Aedemon

Who is Aedemon?

Aedemon was a freedman from the Roman Africa Province who lived in the 1st century. Aedemon was a loyal former household slave to the client King Ptolemy of Mauretania, who was the son of King Juba II and the Ptolemaic Greek Princess Cleopatra Selene II.

Ptolemy was murdered in unknown circumstances while on a visit in Rome on order of his unstable second cousin, the Roman Emperor Caligula in late 40. From loyalty and memory of his former master, Aedemon wanted to avenge Ptolemy and started the revolt in the Kingdom of Mauretania against Rome. Many people from the kingdom had joined in the revolt. Along with Sabalus, they were among the chief rebels. Caligula was murdered on January 24, 41 and his paternal uncle Claudius became the new Emperor.

The Roman Generals Gaius Suetonius Paulinus and Gnaeus Hosidius Geta were appointed by Emperor Claudius in 42 to end the revolt. Paulinus became the first Roman to cross the Atlas Mountains during the campaign. Tingi, modern Tangier, was partially destroyed during the battles against the Romans. The revolt ended in 44, after a decisive battle in which the Romans inflicted large casualties on the Berbers and offered terms to the survivors, Sabalus and his troops subsequently surrendered to Geta. The fate of Aedemon is unknown. Claudius decided to divide the kingdom into two Roman provinces, Mauretania Tingitana and Mauretania Caesariensis, while Tingi was later rebuilt.