The local elites of the Municipium Florentinum Iliberritanum

Abstract

The Latin epigraphy of Iliberis informs us about the most important familiae and their most prominent members (Cornelia, Etrilia, Galeria, Manlia, Papiria, Valeria). Once Iliberis acquired the category of municipium, the municipal oligarchy constituted the decurial ordo, integrated by old magistrates and members of the richest and most socially outstanding families. Some of its members have left epigraphic evidence in Iliberis (L. Galerius Valerianus, Q. Valerius…?, P. Cornelius Callicus, L. Cornelius Flac[c]us, L. Atilius Hiberus, P. Manilius Urbanus, P. Valerius Lucanus, P. Manlius Manlianus, L. F. Patricia…, and the anonymous patronus, to whom the florentini iliberrit(ani) consecrated a pedestal found in the Albaicín). Freedmen are also prominent among the higher spheres of society. In Iliberis, we know of [… …]? Perseus, who, in honour of the sevirate, rebuilt the forum and the basilica, as is indicated by several epigraphs from the Albaicín, and M. Servilius Onesimus, who consecrated an altar to the genius of the municipium of Iliberis.

Of the more than 40 equites epigraphically attested in the Betica, only two come from Iliberis: Q. Cornelius…? and his son and namesake, cited in a luxurious epigraph dated towards the end of the first century. Both of them come from Iliberis, as the text of the inscription allows us to conclude. The father had a very succesful military career, on account of which he obtained a significant number of awards.

The local elites of Iliberis had access, since early times, to the Senate. Of the gens Valeria, the most important member was Q. Valerius Vegetus. An outstanding member of the gens Cornelia is P. Cornelius Anullinus, who held a consulship between 176 and 178. He developed an excellent cursus honorum in the times of Marcus Aurelius, Commodus, and Septimius Severus. Cn. Papirius Aelianus Aemilius Tuscillus was also a senator. He developed his entire cursus honorum during the reigns of Hadrian and Antoninus Pius.

In sum, all the social classes of Rome, from senators through slaves, were present in the Roman municipium of Iliberis. It was a booming and economically strong society, whose elite erected statues and honorary tombstones, and celebrated banquest in honour of some of the distinguished citizens of the municipium. It also maintained political, social, and economic relations with the central administration on a regular basis.