When was Lucius Verus born and who were his parents?
Lucius Verus was born on the 15th of December 130 in Rome to Avidia and Lucius Aelius Caesar. His mother came from a senatorial family with Gaius Avidius Nigrinus as her father.
Questions about Lucius Verus
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How did Lucius Verus become co-emperor with Marcus Aurelius?
Marcus Aurelius refused to take office alone after Antoninus died on the 7th of March 161 unless Lucius received equal powers. The senate granted Lucius imperium, tribunician power, and the title augustus making him Imperator Caesar Lucius Aurelius Verus Augustus.
What happened during the Parthian War led by Lucius Verus?
Roman forces captured Ctesiphon and Seleucia while suffering from plague contracted in Seleucia before returning safely to Roman territory. Vologases IV of Parthia had entered Armenia in late summer or early autumn 161 but Roman armies eventually re-occupied Edessa and besieged Nisibis.
Why did Lucius Verus spend time in Antioch and what lifestyle did he adopt there?
Lucius spent most of the campaign in Antioch while wintering at Laodicea and summering at Daphne where he took up a mistress named Panthea from Smyrna. Critics decried his luxurious habits including gambling that lasted the whole night through and his decision to shave his beard for Panthea.
When did Lucius Verus die and what caused his death?
Verus fell severely ill upon returning to Rome from the field and died soon afterwards in 168 after war broke out along the Danube when Marcomanni invaded Roman territory. Some authors suggest poisoning though this remains unlikely given widespread evidence of Antonine Plague.