Lucius Verus
Emperor of the Roman Empire
Bust of Lucius Verus
Reign	March 8, 161-169 (with Marcus Aurelius)
Full name	Lucius Ceionius Commodus Verus Armeniacus
Born	15 December 130(130-12-15)
Died	169 (age 39)
Place of death	Rome
Buried	Hadrian's Mausoleum
Predecessor	Antoninus Pius
Successor	Marcus Aurelius (alone)
Wife	Lucilla
Issue	3 children
Dynasty	Antonine
Father	Lucius Aelius (natural); Antoninus Pius (adoptive, from Feb 138)
Mother	Avidia Plautia

Roman imperial dynasties
Antonine Dynasty

Lucius Verus on a coin issued to celebrate his victory against Vologases IV of Parthia Antoninus Pius Children    Natural - Faustina the Younger, also one other daughter and two sons, all died before 138    Adoptive - Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus Marcus Aurelius with Lucius Verus Marcus Aurelius alone Children    Natural - 13, including Commodus and Lucilla Commodus

Lucius Ceionius Commodus Verus Armeniacus (December 15, 130 – 169), known simply as Lucius Verus, was Roman co-emperor with Marcus Aurelius (161–180), from 161 until his death. The Roman Emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period (starting at about 27 BC The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial Events 1618 - Johannes Kepler discovers the third law of planetary motion. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (often referred to as "the wise" ( April 26, 121 – March 17, 180) was Roman Emperor Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 For the town with the same name see Castel Sant'Angelo (RI The Mausoleum of Hadrian, usually known as the Castel Sant'Angelo, is a towering Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Arrius Antoninus ( September 19, 86 &ndash March 7 161) generally known in English as Antoninus Pius Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (often referred to as "the wise" ( April 26, 121 – March 17, 180) was Roman Emperor Annia Aurelia Galeria Lucilla ( March 7, 148 or 150-182 was the second Daughter and third Child of Roman Emperor This page is on the Roman imperial dynasty for Catholic clergy of the same name see Anthonians The Antonines most often referred to were two successive Lucius Aelius Verus Caesar ( January 13, 101 - January 1 138) became the adopted son and intended successor of Roman Emperor Hadrian Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Arrius Antoninus ( September 19, 86 &ndash March 7 161) generally known in English as Antoninus Pius This page is on the Roman imperial dynasty for Catholic clergy of the same name see Anthonians The Antonines most often referred to were two successive Vologases IV of Parthia ruled the Parthian Empire from 147 to 191 Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Arrius Antoninus ( September 19, 86 &ndash March 7 161) generally known in English as Antoninus Pius Annia Galeria Faustina Minor ( Minor Latin for the younger) Faustina Minor or Faustina the Younger ( February 16 between 125 and Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (often referred to as "the wise" ( April 26, 121 – March 17, 180) was Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (often referred to as "the wise" ( April 26, 121 – March 17, 180) was Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (often referred to as "the wise" ( April 26, 121 – March 17, 180) was Roman Emperor Lucius Aurelius Commodus Antoninus ( August 31, 161 – December 31, 192) was a Roman Emperor who ruled from 180 to 192 (also with Annia Aurelia Galeria Lucilla ( March 7, 148 or 150-182 was the second Daughter and third Child of Roman Emperor Lucius Aurelius Commodus Antoninus ( August 31, 161 – December 31, 192) was a Roman Emperor who ruled from 180 to 192 (also with Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of The Roman Emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period (starting at about 27 BC Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (often referred to as "the wise" ( April 26, 121 – March 17, 180) was Roman Emperor

Life

Adoption by Hadrian

Verus was the son of Avidia Plautia and Lucius Aelius Caesar, the adopted son, and intended successor, of Emperor Hadrian (117–138). Lucius Aelius Verus Caesar ( January 13, 101 - January 1 138) became the adopted son and intended successor of Roman Emperor Hadrian Publius Aelius Hadrianus (January 24 76 &ndash July 10 138 as emperor Imperator Caesar Divi Traiani filius Traianus Hadrianus Augustus, and Divus Hadrianus after

When Aelius Caesar died in 138, Hadrian chose Antoninus Pius (138–161) as his successor, on the condition that Antoninus adopt both Verus (then seven years old) and Marcus Aurelius, Hadrian's nephew. Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Arrius Antoninus ( September 19, 86 &ndash March 7 161) generally known in English as Antoninus Pius In Ancient Rome, Adoption of boys was a fairly common procedure particularly in the upper senatorial class Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (often referred to as "the wise" ( April 26, 121 – March 17, 180) was Roman Emperor As an imperial prince, Verus received careful education from the most famous grammaticus Marcus Cornelius Fronto. Marcus Cornelius Fronto ( c 100 - 170) Roman grammarian rhetorician and advocate was born at Cirta in Numidia. Verus is reported to have been an excellent student, fond of writing poetry and delivering speeches.

Verus had two sisters. One sister Ceionia Fabia was engaged to Marcus Aurelius in 136. However Marcus Aurelius in 138, broke off the engagement to Fabia. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (often referred to as "the wise" ( April 26, 121 – March 17, 180) was Roman Emperor Aurelius was adopted by emperor Antoninus Pius’ and was engaged to Pius’ daughter Faustina the Younger whom he later married. Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Arrius Antoninus ( September 19, 86 &ndash March 7 161) generally known in English as Antoninus Pius Annia Galeria Faustina Minor ( Minor Latin for the younger) Faustina Minor or Faustina the Younger ( February 16 between 125 and Lucius had another sister Ceionia Plautia, little is known about the sisters.

