Publius Pomponius Secundus

His full name was Publius Calvisius Sabinus Pomponius Secundus, as indicated by two fragmentary inscriptions from Germania Superior.[2] For some time, Pomponius' praenomen was uncertain; Publius was not a regular name of the Pompilii, and Olli Salomies discusses the possibility that it might have been Gaius, but notes that a Publius Calvisius Sabinus was attested as existing in Spoletium, and concludes that it is "possible to assume with some confidence" that he had been adopted by a Publius Calvisius Sabinus.[3] That his praenomen was Publius, at least after his adoption, seems to be confirmed by an inscription from Veii, dating from his consulship, another from Cyrenae, when he was proconsul, and a third from Mogontiacum, when he was Legatus Augusti pro praetore.[4]

Pomponius' mother was Vistilia, who by other marriages was the mother of Publius Suillius Rufus and the general Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo. The name of his father is not known, but Ronald Syme has suggested he could be either Gaius Pomponius Graecinus, consul suffectus in AD 16, or his brother, Lucius Pomponius Flaccus, consul ordinarius in 17.[5] Pomponius' brother, Quintus Pomponius Secundus, was involved in various intrigues during the reigns of Tiberius and Claudius. Quintus tried to protect his brother from Tiberius' displeasure.[6][7]

Pomponius was a friend of Sejanus, who served as consul in 31. Upon the latter's denunciation and execution in October of that year, mobs hunted down and killed anyone they could link to Sejanus. Pomponius was placed under house arrest by Tiberius, where he remained until 37.[8] Tiberius died in 37, and his successor Caligula promptly released Pomponius from prison and appointed him as governor of the senatorial province of Creta et Cyrenaica.[11] Caligula married Caesonia, Pomponius' half-sister, in 40, but he was assassinated in late January 41. Upon Caligula's death, Claudius appointed Pomponius' brother, Quintus Pomponius Secundus as consul (Caligula had been Consul of Rome, as well as emperor, at the time of his assassination).[12] Pomponius himself, who was still serving as governor of Creta et Cyrenaica province, served also as consul from January until June of 44.[13] Pomponius continued to serve as governor of the Creta et Cyrenaica until 50, at which time Claudius appointed him as governor and legatus of Germania Superior. In 50, Pomponius led the Roman legions to victory against the Chatti and freed the survivors of the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest after forty years of slavery.[14] For this, he was decreed the honour of a ornamenta triumphalia.[15] He served as governor of Germania Superior until 54. This was the final mention of Pomponius in the historical record, except by the Plinies.

The authorities additionally record the headings Publius Calvisius Sabinus Pomponius Secundus and Gaius Pomponius Secundus. His recorded language was Latin. He was the child of Lucius Pomponius Flaccus, Gaius Pomponius Graecinus and Vistilia.

Publius Pomponius Secundus is recorded as politician, writer, military personnel and poet.