Rusticus was a native of
Corduba.
Ronald Syme notes an inscription recovered there attesting to a magistrate with an identical name. He may have descended from an Italian settler of the
gens Antistia. His first recorded post was the minor magistracy
decemviri stlitibus iudicandis, one of the
vigintiviri, which Syme believes indicates that Rusticus was either the son of a senator, or had been granted
dignitas senatoria. This was followed with an appointment to the curatorship of the Viae
Aurelia and
Cornelia, and afterwards command of
Legio VIII Augusta, which was stationed at
Argentorate in
Germania Superior. In 83/84 Rusticus was appointed
proconsular governor of
Baetica. Syme considers this post a "posture of esteem". However, the relationship between this office and being favored in promotions has been questioned: in a study of this phenomenon, Paul Leunissen observed that "the number of ascertained cases remains low altogether and the differences between individual provinces are too small to justify any conclusion in the direction of ranking-differences between them ... only a few testimonia could bring about considerable shifts." One recorded act during his tenure as proconsul was his demarcating territory in a boundary dispute of the territory of the city of Cisimbrium (modern
Zambra). This governorship was followed by a tenure as prefect of the
Aerarium Saturni from 87 to 89. After his consulship Rusticus was governor of the important province of
Cappadocia-
Galatia in 92/93. While governor of Cappadocia, the
decurions of
Antioch petitioned him for relief from a famine caused by a harsh winter; his response was recorded on an inscription retrieved from that city. He died while still governor, likely in c. 93; his successor,
Titus Pomponius Bassus, is attested in office in 94, holding his suffect consulship that same year
in absentia. == Marriage ==