Silanus, Junius

11. App. Junius Silanus, was consul A. D. 28 with P. Silius Nerva. He was accused of majestas in A. D. 32, but was saved by Celsus, one of the informers. Claudius soon after his accession recalled Silanus from Spain, of which he was at that time governor, gave him in marriage Domitia Lepida, the mother of his wife Messalina, and treated him otherwise with the greatest distinction. But shortly afterwards, having refused the embraces of Messalina, he was put to death by Claudius on the accusations of Messalina and Narcissus, both of whom said that they had in their dreams seen Silanus attempting to murder the emperor. (Tac. Ann. 4.68, 6.9, 11.29; Suet. Cl. 29, 37; D. C. 60.14, who calls him Caius Appius Silanus.) One of the sons of Appius is called by Tacitus (13.1) the abnepos or greatgreat-grandson of Augustus. It would therefore appear that App. Silanus married Aemilia Lepida, the proneptis or great-granddaughter of Augustus. The genealogy would therefore stand thus: --