Si'lius
5. C. SILIUS P. F. P. N., was consul A. D. 13, with L. Munatius Plancus (
D. C. 56.28 ;
Suet. Aug. 101; Frontin.
de Aquaed. 102; Fasti Capitol.).
He was appointed at the end of his year of office legatus of Upper Germany, where he was at the death of Augustus, in the month of August in the following year.
He served under Germanicus in his campaigns in Germany, and on account of his success obtained the triumphal ornaments in A. D. 15. Germanicus sent him against the Chatti in the following year, but the result of that expedition is not mentioned by Tacitus. In A. D. 21 he defeated Julius Sacrovir, who, in conjunction with Julius Florus, had excited an insurrection in Gaul, and had collected a formidable army among the Aedui and the surrounding people [SACROVIR].
But his friendship with Germanicus caused his ruin.
He had also excited the suspicions of the jealous emperor by the successes he had obtained, by the long continuance of his command, and by the boastful manner in which he had spoken of his services.
He was accordingly accused of repettnndae and majestas in A. D. 24, and anticipated his condemnation by a voluntary death. His wife Sosia Galla was involved in the accusations brought against him, and was sentenced to banishment. [GALLA, SOSIA.] (
Tac. Ann. 1.31,
2.6,
7,
25,
3.42-
45,
4.18,
19;
D. C. 60.31.)
