Blandus

a Roman knight, who taught eloquence at Rome in the time of Augustus, and was the instructor of the philosopher and rhetorician, Fabianus. (Senec. Controv. ii. prooem. p. 136, ed. Bip.) He is frequently introduced as a speaker in the Suasoriae (2, 5) and Controversiae (1.1, 2, 4, &c.) of the elder Seneca. He was probably the father or grandfather of the Rubellius Blandus mentioned below.

whose grandfather was only a Roman knight of Tibur, married in A. D. 33 Julia, the daughter of Drusus, the son of the emperor Tiberius, whence Blandus is called the progener of Tiberius. (Tac. Ann. 6.27, 45.) Rubellius Plautus, who was put to death by Nero, was the offspring of this marriage. [Plautus.]

There was in the senate in A. D. 21 a Rubellius Blandus, a man of consular rank (Tac. Ann. 3.23, 51), who is probably the same as the husband of Julia, though Lipsius supposes him to be the father of the latter. We do not, however, find in the Fasti any consul of this name.

There is a coin, struck under Augustus, bearing the inscription C. RVBELLIVS BLANDVS HIVIR A. A. A. F. F., that is, Auro Argento Aeri Flando Ferinndo, which is probably to be referred to the father of the above-mentioned Blandus. (Eckhel, v. p. 295.)