CEREALIS (CERIALIS), PETILLIUS (1st century A.D.), Roman general, a relative of the Emperor Vespasian. In A.D. 6r he was in Britain as legate of the ninth legion, which was over whelmed by the Britons. In the civil war of 69 he supported Vespasian, and in 7o, after holding the consulship, he put down the revolt of Civilis (q.v.). In 71, as governor of Britain, where he had as a subordinate the famous Agricola, he defeated the powerful Brigantes. Tacitus says that he was a bold soldier rather than a careful general.
See Tacitus, Annals, xiv. 32 ; Histories, iii. S9, 78, iv. 71, 75, 86, v. 21; Agricola, 8, 17. See also B. Henderson, Civil War and Rebellion in the Roman Empire (1908).