Imperial accession

Verus' political career started as quaestor in 153 and then as consul in 154. Quaestors were originally appointed by the Consuls to investigate criminal acts and determine if the consul needed to take public action Consul (abbrev cos; Latin plural consules) was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire In 161, he was once again consul, with Marcus Aurelius as senior partner. Antoninus died on March 7, 161, and was succeeded by Marcus Aurelius. Events 161 - Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius dies and is succeeded by co-Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus Verus was nonetheless adopted as co-emperor, an unprecedented event in the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial Officially both men shared equal powers, but in practice it was Marcus Aurelius who became the leader. Verus was given the control of the armies, proving the confidence between him and his senior brother. To solidify this alliance, Marcus Aurelius gave his daughter Lucilla in marriage to Verus. Annia Aurelia Galeria Lucilla ( March 7, 148 or 150-182 was the second Daughter and third Child of Roman Emperor Lucius and Lucilla had two daughters and a son. The elder daughter and son died young, however the younger daughter lived long enough to be involved in a plot against her maternal uncle, emperor Commodus in 182. Lucius Aurelius Commodus Antoninus ( August 31, 161 – December 31, 192) was a Roman Emperor who ruled from 180 to 192 (also with Events By place Roman Empire Commodus exiles his sister Lucilla to Capreae. She was killed with her mother.

Eastern campaigns

Between 162 and 166 Verus was in the East, commanding a campaign against the Parthian empire for the control over the Armenian kingdom. Parthia ( Middle Persian: اشکانیان Ashkâniân) was an Iranian civilization situated in the northeastern part of modern Iran The Kingdom of Armenia (or Greater Armenia) was an independent kingdom from 190 BC to AD 387 and a client state of the Roman and Persian empires until In this war, the city of Seleucia on the Tigris was destroyed and the palace at the capital Ctesiphon was burned to the ground by Avidius Cassius in 164. For the Syrian seaport of the same name that figures in the travels of Saint Paul see Seleucia Pieria. For the Spanish saint see Ctesiphon of Vergium. Ctesiphon (قطسيفون تیسفون was one of the great cities of the Persian Empire Gaius Avidius Cassius (ca 130&ndashJuly 175 was a Roman usurper who briefly ruled Egypt and Syria in 175 The Roman legions advanced as far as Media. The Medes were an ancient Iranian people who lived in the northwestern portions of present-day Iran. Vologases IV of Parthia (147–191) made peace but was forced to cede western Mesopotamia to the Romans. Vologases IV of Parthia ruled the Parthian Empire from 147 to 191 Mesopotamia (from the Greek meaning "land between the rivers" is an area geographically located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers largely corresponding Verus is reported to have been an excellent commander, without fear of delegating military tasks to more competent generals.

Contemporary accounts state that Verus did not live a hard life during the campaign. He was always surrounded with actors and musicians, enjoying copious banquets and other pleasures of life. Apparently his cheerful disposition spread to the troops, since the morale was high. His attitude apparently did not undermine his effectiveness. Verus remained a diligent leader and performed his tasks with competence. On his return to Rome, Verus was awarded with a Roman triumph, and the title of Armeniacus. A Roman triumph ( la [[wikttriumphus triumphus]], Old Latin la triumpus, attested as the exclamation la TRIVMPE in the Carmen Arvale; via The parade was unusual because it included Verus, Marcus Aurelius, their sons and unmarried daughters as a big family celebration.

Years in Rome

The next two years (166–168) were spent in Rome. Verus continued with his glamorous lifestyle and kept the troupe of actors and favourites with him. He had a tavern built in his house, where he celebrated parties with his friends until dawn. He also enjoyed roaming around the city among the population, without acknowledging his identity. The games of the circus were another passion in his life, especially chariot racing. Chariot racing (ἁρματοδρομία/armatodromia was one of the most popular ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine Sports Chariot Marcus Aurelius disapproved of his conduct but, since Verus continued to perform his official tasks with efficiency, there was little he could do.

Portrait head of Lucius Verus, found in Athens (National Archaeological Museum of Athens) He used to sprinkle gold-dust[1] on his blond hair to make it brighter. The National Archaeological Museum of Athens (Εθνικό Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο in Athens houses some of the most important artifacts from a variety

Wars on the Danube and death

Further information: Marcomannic Wars

In the spring of 168 war broke out in the Danubian border when the Marcomanni invaded the Roman territory. The Marcomannic Wars (called by the Romans bellum Germanicum or expeditio Germanica) were a series of wars lasting over a dozen years from about AD 166 The Danube (In Donau from earlier Danuvius, Celtic *dānu, meaning "to flow run" Slovak and Polish Dunaj Marcomanni were a Germanic tribe, probably related to the Buri, Suebi or Suevi This war would last until 180, but Verus did not see the end of it. Events By place Roman Empire The praetorian prefect Tarutenius Paternus achieved a decisive victory against the Quadi In 168, as Verus and Marcus Aurelius returned to Rome from the field, Verus fell ill with symptoms attributed to food poisoning, dying after a few days (169). Foodborne illness (also foodborne disease) is any Illness resulting from the consumption of food However, scholars believe that Verus may have been a victim of smallpox, as he died during a widespread epidemic known as the Antonine Plague. Smallpox is an Infectious disease unique to humans caused by either of two virus variants named Variola major and Variola minor. The Antonine Plague, 165 - 180 AD  also known as the Plague of Galen, was an ancient Pandemic, either of Smallpox or Measles Despite the minor differences between them, Marcus Aurelius grieved the loss of his adoptive brother. He accompanied the body to Rome, where he offered games to honour his memory. After the funeral, the senate declared Verus divine to be worshipped as Divus Verus.

References

• Augustan History