Anicius Acilius Aginantius Faustus

Anicius Acilius Aginantius Faustus iunior (floruit 483-508), also known as Faustus albus ("white"),[1] was a Roman politician under Odoacer's rule. His brothers included Rufius Achilius Maecius Placidus, and Rufius Achilius Sividius.[2]

Life

Faustus' career is attested by two inscriptions on seats of the Colosseum.[3]

He is attested as praefectus urbi of Rome in an inscription celebrating his work in restoring an image of Minerva damaged by a falling roof during a riot. The riot can be identified with the civil war that led to the deposition and death of Emperor Anthemius in 472, while the restoration could have been performed under Odoacer, but before 483.[4]

In 483 he was appointed consul, without colleague.[5] It is probable that he was not recognised by the Eastern court.[6]

In 502-503 he could have been appointed praefectus urbi for the second time. In those years he was contacted by Magnus Felix Ennodius to be appointed advocatus fisci in Liguria.[7] Ennodius wrote him also in 506 and 508.[8] He might also be the recipient of a letter by Avitus of Vienne,[9] and also of a letter from Theoderic the Great to Faustus, praepositus.[10]

Notes

1. Magnus Felix Ennodius refers to him in this way (Letters, VI.34).
2. Alan Cameron, "Anician Myths", Journal of Roman Studies, 102 (2012), p. 150
3. CIL VI, 32159; CIL VI, 32211.
4. CIL VI, 526
5. AE 1940, 86; CIL V, 6210; CIL X, 1344; CIL XII, 2056
6. Codex Justinianus, IV.59.2, dated "Post consulatum Trocundis".
7. Magnus Felix Ennodius, Letters, I.7 (early 502); II.26 (summer of 503).
8. Letters V.9 and VI.34 respectively.
9. Letters, 34 (late 502).
10. "Medieval Sourcebook: Letters of Theodoric [r.493-526]". Fordham University. Retrieved 28 March 2018.

Bibliography

• Jones, Arnold Hugh Martin, John Robert Martindale, John Morris, "Anicius Acilius Aginantius Faustus iunior (albus) 4", The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire, Cambridge University Press, 1992, ISBN 0-521-07233-6, p. 451-452.