Lucius Ceionius Commodus entered the world on the 15th of December 130 in Rome. He was the first-born son of Avidia and Lucius Aelius Caesar, who served as the first adopted heir to Emperor Hadrian. His mother came from a senatorial family with Gaius Avidius Nigrinus as her father. Two sisters followed him into life: Ceionia Fabia and Ceionia Plautia.
The political landscape shifted violently when his biological father died on the 1st of January 138. Hadrian chose Titus Aurelius Antoninus as his new heir and gave him the title caesar. This new emperor received instructions to adopt Lucius alongside Marcus, Hadrian's nephew by marriage. The adoption scheme ensured that Lucius remained an adoptive grandson of Hadrian through his new father. Antoninus also betrothed his daughter Faustina to Lucius, though this arrangement was canceled shortly after.
Immediately following Hadrian's death, Antoninus approached Marcus and requested changes to their marriage arrangements. Marcus' betrothal to Ceionia Fabia would be annulled so he could marry Faustina instead. Faustina's previous engagement to Lucius Commodus required cancellation as well. Marcus consented to these amendments proposed by Antoninus.
As a prince preparing for imperial rule, Verus received careful education from the famous grammaticus Marcus Cornelius Fronto. He proved himself an excellent student fond of writing poetry and delivering speeches. His political career began early when he served as quaestor in 153, one year before reaching the legal age. He became consul in 154 and held the office again in 161 alongside Marcus Aurelius.
The First Co-Emperorship
Antoninus died on the 7th of March 161 and was succeeded by Marcus Aurelius. Marcus bore deep affection for his predecessor as evidenced in the first book of Meditations. Although the senate planned to confirm Marcus alone, he refused to take office unless Lucius received equal powers. The senate accepted this demand and granted Lucius the imperium, tribunician power, and the title augustus.
Marcus became Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus while Lucius took the name Verus. This marked the first time Rome was ruled by two emperors simultaneously. In official titulature, Lucius became Imperator Caesar Lucius Aurelius Verus Augustus. Despite their nominal equality, Marcus held more authority than Verus since he had been consul once more and shared in Pius' administration alone as Pontifex maximus.
Immediately after their confirmation, the emperors proceeded to the Castra Praetoria where Lucius addressed the assembled troops. They acclaimed the pair as imperatores and Lucius promised a special donative twice the size of those past. Each soldier received 20,000 sesterces or 5,000 denarii per capita with additional amounts for officers. This bounty equaled several years' pay and secured an oath from the troops to protect both emperors.
Pius's funeral ceremonies were elaborate according to the biographer. His body likely burned on a pyre at the Campus Martius while his spirit rose to the gods' home. Marcus and Lucius nominated their father for deification and the senate did not oppose these wishes. A flamen appointed to minister the cult of Divus Antoninus laid Pius's remains in Hadrian's mausoleum beside Marcus's children.