Quintus Marcius Turbo

• Quintus Marcius Turbo was the Praefectus Praetorio of the Praetorian Guard under Hadrian between 125-134 CE.

Synopsis

• His dates of birth and death are unknown, but he came from the city of Epidaurus in Greece.
• Turbo first appears on the record in 113 CE and disappears after 134 CE.
• He became Hadrian‘s right hand man.
• Hadrian had complete trust in Turbo to control Rome, whilst he was away for many years travelling the Empire.
• Turbo was described by Cassius Dio as being devoted, hard working and watchful.

Career

• Early Career
  • Centurion in the Legio II Adiutrix.
  • Praefectus Vehiculorum, Commander of the Postal Service.
  • Tribune of the Vigiles and Cohortes Urbanae
  • Prefect of the Ludud Magnus, the largest Gladiator school in Rome.
• Under Trajan:
  • Turbo was Prefect of the Classis Misenensis under Trajan and sailed the Fleet to Syria during the War against the Parthian Empire in 113-116 CE.
  • Turbo was the Military Prefect who was appointed by Trajan to subdue the Rebellion in Cyrenaica and Egypt during the Kitos War (115-117 CE)

• Under Hadrian:
  • 117 CE He accompanied Hadrian to quell a Rebellion in Mauretania. Hadrian came to trust Turbo and afterwards, made him Governor of both Mauretania Caesariensis and Mauretania Tingitana.
  • c. 119 until 123 CE Hadrian gave Turbo military command of the Danube region.
  • c. 119 CE Turbo suppressed a Rebellion in Dacia, and to ensure better control, he split the Province into Dacia Superior and Dacia Inferior.
  • 125-c.134 CE Turbo was appointed Prefect of the Praetorian Guard. Hadrian trusted Turbo to rule Rome in his absence.