Gnaeus Papirius Aelianus

Gnaeus Papirius Aelianus Aemilius Tuscillus was a Roman senator and governor of Roman Britain in 146.

Anthony Birley notes two fragmentary inscriptions recorded at Iliberris bearing his name, which leads Birley to conclude Aelianus was a native of the town. Birley further identifies Aelianus as the governor of Dacia Superior named on a building inscription dated to 132 at Sarmizegetusa.[1] Two different military diplomas attest he was suffect consul for the nundinium of November to December 135 as the colleague of Publius Rutilius Fabianus.[2]

Little is known of his tenure in Britain, although Aelianus was probably in charge of the occupation of the Scottish Lowlands following its reconquest by Quintus Lollius Urbicus. This may have been peaceful as he was able to spare troops to take part in the Moorish campaign of 145-47.[3]

Nothing is known of Aelianus after he left Britain. Birley notes "it may be presumed that the homonymous cos. ord. of 184 was his grandson."[4]

References

1. Birley, The Fasti of Roman Britain, (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1981), pp. 116f
2. Werner Eck, Paul Holder and Andreas Pangerl, "A Diploma for the Army of Britain in 132 and Hadrian's Return to Rome from the East", Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 174 (2010), p. 194
3. Sheppard Frere, Britannia, Revised Edition (London: Routledge & Keegan Paul, 1978), pp. 165, 176
4. Birley, Fasti, p. 118

Political offices
Preceded by Marcus Aemilius Papus, and Lucius Burbuleius Optatus Ligarianus as suffect consul	Suffect consul of the Roman Empire 135 with Publius Rutilius Fabianus	Succeeded by Lucius Ceionius Commodus, and Sextus Vettulenus Civica Pompeianus as ordinary consul
Preceded by Quintus Lollius Urbicus	Roman governors of Britain 146	Succeeded by Unknown, then Gnaeus Julius Verus