Sextus Varius Marcellus

Sextus Varius Marcellus (c.165 – c.215) was a Roman aristocrat and politician from the province of Syria.

Little is known on the origins of Marcellus, as he was born and raised in the ancient Greek city of Apamea in Syria. Marcellus was a Roman citizen from the Equestrian order.

Marcellus had a long, distinguished political career in which he had various responsible tasks to do. He was present at the Secular Games in Rome in 204. From 200 to 205, like Gaius Julius Avitus Alexianus, Marcellus didn’t serve in a Roman military nor political position, probably due to Roman emperor Lucius Septimius Severus’ hostilities from the Praetorian prefect Gaius Fulvius Plautianus. When Plautianus was killed in 205, the career of Marcellus had changed.

From 205 at least until 207, Marcellus was promoted in becoming a Procurator for the Roman aqueducts in Rome, as this position was usually given to a Roman of Senatorial rank, not from the Equestrian class. As a beginner into a Roman political career, Marcellus was paid about 100,000 sesterces per year.

Marcellus proved his worth and capabilities in his position to Lucius Septimius Severus and his family. The emperor in 208 promoted him as Procurator of Roman Britain and in this position, he was responsible in gathering taxes for Rome. He was earning 200,000 sesterces in this role. He was promoted again, by the emperor in generally managing the finances of Roman Britain; was now in charge of the private finances of the emperor and earning 300,000 sesterces.

In 211 after the death of Lucius Septimius Severus, his sons Caracalla and Publius Septimius Geta succeeded their father on the Roman throne. Caracalla recalled Marcellus from Roman Britain to Rome and promoted him to the roles of Praefectus urbi and Praetorian prefect in which he briefly took over the positions. He was later admitted into the Roman Senate with the rank of a former Praetor and almost immediately, Marcellus became Prefect of the military treasury. He later became a Roman governor of Numidia, either dying in Numidia or immediately after his return to Rome. Although he missed out, Marcellus was in reach of serving as a Roman consul. Marcellus in his political career served in some very significant positions, but unfortunately died before his merits were rewarded.

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