Aulus Cornelius Palma Frontonianus

Who is Aulus Cornelius Palma Frontonianus?

Aulus Cornelius Palma Frontonianus was a soldier and Roman statesman who came from Volsinii in Etruria.

His first known post is that of praetorian legate in Asia sometime during Domitian's reign. He went on to command a Legion in the years 94-97 and became First Consul shortly after, in the year 99. In that same year Cornelius Palma went to Spain to take up the position of governor of Hispania Citerior. A short time later, he became the governor of Syria and under emperor Trajan, annexed Nabatea in the year 106, helping to create the Roman province of Arabia Petraea. In 109, he briefly regained his consulship.

Cornelius Palma seems to have been valued by Trajan for his administrative and military skills. This closeness to the emperor may have been a deciding factor in his execution by Hadrian in the year 117, following the death of the emperor.