Neratius Cerealis

He was the brother of Galla, wife of Julius Constantius, and half-brother of Vulcacius Rufinus, and probably had a son named Neratius Scopius.

[1] In late summer 351 he was in Sirmium, a member of the tribunal processing Photinus; the city was under the control of Emperor Constantius II, while Rome was occupied by the usurper Magnentius.

It is probable that Neratius remained with Constantius until he was appointed Praefectus urbi of Rome, on September 26, 352, a little time after the usurper had left the city.

As Praefectus he asked to divert the grain for Capua, Puteoli, and other cities of Campania to Rome.

On the right of the Arch of Septimius Severus in the Roman Forum, between the arch and the Curia, the base of a statue erected by Neratius in honour of Constantius II is still extant; the Emperor is celebrated in the epigraph (CIL VI, 1158) as restitutor urbis et orbis, extinctor pestiferae tyrannidis, a reference to his victory over Magnentius.