Tiberius Claudius Paulinus

Tiberius Claudius Paulinus Governor of Britannia Inferior 220 AD

Tiberius Claudius Paulinus was a Roman general and politician of the early third century.

Several inscriptions in Britain preserve details of his cursus honorum (sequential order of public offices held by aspiring politicians). The earliest office Paulinus held was legatus or commander of Legio II Augusta at Caerleon. After an unknown period of time, he was proconsular governor of Gallia Narbonensis for the term 216/217; this was followed by legatus Augusti pro praetor, or governorship of the imperial province of Gallia Lugdunensis around 218. He returned to Roman Britain where he served as legatus Augusti pro praetor of Britannia Inferior in 220.

He was a popular man. While he was away governing Gaul, the Silures tribe set up an official monument, the Marble of Thorigny dedicated to him despite their usual hostility to Rome. This monument includes the text of a letter Paulinus sent to his friend, Sennius Sollemnis. By 221, he had been succeeded in Britain by Marius Valerianus.

Epigraphic Evidence of  Tiberius Claudius Paulinus being Governor of Britannia Inferior

B REMENIVM  (High Rochester, Northumberland; RIB 1280; dated: 220AD) – IMP CAES M AVRELIO ANTONINO PIO FEL AVG TRIB POT III COS III PROCOS P P BALLIST A SOLO COH I F VARDVL ANT SVB CVRA TIB CL PAVLINI LEG AVG PR PR FECIT INSTANTE P AELIO ERASINO TRIB “For Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Pius Felix Augustus, holding tribunician power for the third time, consul three times, Father of his Country. This catapult platform was made from its foundations by the First Cohort of Faithful Vardulli, Antoninus’ own, under the administration of Tiberius Claudius Paulinus, pro-praetorian legate of the emperor, under the direction of the tribune Publius Aelius Erasinus.”.