Guy Suetonius Paulin

In the rank of praetor, he was sent to Mauritania in 42 as a legate to suppress the rebellion of Eden . He was the first Roman to cross the Atlas Mountains . Pliny the Elder used his description of these places for his " Natural History ".

In 59, he was appointed Governor of Britain to replace Quintus of Verania . In this post, he successfully continued the aggressive policy of Verania towards the local tribes. By success in military affairs, he competed with such a popular 1st century general as Gnei Domitius Corbulon . Under his leadership, there were two future followers of him as governors - Quintus Petillius Cerialis as legate of the IX Spanish Legion and Gnei Julius Agricola , who was given the Legion of Augustus II as a tribune .

In 61, Guy Suetonius Paulin appears on the island of Mona ( Anglesey ) to suppress the fortified settlements of the Druids , accepting refugees on the island and dissatisfied with Roman rule.

At this time, the Iceni tribe revolts against the Romans, led by Boudicca . Itsenov was supported by many other tribes, including the Trinovants , and the uprising of the Britons became almost universal. The first fell Kamulodun ( Colchester ). The city was besieged by Quintus Petillius Cerialis, but the IX Legion was defeated, and Cerialis had to flee. The rebels marched to Londinium ( London ). There, interrupting the campaign in Monet, Suetonius also went, but reasoned that he did not have enough strength to defend the city. The city was abandoned and plundered by the rebels. The next city to fall under the wrath of the Britons was Verulamium ( St. Albans ).

Suetonius joined the forces of the XIV Legion with units of the XX Legion and a large number of volunteers who were dissatisfied with the actions of the rebels. Prefect of the II Legion , Poeniy Postum , based in Exeter , refused to join the forces of Suetonius, citing the impossibility of victory over the rebels. In total, Suetonius managed to gather no more than 10 thousand people, while the forces of Boudicca totaled about 230 thousand.

Suetonius gave battle on modern Watling Street in West Midland . Roman tactics (the battle took place on a narrow road, there was a forest on both sides, so the Romans could restrain the numerous superior enemy forces on a narrow front, while archers from the forest inflicted irreparable losses) and discipline prevailed over the British numerical superiority. The Britons cut off the path to retreat by placing a convoy with members of their families behind their army. Tacitus writes that the Romans killed more than 80 thousand Britons, in turn losing no more than 4 thousand people. Boudicca, having seen the outcome of the battle, was poisoned. The watering Postumus was forced to stab himself with a sword, so as not to be dishonored and condemned by Suetonius.

Suetonius regrouped his army and continued to suppress the local centers of resistance of the rebels. However, these actions were not too successful. The new British prosecutor , Guy Julius Alpin Classician, reported to Rome to Emperor Nero that the actions of Suetonius only aggravate the situation, and the emperor, finding a far-fetched reason, removed Suetonius from command and from the post of governor, replacing him with a less wayward Publius Petronius Turpilian .

In 66, Suetonius became consul. In 69 , during the unrest and split that followed the death of Nero, Suetonius supported Oton and became one of his military advisers and trusted people. Together with Publius Marius Celsus near Cremona, they defeat the troops of Cecina Alien , one of the best military commanders of Vitellius . However, Suetonius does not give his troops the command to pursue the troops of Cecina, after which he is suspected of treason.

Cecina combines the remnants of his troops with the troops of Fabius Valent . Suetonius advises Oton not to risk it, but he, suspecting Suetonius, rejects his advice. The commander is forced to accept the battle at Bedriak , which ended in the defeat of Otho. Suetonius was captured, but was released by Vitellius in exchange for a promise not to participate in the civil war on the side of Oton.

The further fate of Guy Suetonius Paulina is unknown.

• Prosopographia Imperii Romani . S 957 & 958.