Digital Prosopography of the Roman Republic

VALE1888 M'.? Valerius (248) Messalla

Status

  • Patrician

Relationships

son of
? M. Valerius (253) M. f. M. n. Messalla (cos. 161) (Brennan 2000)
father of
? M. Valerius (B) Messalla (son of? M'.? Valerius (248) Messalla (pr. c. 120)) (Zmeskal 2009)
? M'. Valerius (A) Messalla (son of? M'.? Valerius (248) Messalla (pr. c. 120)) (Zmeskal 2009)
? M. Valerius (C) Messalla (son of? M'.? Valerius (248) Messalla (pr. c. 120)) (Zmeskal 2009)

Career

  • Praetor c. 120 Asia? (Broughton MRR III) Expand
    • Münzer (no. 248) points out that traces of two Valerii Messallae appear in office in the generations between the consul of 161 (no. 253) and the consul of 61 (no. 266). A Valerius Messalla was prosecuted by Metellus Numidicus, probably early in the latter's career (so Syme, see below), for offenses against socii (Gell. 15.14.1). Syme (JRS 45, 1955, 158?RP 1.265) suggests that Potitus Valerius Messalla, cos. suff. in 29 and procos. in Asia, was honored at Magnesia as a patron and benefactor # (OGIS 460; cf. A. E. Gordon, Potitus Valerius Messalla 43f.), and was probably a son of the consul of 53 (no. 268); the defendant mentioned above was probably an ancestor of these and of the consul of 61. On the basis of the filiation of the consul of 61 (M. f. M'. n.), Syme suggests that his name was M'. Valerius Messalla and that he was a grandfather of the consul of 61. He might have been governor of Asia ca. 120, but Münzer inclined toward a more recent date. Münzer remains uncertain whether he should be distinguished from the legate of 90 (no. 249), who might be his son. The latter, who is listed in Appian as one of the most distinguished men (BC 1.40), probably attained the praetorship. The entries in the Index (2.630) should read as follows: M'.? Valerius Messalla (248), Pr. and promag? ca. 120. M.? Valerius Messalla (249), Pr. uncertain date, Leg., lieut. 90. (RS, MS-RP 1.290-291) (Broughton MRR III)
    • p. 742, footnote 166 (Brennan 2000)
  • Promagistrate? c. 120 (Broughton MRR III) Expand
    • Münzer (no. 248) points out that traces of two Valerii Messallae appear in office in the generations between the consul of 161 (no. 253) and the consul of 61 (no. 266). A Valerius Messalla was prosecuted by Metellus Numidicus, probably early in the latter's career (so Syme, see below), for offenses against socii (Gell. 15.14.1). Syme (JRS 45, 1955, 158?RP 1.265) suggests that Potitus Valerius Messalla, cos. suff. in 29 and procos. in Asia, was honored at Magnesia as a patron and benefactor # (OGIS 460; cf. A. E. Gordon, Potitus Valerius Messalla 43f.), and was probably a son of the consul of 53 (no. 268); the defendant mentioned above was probably an ancestor of these and of the consul of 61. On the basis of the filiation of the consul of 61 (M. f. M'. n.), Syme suggests that his name was M'. Valerius Messalla and that he was a grandfather of the consul of 61. He might have been governor of Asia ca. 120, but Münzer inclined toward a more recent date. Münzer remains uncertain whether he should be distinguished from the legate of 90 (no. 249), who might be his son. The latter, who is listed in Appian as one of the most distinguished men (BC 1.40), probably attained the praetorship. The entries in the Index (2.630) should read as follows: M'.? Valerius Messalla (248), Pr. and promag? ca. 120. M.? Valerius Messalla (249), Pr. uncertain date, Leg., lieut. 90. (RS, MS-RP 1.290-291) (Broughton MRR III)

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