Publius Sulpicius Quirinius was a Roman politician and military leader who lived from approximately 51 BC to AD 21. Born in Lanuvium, he rose through the Roman social hierarchy to serve as a consul under Augustus. He later held the position of legate governor of Syria, a role that included administrative authority over the province of Judaea. He is historically noted for overseeing a census in the region, an event linked to various historical and biblical accounts regarding the taxation and administration of the Levant.