Valerius Maximus, a member of the third century gens Valeria, was possibly the son of Lucius Valerius Messalla by his wife Claudia Acilia Priscilliana, as his nomina and cognomina combined suggest. He began his career serving as the sevir equitum Romanorum at the annual review of the equites. His first political appointment was as the triumvir monetalis, followed by a posting as quaestor in some unknown province.Mennen, pg. 124
