Lucius Verus
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.
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.
Vologases IV of Parthia made his move in late summer or early autumn 161 by entering Armenia. He expelled its king and installed Pacorus, an Arsacid like himself. The Governor of Syria, Lucius Attidius Cornelianus, had been retained despite his term ending that year. Marcus Sedatius Severianus governed Cappadocia but fell under the influence of Alexander of Abonoteichus, a self-proclaimed prophet carrying a snake named Glycon.
Severianus led a legion into Armenia only to be trapped by Chosrhoes at Elegeia beyond the Cappadocian frontiers. He committed suicide after realizing the futility of his campaign while his legion was massacred. The entire campaign lasted just three days before Roman forces retreated in disarray. Reinforcements were dispatched including Publius Julius Geminius Marcianus with detachments from Danubian legions.
Three full legions moved east: I Minervia from Bonn, II Adiutrix from Aquincum, and V Macedonica from Troesmis. Lucius left Rome in the summer of 162 aboard a ship from Brundisium. He feasted along country houses and hunted at Apulia before falling ill at Canosa. Fronto urged moderation of desires while Lucius recovered after three days' fasting and bloodletting.
The journey continued via Corinth and Athens where he stayed with Herodes Atticus. He joined the Eleusinian Mysteries during which a falling star shot west to east across the sky. He stopped at Ephesus on the estate of Publius Vedius Antoninus before arriving in Antioch. Statius Priscus had already reached Cappadocia and earned fame for successful generalship.
Lucius spent most of the campaign in Antioch while wintering at Laodicea and summering at Daphne. He took up a mistress named Panthea from Smyrna who was described as a woman of perfect beauty by Lucius. She spoke Ionic Greek spiced with Attic wit and made Lucius shave his beard for her. The Syrians mocked him for this decision and much else regarding his lifestyle.
Critics decried his luxurious habits including gambling that lasted the whole night through. He enjoyed the company of actors and made special requests for dispatches about his chariot teams. A golden statue of the Greens' horse Volucer traveled with him as a token of team spirit. Fronto defended his pupil claiming the Roman people needed bread and circuses to stay in check.
Training was stepped up under Lucius's command after the Syrian army turned soft during long peace. Pontius Laelianus ordered saddles stripped of padding while gambling and drinking were sternly policed. Fronto wrote that Lucius walked on foot at the head of his army as often as riding horses. He personally inspected soldiers in the field and at camp including visits to the sick bay.
In autumn 163 or early 164, Lucius married Marcus' daughter Lucilla in Ephesus. Her thirteenth birthday fell in March 163 so she was not yet fifteen when they wed. Marcus moved up the date possibly because stories of Panthea disturbed him. Lucilla accompanied by her mother Faustina boarded a ship for the east while Marcus returned immediately to Rome.
Roman forces led by Martius Verus and V Macedonica served under Statius Priscus in Armenia during 163. They captured the Armenian capital Artaxata before Verus took the title Armeniacus despite never seeing combat directly. The army of Syria received reinforcements from II Adiutrix and Danubian legions under Geminius Marcianus. Occupied Armenia was reconstructed on Roman terms with Kaine Polis replacing Artaxata as new capital.
A new king named Gaius Julius Sohaemus held Arsacid descent and consular rank. He may have been crowned in Antioch or even Ephesus rather than Armenia itself. In 165 Roman forces moved on Mesopotamia where Edessa was re-occupied and Mannus reinstated. Parthians retreated to Nisibis which was besieged and captured before their general Chosrhoes swam down the Tigris river.
Cassius' army reached Seleucia on the right bank of the Tigris and Ctesiphon on the left. Ctesiphon's royal palace burned while citizens of Seleucia opened gates only to face a sack nonetheless. Cassius' troops suffered from plague contracted in Seleucia but returned safely to Roman territory. Iunius Maximus brought victory news to Rome receiving immediate promotion to quaestorship.
In 168 war broke out along the Danube when Marcomanni invaded Roman territory. Verus fell severely ill upon returning to Rome from the field and died soon afterwards. Some authors suggest poisoning though this remains unlikely given widespread evidence of Antonine Plague. Marcus Aurelius grieved his adoptive brother's loss and accompanied the body to Rome for games honoring memory.
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Common questions
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.
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.
All sources
18 references cited across the entry
- 1bookThe Cambridge Manual of Latin EpigraphyAlison E. Cooley — Cambridge University Press — 2012
- 3bookLucius Verus and the Roman Defence of the EastM. C. Bishop — Pen and Sword — 2018
- 4webLucius Verus (161-169 A.D.)Phoebe B. Peacock — 2001
- 12bookThe First Fossil Hunters: Dinosaurs, Mammoths, and Myth in Greek and Roman TimesAdrienne Mayor — Princeton University Press — 2011
- 18bookLucius Verus and the Roman Defence of the EastM. C. Bishop — Pen and Sword — 2018