Marcellus was the son of Vigilantia, the sister of Justinian, and Dulcidio (or Dulcissimus), and thus the brother of Justin II and Praejecta.
[1] Juliana was a staunch Monophysite, and despite her family relation to Justin II, during his reign she was persecuted for her faith, being confined to a monastery in Chalcedon and made to perform the most menial tasks until she agreed to communicate, thereby (at least outwardly) renouncing her faith.
[2] In 544, Marcellus was appointed a general, along with Constantinianus, in the ongoing Lazic War (541–562) against Sassanid Persia, replacing the killed generals Justus (a cousin of Justinian and thus Marcellus's uncle) and Peranius.
He is mentioned again (as a patricius) in late 565, when he played an important role, alongside Baduarius, in the ceremonies marking the accession of Emperor Justin II.
[6] The date of his death is unknown; in circa 582/583, his property was divided by the new Byzantine emperor Maurice (r. 582–602) among the latter's father Paul and his brother Peter.