ABSTRACT
The Flavii developed their own alliances, among younger men or men of lower status. Some of them seem to go back far into Flavian history. One of Vespasian’s kinswomen, probably not his daughter, became the wife of the Umbrian Q.Petillius Cerialis Caesius Rufus, legionary legate in Britain during the revolt of Boudicca. L.Caesennius Paetus, sent in 62 to annex Armenia Major, who was married to Sabinus’ daughter, had a son old enough to be military tribune in 63; that marriage, if he sprang from it, belongs to the mid40s. Then there was M.Arrecinus Clemens, Prefect of the Guard at the time of Gaius’ assassination. His daughter married Titus, not before 60. It is possible that there was an existing connection between these families: both Titus’ wife and the wife of T.Flavius Petro three generations previously bore the name Tertulla. Ti. Julius Lupus is expressly said to have been a friend of Vespasian’s in private life: he was a cousin of Arrecina, and from the same equestrian rank, or a little below: his father of the same name, brother-inlaw of the Prefect Arrecinus Clemens, had been a tribune in the Guard, summarily executed by Claudius for his part in the assassination. That cannot have hindered the career of his son: the execution was designed to encourage loyalty in the officer corps. Given his connection with Clemens it seems likely that he too was on good terms with the Flavii well before the recall of Sabinus from Moesia. Naturally the building of connections continued; Titus was probably quaestor at Rome in 63 or 64 and had married his second wife, Marcia Furnilla, the highborn daughter of Q.Marcius Barea Sura, as he became a senator.1
