Sextus Calpurnius Agricola

Sextus Calpurnius Agricola
Allegiance	Roman Empire
Years of service	c.150-c.170
Rank	Legate consul suffectus, imperial legate, Governor
Commands held	Legio VI Victrix Germania Superior Dacia Moesia

Dedication to the god Sol Invictus, by a vexillatio of the Legio VI Victrix under the command of Agricola.

Sextus Calpurnius Agricola was a Roman general and politician of the 2nd century. In 154 he was consul suffectus with Tiberius Claudius Julianus.^[1]

Calpurnius Agricola was governor of Germania Superior around 158.^[2]

In 161 or 162 he was made governor of Britain and remained until at least 163, possibly until the end of the 160s.^[2]

In 163, he was sent to Britain to control uprisings in the north. He rebuilt a number of forts, most notably that at Coria (Corbridge). He withdrew troops southwards from Scotland towards the line of Hadrian's Wall to contend with the threats of further rebellion.^[3]

There are indications of unrest in Britain around the time of his rule attested by damage to the forum at Viroconium Cornoviorum (Wroxeter) and the burning of a large part of Verulamium (St Albans).^[4][5]

Around 166 AD Agricola was appointed imperial legate in Roman Dacia.^[6] Between 168–169, he was one of the governors of Lower Moesia.

Notes

1. L'anée Epigraphique 1980, p.202 no. 760 AD154
2. Patricia Southern Roman Britain: A New History 55BC - AD 450
3. RIB 1127, 1149, cf. 1389
4. Robin George Collingwood, John Nowell Linton Myres Roman Britain and the English Settlements p.150
5. Historia Augusta Life of Marcus Aurelius 8.8
6. Birley 2000, p. 145.

Epigraphics

• PIR C 249
• CIL VII, 226
• RIB I, 1137

Bibliographies

• Patricia Southern Roman Britain: A New History 55BC - AD 450

• Birley, Anthony (2000). Marcus Aurelius. Roman imperial biographies. London and New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-17125-0.