Lucius Junius Silanus Torquatus

Who was Lucius Junius Silanus Torquatus?

In the 1st century, lived two noblemen uncle and nephew, that shared the name Lucius Junius Silanus Torquatus who were two descendants of Roman Emperor Augustus.

The elder Silanus, was the third born son to Aemilia Lepida and Marcus Junius Silanus Torquatus, a member of the Junii Silani, a family of Ancient Rome. His maternal grandparents were the princess Julia the Younger and consul Lucius Aemilius Paullus. Through his maternal grandparents he was a descendant of Roman Emperor Augustus, noble woman Scribonia, statesman Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and consul Lucius Aemilius Lepidus Paullus. He won an honorary triumph and gave a lavish gladiatorial display. He was praetor in 48. The Emperor Claudius betrothed him to his daughter Claudia Octavia, but this was broken off in 48 when Empress Agrippina the Younger, hoping to secure Octavia as bride for her son Nero, falsely charged him with open affection toward his sister Junia Calvina. Consequently Claudius broke off the engagement and forced Silanus to resign from public office. He committed suicide on New Year's Day, 49, the same day that Claudius and Agrippina married.

The younger Silanus was the son of the elder's brother, Marcus. His mother is unknown. After his father's murder, he was raised by his paternal aunt Junia Lepida and her husband Gaius Cassius Longinus. A respected young nobleman, he became a rival in his youth to Emperor Nero. Expelled from public life by Nero after his accession to the purple, Silanus was banished to a small country town. He was killed in a stand off with his guard.