Aulus Claudius Charax

[close] Aulus Claudius Charax was a Roman senator and historian of the second century AD, who held a number of offices in the emperor's service. He served as suffect consul for the nundinium April-June 147 with Quintus Fuficius Cornutus as his colleague. Charax wrote a history, Hellenika, in forty books, of which only fragments survive.

Charax was appointed to the office of praetor, after which he received a series of promotions at what Remy describes as a very fast rate. He was appointed curator of the Via Latina; Géza Alföldy dates this office from about the years 138 to about 141. This was followed immediately by legatus or commander of Legio II Augusta, which was stationed in Britain; Alföldy dates his commission from about 141 to around 144. During these years the legion was involved with the campaigns of governor Quintus Lollius Urbicus in Scotland, and with the building of the Antonine Wall. This was followed by governorship of Cilicia, which Alföldy dates from immediately after Charax left his commission to around the time of his consulship.