Antonius Saturninus

Lucius Antonius Saturninus (death in 89) is the Roman general which carried out in Germanie higher an unfruitful revolt in 89 against the emperor Domitien (81-96).

Towards 75, Saturninus is one of last the member of the people of the Antonii to be appeared with the Sénat, with the Préteur Antonius Naso, former powerful orator of the court. It is Propréteur in Bithynie in 78, before being the governor of the barbarian tribe of the Copelliani, in the area of the the Danube.

Saturninus could be related with Antonius Honoratus, senator de Rome.

Saturninus had powerful fields as a Gaulle of which one close to Lugdunum with the old right to plant vines. Gaulle become a rich person province, flourishing in more than one way abounded powerful men, Gaulois romanized or Roman migrants. Saturninus is then the owner of powerful corporations like those of the Nautes of the Rhone, and that of the Saone and the Loire.

Saturninus becomes Préteur in 87 and Propréteur of the Roman Province of Germanie higher in 88. At the beginning of the month dedicated to Auguste, in August 88, Saturninus learns that the emperor Domitien wants to restrict the vine as a Gaulle, by prohibiting the establishment from new vines. In same time, great celebrations are envisaged in Lyon, in the presence of the representatives of the sixty tribes of Gaulle whole.

Sixty cities send their chiefs and their emissary and one speaks only about the affront of Domitien in connection with the vines as a Gaulle. Ensured of the neutrality and the benevolence of all these men at this meeting in Lyon, Saturninus joined its four legions of Germanie, based with Strasbourg, Windisch, and Mainz. The province is peaceful, after 140 years of Roman peace.

Extremely of its troops and its supports, Saturninus borrows two legions from his/her lower colleague of Germanie and is started in April 89. It crosses the the Rhine, profiting one exceptionally lenient season, if soft that its auxiliary Troupes German, is two legions are carried by the rout of the river. It is the rout. Its legions are separated by the impracticable river, and are attacked by the three legions of Germanic lower than the east, and the troops of the young general Trajan the future emperor.

Saturninus is beaten, pursued, its revolt crushed in egg. Domitien lets burst its anger and is avenged on hundreds the innocent ones, its victims chosen among its real or supposed enemies, men, women and children, tortured with refinement. Saturninus disappears from the history.

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