Career
He was the maternal uncle of Lucius Aelius Sejanus, the Praetorian Prefect of the Emperor, Tiberius. Nothing is known of the career of Quintus Junius Blaesus prior to 10, when he served as suffect consul with Servius Cornelius Lentulus Maluginensis. Blaesus subsequently appears as commander of the armies stationed in Pannonia when a mutiny broke out after the death of Augustus in 14.
According to Tacitus, after military service in the Great Illyrian Revolt, soldiers were unhappy with their payment of swampy and mountainous Pannonian lands and demanded restitution.
To ease tensions, Blaesus offered to commit suicide, but his request was ignored. According to the Roman historian Cassius Dio, the soldiers arrested and tortured his slaves, and then attempted to kill Blaesus.
However, he managed to temporarily restore order by convincing them to send envoys to the Roman Senate. Blaesus next post was that of proconsul of Africa from 21 to 23.
During his time as governor in Africa, Blaesus was successful in defeating a revolt by the Numidian warlord Tacfarinas, a victory for which he earned triumphal honors.
As a result of his connection to Sejanus, Blaesus was put on trial as one of his associates. However, instead of awaiting execution, he chose to commit suicide.