Lucius Junius Quintus Vibius Crispus
Lucius Junius Quintus Vibius Crispus, sometimes known as Quintus Vibius Crispus, was a witty and influential Roman who lived in the 1st century AD. He was a three-time suffect consul.
Crispus came from a family of the equestrian order, by birth a member of the gens Vibia. His mother was a Roman noblewoman called Junia, who came from the gens Junia. Crispus’ brother was Quintus Vibius Secundus. Crispus was born and raised in Rome. Crispus could be related to the suffect consul Lucius Vibius Sabinus, father of the Roman empress Vibia Sabina.
In late 59, Crispus’ brother was convicted for extortion on a charge brought by the Mauretanians and was expelled from Italy. Crispus, through his influence in the Roman Senate, managed to save his brother from a worse sentence.
Crispus served as a legate in Hispania Citerior and was three times suffect consul during the reigns of the Roman emperors Nero 54-68, Vespasian 69-79 and Domitian 81-96. During the reign of Domitian, one had asked Crispus if anyone was closeted with the Emperor, Crispus wittily answered, "No, not even a fly", a sarcastic reference to Domitian's reputed habit of killing insects and displaying them on the end of a pin or writing stylus.
Sources
- Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars - Domitian
- Tacitus - The Annals of Imperial Rome
- Marcus Aurelius: a biography By Anthony Richard Birley Edition: 2, revised, illustrated Published by Routledge, 2000 ISBN 0-415-17125-3, ISBN 978-0-415-17125-0
- Trajan: Optimus Princeps : a Life and Times, By Julian Bennett, Edition: illustrated published by Routledge, 1997 ISBN 0-415-16524-5, ISBN 978-0-415-16524-2