Editing Balbinus (section)

== Origins and career ==
Not much is known about Balbinus before his elevation to emperor. It has been conjectured that he descended from [[Publius Coelius Balbinus Vibullius Pius]], the [[Roman consul|consul ordinarius]] of 137, and wife Aquilia. If this were true, he was also related to the family of [[Quintus Pompeius Falco|Q. Pompeius Falco]], which supplied many politicians of consular rank throughout the 3rd century, and to the 1st-century politician, engineer and author [[Sextus Julius Frontinus|Julius Frontinus]]. He was born around 178.<ref name=Handbook>{{cite book|author1=Adkins, Lesley|author2=Adkins, Roy A.|title=Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|location=New York |year=1994|page=26}}</ref> He was a [[Patrician (ancient Rome)|patrician]] from birth, and was the son (either by birth or adoption) of Caelius Calvinus, who was legate of [[Cappadocia]] in 184. He was one of the [[Salii]] priests of Mars.<ref>Michael Grant,''The Roman Emperors''</ref> According to [[Herodian]] he had governed provinces, but the list of seven provinces given in the unreliable ''Historia Augusta'', as well as the statement that Balbinus had been both [[Proconsul]] of [[Asia (Roman province)|Asia]] and of [[Africa (Roman province)|Africa]], are likely to be mere invention.{{citation needed|date=November 2012}} He had certainly been twice consul; his first consulate is not certainly known but is believed to have been about 203 or in July 211; he was consul for the second time in 213 as colleague of [[Caracalla]], which suggests he enjoyed that emperor's favour.