Gaius Caecina Tuscus
Gaius Caecina Tuscus (Greek Gaius Kokina) was a 1st-century Roman politician and governor of Egypt during the reign of Nero,[1][2] and is mentioned by Tacitus.[3] Tuscus was a member of the Caecinae, an Etruscan family of Volaterrae, one of the ancient cities of Etruria.
Named Prefect of the Praetorian Guard
According to Fabius Rusticus, he was named Prefect of the Praetorium in 56, in place of Burrus. But Caecina did not manage to take office, as Burrus retained control of the Praetorians through Seneca's influence.
Prefect of Egypt
In 63, he was appointed governor of Egypt. There are papyrus records of Tuscus addressing concerned veteran soldiers.[4] On the immunity of Roman legionaries, see P. Yale Inventory 1528.[5][6][7]
On July 17, 64 AD, he is mentioned in a declaration of property in Oxyrhynchus.[8]
In Alexandria, there were Jewish–Greek ethnic tensions that eventually led to riots in AD 66. Tuscus did not have control over the situation. In 66, he was dismissed by the emperor when it became known that he had made use of the bathrooms that had been built for Nero's trip to Egypt and that Nero had to open. In May 66, Nero appointed Tiberius Alexander as Prefect of Egypt, one of the two most prestigious posts available to an equestrian along with Prefect of the Praetorian Guard.[9]
Exile
In 67, Caecina was exiled by Nero. However, he is known to have returned to Rome in 69.[10]
References
- ^ Suetonius, "The Life of Nero", 35.
- ^ Cassius Dio, lxiii. 18.
- ^ Tacitus, Annales, xiii. 20; Historiae, iii. 38.
- ^ Robert K. Sherk (1988) The Roman Empire: Augustus to Hadrian, pp. 107-108
- ^ C. B. Welles 1938 [1]
- ^ A. Segré 1940 [2]
- ^ Westermann 1941 [3]
- ^ P. Michigan inv. 82 = Arthur Boak (ed.), PMich (1936), vol. III, p. 179
- ^ Josephus, War 2.309.
- ^ SMITH, William (ed.). Dictionary of greek and roman biography and mythology. Vol. I. London: Walton and Maberly, 1841, p. 530.