Flavius: Encyclopedia - Flavius

Flavius

Flavius was the name of a gens in ancient Rome, meaning "blonde". The feminine form was Flavia. After the end of the popular Flavian dynasty of emperors, Flavius/Flavia became a praenomen, common especially among royalty (Constantine the Great, Justinian) or high-ranking officials (Aëtius, Belisarius).

Famous people from gens Flavia are:

• Gaius Flavius Antoninus, general of the 1st century BC and assassin of Julius Caesar
• Lucius Flavius Arrianus Xenophon, historian of the 2nd century
• Titus Flavius Clemens, consul in 95
• Gaius Flavius Fimbria, consul in 104 BC
• Titus Flavius Domitianus, Emperor Domitian
• Titus Flavius Sabinus, consul in 82
• Titus Flavius Vespasianus, Emperor Vespasian
• Titus Flavius Vespasianus, Emperor Titus
• Julia Flavia, daughter of Titus and mistress of Domitian

Flavius was also a praenomen:

• Flavius Aëtius, general of 5th century AD
• Flavius Arcadius, Byzantine Emperor of the 4th and 5th century AD
• Flavius Augustus Honorius, Western Roman Emperor of the 4th and 5th century AD
• 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 Julianus (Julian the Apostate), emperor of the 4th century
• Flavius Gratianus Augustus (Gratian), Western Roman Emperor of the 4th century
• Flavius Josephus (or just Josephus), famous historian of the 1st century
• Flavius Jovian (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 XIV 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

See also:

• Flavian dynasty
• Flavian

1st century Jewish historian Josephus is also sometimes called Flavius Josephus.

Flavius Bentley is the emcee/vocalist behind the Brooklyn based rap group, Soulforce.

Categories: Families of Rome | Flavian Dynasty | Ancient Roman praenomina | Ancient Roman nomina

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Flavius", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki