Decimus Valerius Asiaticus

Decimus Valerius Asiaticus (35after 69 AD) was a Roman senator who served as the governor of Gallia Belgica.

Family background and early life Asiaticus was of praetorian rank. and Lollia Saturnina, although it has been argued that she was his wife rather than mother. There is a possibility he may have had siblings. He and his family had their origins in Vienna, Gallia Narbonensis.

The father of Asiaticus was of Allobrogian origin and his political career was a contemporary of the rule of the Roman emperors Tiberius, Caligula and Claudius. His father was a respected, wealthy, and prominent Roman Senator. The elder Asiaticus in 35 served as a suffect consul and again in 46, served as an ordinary consul. He was the first man from Gaul to attain the consulship and became the first man from Gaul to be admitted into the Roman Senate.

The mother of Asiaticus was the social and beautiful Lollia Saturnina, whose younger sister Lollia Paulina was a Roman empress and the third wife of the Roman emperor Caligula. Saturnina was the first daughter of Marcus Lollius and the noble woman Volusia Saturnina, who was first cousin to the Roman emperor Tiberius. The father of Asiaticus was murdered on the orders of the Roman empress Valeria Messalina in 47 In early 69 when Aulus Vitellius became Roman emperor, he was finding governors and commanders in the provinces as supporters for his emperorship who were genuinely enthusiastic. Among those supporters was Asiaticus.

Asiaticus was survived by Vitellia and their son Marcus Lollius Paulinus Decimus Valerius Asiaticus Saturninus. Later in 70, Vespasian arranged for Vitellia to remarry another unnamed groom. Her second marriage was a splendid match for her and Vespasian provided for her the dowry and clothing.