Messallinus
Messalli'nus Aurelius Cotta
[Cotta, No. 12.]
Messalli'nus, M. Vale'rius Catullus
was governor of the Libyan Pentapolis in the reigns of Vespasian and Titus, where he treated the Jewish provincials with extreme cruelty, and by a fictitious plot involved in a charge of perduellion the principal Jews residing at Alexandria and Rome, and among them the historian Josephus. Messallinus was recalled from his province, but eluded the punishment due to his crimes, probably through Domitian's interest with his father and brother. Under Domitian Messallinus distinguished himself as a delator. Josephus represents him as dying in extreme torments aggravated by an evil conscience. Messallinus was probably consul in A. D. 73. (Fasti; Joseph. B. J. 7.11.3; Plin. Ep. 4.22; Juv. Sat. 4.113-122.) [W.B.D]