Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect of Judaea from about 26 to 36 CE, was removed from office after violently suppressing a Samaritan uprising near Mount Gerizim. The Samaritans complained to the governor of Syria, Lucius Vitellius, who ordered Pilate to return to Rome to answer charges of cruelty and oppression

. By the time Pilate arrived in Rome, Emperor Tiberius had died (in 37 CE), and the new emperor Caligula took over. It is unclear whether Pilate underwent a formal trial, but he was not reinstated as governor. Various historical sources suggest different fates for Pilate after his recall:

• The early Christian historian Eusebius (4th century) reports that Pilate fell into disgrace and committed suicide around 39 CE, possibly in exile in Gaul (modern France)

• Some traditions claim Caligula ordered Pilate's execution or exile, after which Pilate took his own life

• Other accounts, including some Christian traditions like the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, hold that Pilate converted to Christianity and was later canonized as a saint

• Notably, major contemporary historians like Josephus, Philo, and Tacitus do not mention Pilate’s death or suicide, leaving his ultimate fate uncertain

In summary, after his removal from office due to his harsh actions against the Samaritans, Pontius Pilate was sent back to Rome and likely lived out his remaining years either in exile or retirement. The most commonly cited tradition is that he committed suicide, but this is not definitively confirmed by historical records