Marcus Velleius Paterculus

Marcus Velleius Paterculus (c. 19 BC – c. AD 31), also known as Velleius (/vɛˈliːəs, -ˈleɪəs/) was a Roman historian. His History (Latin: Historiae), written in a highly rhetorical style, covered the period from the end of the Trojan War to the death of Livia in 29 AD, but is most useful for the period from the death of Julius Caesar in 44 BC. to the death of Augustus in 14 AD. Although Velleius's praenomen is given as Marcus by Priscian, some modern scholars identify him with Gaius Velleius Paterculus, whose name occurs in an inscription on a north African milestone (C.I.L. VIII.10, 311).

Biography

Paterculus may have been born c. 19 B.C. in Aeclanum, a major centre of Hirpinia, into a distinguished Campanian family. He may have also been a native of Capua.

He entered the army at an early age, served as military tribune in Thrace, Macedonia, Greece and the East, and in AD 2 was present at the interview on the Euphrates between Gaius Caesar, grandson of Augustus, and the Parthian king Phraataces. Afterwards, as praefect of cavalry and legatus, he served for eight years (from AD 4) in Germany and Pannonia under Tiberius.