Gnaeus Julius Verus was Roman senator and general of the mid-2nd century AD. He was suffect consul, and governed several important imperial provinces:

Germania Inferior Germania Inferior ("Lower Germania") was a Roman province from AD 85 until the province was renamed Germania Secunda in the fourth century, on the west bank of the Rhine bordering the North Sea. The capital of the province was Colonia Agripp ...

Britain Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...

, and Syria.

Life

Verus came from Aequum in Dalmatia; this has led some experts (such as Géza Alföldy. Anthony Birley, and

Werner Eck Werner Eck (born 17 December 1939) is Professor of Ancient History at Cologne University, Germany, and a noted expert on the history and epigraphy of imperial Rome.Eck, W. (2007) ''The Age of Augustus''. 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell, cover notes. Hi ...

) to believe he was the son of

Sextus Julius Severus Gnaeus Minicius Faustinus Sextus Julius Severus was an accomplished Roman general of the 2nd century. He also held the office of suffect consul in the last three months of 127 with Lucius Aemilius Juncus as his colleague. Biography Julius Severu ...

( consul 127), but other experts assert Julius Severus was his uncle. He served as tribune in the

legio X Fretensis Legio X ''Fretensis'' ("Tenth legion of the Strait") was a legion of the Imperial Roman army. It was founded by the young Gaius Octavius (later to become Augustus Caesar) in 41/40 BC to fight during the period of civil war that started the disso ...

when Julius Severus was governor of Judaea from 132 to 135. That Verus served as a '' tresvir monetalis'', then '' quaestor Augusti'', and was co-opted as an augur; all suggesting that he was marked out at an early stage for a prominent career. Following his achievement as praetor, Verus was '' legatus legionis'' or commander of Legio XXX ''Ulpia Victrix'' in the 140s, which was stationed at Xanten then part of

. He returned to Rome to serve as prefect of the '' aerarium Saturni''; Mireille Corbier dates his tenure from January 147 to the end of 149, which would make him the colleague of Lucius Dasumius Tullius Tuscus (suffect consul 152). Verus was suffect consul at some point in the years 149 to 151. The first consular office Verus held was as governor of Germania Inferior, possibly arriving there in 154. Birley notes that "Verus' dispatch to govern a province where he had commanded a legion a decade or so earlier is relatively unusual."Birley, ''Fasti of Roman Britain'', p. 119 An inscription from Birrens, north of the western end of Hadrian's Wall, shows that Verus was present in Britain as governor in 158, but he likely was present in the province before then. His dispatch to Britain with troops from Germany was probably meant to put down a revolt there, or at least to reinforce the remnants of the troops who had done so. The revolt had been led by the Brigantes tribe and had resulted in the abandonment of the Antonine Wall and a possible slaughter at the fort at Newstead.Birley, ''Fasti of Roman Britain'', p. 120 It is not clear when Verus left Britain. Details on his successor are few. Verus is known to have accompanied Lucius Verus east in his campaign against the Parthians in 162, and a mile post in Syria dated to 163 shows he succeeded

Marcus Annius Libo Marcus Annius Libo was a Roman Senator active in the early second century AD. Life Libo came from the upper ranks of the Roman aristocracy. He was the son of Marcus Annius Verus, consul III in 126, and Rupilia Faustina. Annius Verus was Spanish o ...

as governor upon the latter's death. In Syria, he instructed road improvements along the gorge of the Barada River, as documented by inscriptions from

Abila Lysaniou Abila Lysaniou or Abila Lysaniae or Abila ( grc, Ἄβιλα ἐπικαλουμένη Λυσανίου or Ἄβιλα) was an ancient city, on the Abana River and capital of ancient Abilene, Coele-Syria. The site is currently that of the villag ...

. His offices after he left Syria are not known. Debrowa notes Verus "was an experienced man who had good relationship with the emperors." Birley admits it is possible he was proconsular governor of

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

20 years after his consulship, since the plague of 166 had slain so many qualified men. Verus was nominated for a second consulship in 180, but he died in 179.Birley, ''Fasti of Roman Britain'', p. 121

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Julius Verus, Gnaeus 2nd-century Romans 2nd-century clergy Roman governors of Britain Augurs of the Roman Empire Suffect consuls of Imperial Rome Roman governors of Germania Inferior Roman governors of Syria Roman consuls designate Verus, Gnaeus