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Lucius Cornelius Pusio Annius Messala

b. AD 50

Late 1st/early 2nd century Roman senator, consul and governor

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About Lucius Cornelius Pusio Annius Messala

Born AD 50. Lucius Cornelius Pusio Annius Messala was a Roman politician.

Lucius Cornelius Pusio Annius Messala was a Roman senator who replaced the emperor Domitian as suffect consul from 13 January 90 to the end of February. He is also known by the shorter form of his name, Lucius Cornelius Pusio.

A suffect consul with the same name has been attested for the reign of Vespasian, who was the colleague of Plotius Pegasus. Until the existence of the suffect of the year 90 was proven, inscriptions mentioning the younger Pusio were thought to refer to the older, most notably one recovered from Tibur. The relationship between the two men is not conclusively known, although the identical names strongly suggests the younger was the son of the older. An inscription from Leptis Magna attests to the existence of a Marcus Annius Messala as legatus, or assistant, to the proconsular governor of Africa, which has led to the theory that the older Pusio adopted Annius Messala, who then added the older man's name to his own. At the same time, a Marcus Annius Messala has been attested as suffect consul in 83, who may be the person mentioned in the African inscription. Another theory proposed by scholars such as Ronald Syme explains the element "Annius Messala" as coming from the maternal side of the older Pusio's family.

Syme also notes evidence of two possible relatives in Gades: an inscription by his slave attests to one Lucius Cornelius Pusio, while another to a Marcus Cornelius L.f. Pusio. Lucius Cornelius Pusio is mentioned in one other inscription, the Testamentum Dasumii, indicating he was still alive in the Summer of 108.

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Important facts

Born
AD 50
Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Positions held
Ancient Roman senator, Consul suffectus, Epulo, Proconsul of Africa
Also known as
Lucius Cornelius Pusio, L. Cornelius Pusio

Frequently asked questions

Who was Lucius Cornelius Pusio Annius Messala?

Late 1st/early 2nd century Roman senator, consul and governor

When was Lucius Cornelius Pusio Annius Messala born?

Lucius Cornelius Pusio Annius Messala was born in AD 50.

What was Lucius Cornelius Pusio Annius Messala's occupation?

Lucius Cornelius Pusio Annius Messala was a politician.

What nationality was Lucius Cornelius Pusio Annius Messala?

Lucius Cornelius Pusio Annius Messala was Roman.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Lucius Cornelius Pusio Annius Messala

· Wikidata: Q1238411

· DBpedia: Lucius Cornelius Pusio Annius Messala (consul 90)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Lucius Cornelius Pusio Annius Messala. https://biography.guide/lucius-cornelius-pusio-annius-messala/

MLA: "Lucius Cornelius Pusio Annius Messala." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/lucius-cornelius-pusio-annius-messala/.

Chicago: "Lucius Cornelius Pusio Annius Messala." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/lucius-cornelius-pusio-annius-messala/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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