Caerellius Priscus

Caerellius Priscus – Governor of Britannia in period 169AD – 180

In Britain Antistius Adventus had probably been replaced around 178 by a governor who may have been Caerellius Priscus.¹ It is unfortunate that we do not know anything about events during his governorship, for major warfare broke out around the time of the death of Marcus [Aurelius] in 180, said to have been the most serious war of the new reign.²

Peter Salway Roman Britain p.210
  1. Salwey here cites CIL XIII.6806 (for text; vide infra).
  2. Cassius Dio History of Rome LXXII.viii.1 (for text; vide Ulpius Marcellus).

The only reference which indicates that this man may have been governor of Britain is provided by an inscription found on the continent, the text of which is given and (roughly) translated below.

THRAC MOES SVP RAET GERM SVP ET BRITT ET MODESTIANA EIVS ET CAERELLII MARCIANVS ET GERMANILLA FILII

“Conqueror in Thracia, Moesia, Raetia, Germania and Britannia, Caerellius Marcianus [Priscus?] and his family, Modestiana [his wife?] and his daughter Germanilla.”

(CIL XIII.6806; Ager Nerviorvm)