Gaius Annius Anullinus

Gaius Annius Anullinus (died 4th century) was a Roman senator who was appointed consul in AD 295.

Descended of a family which originated in Africa and a pagan, Anullinus’ early career is unknown. A leading figure of Rome’s urban aristocracy, he was possibly the son of the senator Anullinus, who allegedly freed the future emperor Diocletian’s father from slavery. He first appears as the consul posterior alongside Nummius Tuscus in AD 295. From 1 July 302 to 1 July 305, Anullinus was the Proconsular governor of Africa Proconsularis.

During his time there he implemented the edicts against the Christians as decreed by the emperor Diocletian. He travelled across the province, stopping at towns and holding judicial hearings, and enforcing the letter of the law. He ordered the execution of Felix, Bishop of Tibiuca, who refused to hand over copies of the Christian scriptures over to the authorities. He oversaw the execution of the Martyrs of Abitina and he also ordered the execution of Crispina of Thagara, after presiding over a trial where she refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods. Anulinus passed sentence on the three virgins of Tuburga, and possibly Perpetua.

Ultimately however, he attempted to maintain some balance between convincing the imperial courts of his adherence in enforcing their decrees, and convincing the local population that he was doing his job only to the limited extent that was necessary, and not so zealously that it would impact his ability to govern the province peacefully. Regardless, after the persecutions were over, the monuments and buildings erected by him during his time as governor were purposely defaced by the local Christians.

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