Gordian I

Family and background

Gordian I was said to be related to prominent senators of his time. His praenomen and nomen Marcus Antonius suggested that his paternal ancestors received Roman citizenship under the triumvir Mark Antony, or one of his daughters, during the late Roman Republic. Gordian's cognomen ‘Gordianus’ also indicates that his family origins were from Anatolia, more specifically Galatia or Cappadocia.

According to the Historia Augusta, his mother was a Roman woman called Ulpia Gordiana and his father was the senator Maecius Marullus. Many modern historians have dismissed his father's name as false, but PIR2 proposes that Maecius Marullus be identified as the son of a prominent Corinthian politician, Maecius Faustinus.

There may be some truth behind the Historia Augusta's identification of his mother. Gordian's family history can be guessed through inscriptions. The names Sempronianus Romanus in his name, for instance, may indicate a connection to his mother or grandmother. In Ankara, Turkey, a funeral inscription has been found that names a Sempronia Romana, daughter of a named Sempronius Aquila (an imperial secretary). Sempronia Romana erected this undated funeral inscription to her husband (whose name is lost), who died as a praetor-designate. French historian Christian Settipani has conjectured that Gordian I's parents were Marcus Antonius Gordianus (born c. 135), tr. pl. (tribunus plebis), praet. des. (praetor designatus, and wife Sempronia Romana (born c. 140), daughter of Titus Flavius Sempronius Aquila (c. 115), Secretarius ab epistulis Graecis, and wife Claudia (c. 120), daughter of an unknown father and his wife Claudia Tisamenis (c. 100), sister of Herodes Atticus. It appears in this family tree that the person who was related to Herodes Atticus was Gordian I's mother or grandmother and not his wife. But Anthony Birley stated that the question remains open.