Quintus Pompeius Falco

Who is Quintus Pompeius Falco?

Quintus Pompeius Falco was a Roman politician of the early 2nd century.

His complete name was Quintus Roscius Coelius Murena Silius Decianus Vibullius Pius Iulius Eurycles Herculanus Pompeius Falco. Pompeius Falco was governor of Moesia Inferior between 116 and 117. He governed Britannia between 118 and 122 and hosted a visit to the province by the Emperor Hadrian in the last year.

It was in 122 that Hadrian decreed numerous reforms in Britannia and also ordered the construction of Hadrian's Wall. Before this, in 118, Pompeius suppressed a rising thought to have involved the Brigantes and Selgovae, Brythonic tribes of northern Britannia and southern Caledonia, although it may have resulted from foreign invasion.

An inscription from Jarrow and commemorative coins issued in 119 attest to his supposed success although a reference by the orator Fronto to many soldiers being killed in Britannia under Hadrian's rule has been suggested as indicating that the victory was hard-won. Fronto may have been referring to a different conflict at another time however.

Falco was a suffect consul in the year 108. His family supplied many politicians of consular rank throughout the 2nd century. He was also related to consuls Julius Frontinus and P. Coelius Balbinus Vibullus Pius and possibly to later emperor Balbinus.