Marcus Antonius Pallas (c.1 AD - 63 AD) was a prominant Greek freedman and secretary during the reigns of the Roman emperors Claudius and Nero. He was also the brother of Antonius Felix, the procurator of Judea. A statue of Emperor Claudius Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (August 1, 10 BC–October 13, 54), previously Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus was the fourth Roman Emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, ruling from January 24, 41 to his death in 54. ... Nero Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (December 15, 37–June 9, 68), born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, also called (50–54) Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus, was the fifth and last Roman Emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. ... Marcus Antonius Felix was the Roman procurator of Judaea 52-60 AD, in succession to Ventidius Cumanus. ... Desert hills in southern Judea, looking east from the town of Arad Judea or Judaea (יהודה Praise, Standard Hebrew , Tiberian Hebrew ) is a term used for the mountainous southern part of historic Palestine, an area now divided between Israel and the West Bank, and, in a few geographical definitions of Judea...

Pallas was originally a slave of Antonia minor, the daughter of Mark Antony, and so took her name when freed. Josephus mentions him as the slave sent by Antonia to deliver evidence to the emperor Tiberius concerning the murder of his son by Sejanus. Antonia probably manumitted Pallas between the years of 31 and 37 AD, when he would have passed the minimum age for freedom. He is listed as owning land in Egypt during that period, possibly as a reward for his servitude. When Antonia died in 37 AD, he became the client of her son, Claudius, as tradition dictated at the death of a former master and patron. Bust of Mark Antony Marcus Antonius (Latin: M·ANTONIVS·M·F·M·N¹) (ca. ... A bust of younger Emperor Tiberius For the city in Israel, see Tiberias. ... Lucius Aelius Sejanus (or Seianus) (20 BC– October 18, 31 AD) was an ambitious soldier, friend and confidant of Tiberius, and for a time the most influential and feared citizen of Rome. ... Manumission is the act of freeing a slave, done at the will of the owner. ... A statue of Emperor Claudius Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (August 1, 10 BC–October 13, 54), previously Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus was the fourth Roman Emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, ruling from January 24, 41 to his death in 54. ...

As a freedman, Pallas rose to great heights in the imperial government. From the beginning of Claudius' reign, the senate was openly hostile to him, which forced him to centralize powers. These daily maintainence of the empire was too much for one man, so divided it up amongst his trusted freedmen. Pallas was made secretary of the treasury. He did this job with such efficiency that Cornelius Scipio proposed before the Senate that he be rewarded. The position apparently enabled Pallas to reward himself as well, as he is later listed as one of the richest men of the time by Pliny the Elder. The historians do admit that he never embezzled directly from the imperial account, and his wealth may have come from his financial acumen. Some ancient historians claim that he was able to control the emperor through his high-ranking position, but this is probably not the case. When his brother Felix was recalled to Rome to stand trial for maladministration, Pallas could not prevent him from being banished, though he was at the height of his career. Nor could he prevent his fellow freedman-administrator Polybius from being executed for treason. Pliny the Elder: an imaginative 19c portrait. ...

In the second half of Claudius' reign, Pallas chose to support Agrippina the Younger as a new empress after the fall of Messalina. Tacitus notes his intent to reunite the Julian and Claudian families through the marriage, and prevent a either a future husband of Agrippina or Agrippina herself from claiming the throne. But the ancient authors also state that the real reason for his choice was that Pallas and Agrippina were lovers. Modern historians suggest that their relationship was strickly business, and they helped each other with mutual goals. Pallas' influence on Agrippina was real and became well-known, but he continued to advise Claudius on matters of state. He was the source of law that stated that a free woman who married a slave would remain free if the master approved. Julia Vipsania Agrippina Minor or Agrippina Minor (Latin for the younger) (November 7, AD 15 – March 59), often called Agrippinilla to distinguish her from her mother, was the daughter of Germanicus and Agrippina Major. ... Valeria Messalina (23–48 CE) was the third wife of the Roman emperor Claudius. ...

When Agrippina's son, Nero, succeeded Claudius, Pallas retained his position in the treasury. It is suggested that he assisted Agrippina in murdering Claudius, since he was sure of his future security. This security did not last long after Nero. In 56 AD, Nero dismissed Pallas from service, tired of having to deal with any allies of Agrippina. He further accused Pallas of conspiring to overthrow him and place Faustus Sulla, the husband of Claudius' daughter Antonia, on the throne. Seneca, who was prominent in Nero's circle, came to Pallas' defense at the trial and got him acquitted. Pallas did not elude Nero's wrath forever, and was killed on Nero's orders in 63 AD - possibly to gain access to his large fortune. Nero Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (December 15, 37–June 9, 68), born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, also called (50–54) Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus, was the fifth and last Roman Emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. ... Antonia can refer to: Roman Antiquity The name of any women of the Antonius family in Ancient Rome, according to the Roman naming convention. ... Seneca the Younger Lucius Annaeus Seneca (often known simply as Seneca, or Seneca the Younger) (ca. ...