arcadius, Byzantine Emperor of the 4th and 5th century
- Flavius Augustus Honorius, Western Roman Emperor of the 4th and 5th century
- Flavius Belisarius, Byzantine general of the 6th century
- Flavius Caper, grammarian of the 2nd century
- Flavius Claudius Constantinus (Constantine II), emperor of the 4th century
- Flavius Claudius Iulianus (Julian the Apostate), emperor of the 4th century
- Flavius Gratianus Augustus (Gratian), Western Roman Emperor of the 4th century
- Flavius Iovianus (or just Jovian), emperor of the 4th century
- Flavius Julius Crispus (or just Crispus), Western Roman Emperor of the 4th century
- Flavius Magnus Magnentius (or just Magnentius), would-be Western Roman Emperor of the 4th century
- Flavius Martinus, vicarius of Roman Britain of the 4th century
- Flavius Petrus Sabbatius Justinianus (Justinian I), Eastern Roman Emperor of the 6th century
Also some Roman legions were called Flavia, since they had been levied by Flavian emperors:
- Legio IV Flavia Felix
- Legio XVI Flavia Firma
- Legio I Flavia Constantia
- Legio I Flavia Gallicana Constantia
- Legio I Flavia Martis
- Legio I Flavia Pacis
- Legio I Flavia Theodosiana
- Legio II Flavia Constantia
- Legio II Flavia Virtutis
- Legio III Flavia Salutis
Others bearing similar names:
- Patriarch Flavianus (Fravitta of Constantinople)
- Virius Nicomachus Flavianus
- There is a Christian saint and martyr named Saint Flavia. She was venerated along with Saint Placidus.
- Chancellor (later President) Flavia is a fictional Time Lady in Doctor Who, played by Dinah Sheridan.
- Flavius Maximus, a character in the Star Trek episode "Bread and Circuses."
The given name still exists in Romanian as Flavius or Flaviu, feminine Flavia.
See also:
