Genealogy Behind Perilous Privilege
The world of Perilous Privilege is steeped in the political intrigue and cultural complexity of the third-century Roman Empire. To help readers navigate the historical and imagined relationships among the characters, these genealogical tables offer a glimpse into the bloodlines—both real and fictional—that shaped the story.
The figures represented here are a blend of actual Roman officials, loosely documented royalty, and fictional characters crafted to enrich the narrative. Where historical records fall silent or offer only fragments, fiction steps in to fill the gaps—guided by what might plausibly have been.
Each table includes:
- Historical figures, whose roles and titles are supported by ancient sources.
- Fictitious individuals, designed to deepen personal storylines and bring emotional resonance to the era.
- Conjectural relationships, proposed where history is silent but narrative logic and historical context suggest possibility.
These family trees help place characters within the broader sweep of imperial politics, regional rivalries, and personal ambitions that drive the novel’s plot. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a curious reader, or a researcher drawn to Roman genealogy, this section invites you to explore the connections—real and imagined—that define a perilous and privileged world.
Genealogical Table 1 Valerian & Gallienus
*all children’s names started with: Publius Cornelius Licinius
Historical characters
Fictitious characters
Notes:
- Relationship between Marinianus and Mariniana is conjectural.
- Gallienus’ brother, Valerian is historical. Reasons for his playing almost no role historically are unknown.
- Dates of birth for the following are conjectural: Salonina, Valerian (Gallienus’ brother), all Gallienus’ children
- All members of this family tree are historical.
- Childrens’ attributes (fictitious, unless a source is referenced) Valerian: grandfather’s personality, born 13 days before Salonina, Saloninus: Gallienus’ temperament, capable, attractive, though still quite a boy, Marinianus: favors Salonina
- Gallienus’ nickname: Falerius
- Valerian (senior) possibly related to Decius
- Gallus possibly related to Gallienus. Gallus born in Perusia (Etruscan city); his son is named Volusianus.
- Connection to Volusianus (they all come from a common region)
Historical characters
Fictitious characters
Notes:
- Egnatius Victor Marinianus is historical. He was a legate in Arabia and possibly also in Moesia Superior. Fulvia Pompeia is fictitious.
- Lollianus, Mariniana, and Lucilianus are historical. Their relationship to each other is conjectural. Marinianus’ relationship as father of all these children is
conjectural. - Egnatius Lucilianus: legate of Britain under Gordian III & father of Lucillus, consul in 265. Lucillus is historical, as is his relationship with Lucilianus. Lucillus was consul in 263.
- Victor: high office under Gordian III and Philip. From Prusa in Bithynia.
- Saecularis is historical, as is Salonina. He was prefect of Rome from 258-260, and consul for the second time in 260.
- Carvilia Antonia is fictitious. Whether Salonina had siblings is unknown.
- The relationship between Saecularis and Salonina is conjectural.
Roman System of Nomenclature
- Praenomen – name of individual member of clan. Tended to pass from father to son. Limited number of them
- Nomen – gens or clan
- Cognomen (sometimes two or more) sometimes denoted particular family branch of the gens;
sometimes some distinguishing individual characteristic - Agnomen (sometimes)
- Signum – nickname
Genealogical Table 2 L. Egnatius Victor Lollianus
*sons’ names all start with: Egnatius Victor
Historical characters
Fictitious characters
Notes:
- Lollianus is historical. His date of birth is conjectural. He held high office under
emperors Gordian and Philip, and was prefect of Rome in 253. - The brother-sister relationship between Lollianus and Mariniana is conjectural.
- All other members of this family tree are fictitious.
Genealogical Table 3 Lucius Valerius Maximus
Historical characters
Fictitious characters
Notes:
- Maximus is historical. He was urban prefect of Rome in 255, and consul in 253 then
again in 256. His date of birth is conjectural. - All other members of this family tree are fictitious.
- Marcus Nummius Aeilianus, fictitious son of Marcus Nummius Tuscus, Consul
258 AD. - Varius Junius Fulvianus, fictitious son of Junius Donatus, urban prefect of Rome in 257 AD, Consul 260 AD.
Genealogical Table 4 Septimius Odenathus, Septimia Zenobia
Historical characters
Fictitious characters
*Senator and chief of Tadmor (per Wikipedia)
Notes:
- Zabbia was a general of Tadmor (Palmyra), Arabian descent.
- Zenobia is described as “the daughter of the one with beautiful long hair.”
She claimed to be descended from Cleopatra. - Herrenianus and Timolaeus are reported to have died in childhood.
- Dates, except the deaths of Odenathus and Herodian, are conjectural.
