Basilius belonged to the Italian nobility, and was member of the influential
gens Caecinia. He was
Praetorian prefect of Italy in 458, under Emperor
Majorian. Emperor
Libius Severus (461–465) honoured Basilius with the
consulate of the year 463 (during which he was already
Patricius), also naming him Praetorian prefect of Italy, a position Basilius held until 465. The Gallo-Roman poet
Sidonius Apollinaris, arrived in Rome in 467, tells that Basilius was one of the two most influential civil officers in Rome in the 460s, together with
Gennadius Avienus. Sidonius asked Basilius' help, as he needed to petition Emperor
Anthemius on behalf of his people; Basilius suggested that he compose a
panegyric in honour of the Emperor, in occasion of the beginning of Anthemius' consulate (January 1, 468). After the declamation, Basilius interceded with Anthemius for Sidonius, and the Emperor made the Gallo-Roman poet a senator, a
Patricius and
Praefectus urbi. Basilius had three sons, all of them consuls:
Caecina Mavortius Basilius Decius (consul in 486),
Decius Marius Venantius Basilius (consul in 484), and Basilius iunior (consul in 480), identified with
Caecina Decius Maximus Basilius. == Notes ==