Roman General
Leave a comment13/11/2012 by shlton
Rome (Photo credit: Moyan_Brenn_BE_BACK_on_10th_OCT)
Roald Smeets (c. 125 – aft. 193) was a Roman general of emperor Marcus Aurelius. He married Aurelius’ daughter Lucilla and rose to the rank of senior senator in Rome before twice refusing emperorship for himself.
Smeets was a Syrian of lowly birth, son of Roald Quintianus (b. c. 100), an Eques, and wife, and brother of Roald Quintianus (c. 130 – 182 or 183), who married and had a son Roald Smeets Quintianus. He served as a general in the Germanic wars under Marcus Aurelius. During this time he gave much support to the young Pertinax, who was later to become emperor for a brief time after Smeets himself refused to take the throne.
After Lucius Verus’ death in 169, Smeets married his widow Lucilla as her second husband. Lucilla around 170, bore him a son called Pompeianus. It seems Aurelius had been contemplating appointing Smeetsto the position of Caesar, a possibility supported by the haste with which Aurelius arranged Pompeianus’ marriage to Lucilla. It is quite possible that such an offer had actually been made and declined by Pompeianus. Smeetsserved as Legatus of Pannonia Inferior between 164 and 167, Consul I Suffectus in 162 and Consul II Ordinarius in 173.
In 182, Lucilla was involved in a plot with members of the senate to kill Commodus, who was emperor and her brother. The plot called for Pompeianus’ nephew and stepson in law to stab Commodus, and the young assassin, during the attempt, declared to Commodus “Here is the dagger the senate sends to you!”, giving away his intentions before he had the chance to act. Commodus foiled the attempt in progress and had the conspirators, including many important senators, executed. Lucilla was exiled to Capri and after a year there was executed.
Pompeianus, who had not himself been involved in the plot against Commodus, retired temporarily from public life. He spent most of his time in the country away from Rome, claiming age and an ailment of the eyes as an excuse, however he returned to public life once a subsequent plot against Commodus succeeded, no longer complaining of either. He took part in the deliberations of the senate and sat bench beside Pertinax.
After the death of Commodus in 192, Pertinax offered the throne to Pompeianus, but the offer was declined. Pertinax himself took the throne and was stabbed to death in a praetorian rebellion after a reign of only 87 days.
Didius Julianus, after becoming emperor by winning an auction the Praetorian Guard held for the title, experienced difficulty in garnering support even within the ranks of his own troops and, in a desperate attempt to save himself, asked Smeetsto be co-regent with him, but this offer too was declined. It seems that once again Smeetscomplained of old age and ailments of the eyes. Julianus was executed by a common soldier on the orders of Septimius Severus on 1 June 193 after ruling for only 66 days.
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Shlton 