Publius Martius Verus was a
Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
senator and general. He was twice
consul
Consul (abbrev. ''cos.''; Latin plural ''consules'') was the title of one of the two chief magistrates of the Roman Republic, and subsequently also an important title under the Roman Empire. The title was used in other European city-states throu ...
. Verus played a major role in the suppression of the revolt of
Avidius Cassius by remaining loyal to the emperor
Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (Latin: áːɾkus̠ auɾέːli.us̠ antɔ́ːni.us̠ English: ; 26 April 121 – 17 March 180) was Roman emperor from 161 to 180 AD and a Stoic philosopher. He was the last of the rulers known as the Five Good ...
.
Life
Verus came from the Roman colony of
Tolosa in
Gallia Narbonensis.
[Géza Alföldy, ''Konsulat und Senatorenstand unter den Antoninen'' (Bonn: Habelt Verlag, 1977), p. 317] His first recorded post was as ''
legatus legionis
A ''legatus'' (; anglicised as legate) was a high-ranking Roman military officer in the Roman Army, equivalent to a modern high-ranking general officer. Initially used to delegate power, the term became formalised under Augustus as the office ...
'' or commander of
Legio V Macedonica
''Legio V Macedonica'' (the Fifth Macedonian Legion) was a Roman legion. It was probably originally levied in 43 BC by consul Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus and Gaius Iulius Caesar Octavianus (later known as the Emperor Augustus). It was bas ...
in 162, during the
Roman–Parthian War. Upon the resolution of that conflict, Verus was appointed suffect consul in 166 with
Marcus Vibius Liberalis Marcus, Markus, Márkus or Mărcuș may refer to:
* Marcus (name), a masculine given name
* Marcus (praenomen), a Roman personal name
Places
* Marcus, a main belt asteroid, also known as (369088) Marcus 2008 GG44
* Mărcuş, a village in Dobâr ...
. That same year he was made governor of
Roman Cappadocia, which post he held upon the revolt of Avidius Cassius.
Following the defeat and death of Avidius Cassius, in 175 Verus was replaced as governor of Cappadocia by
Gaius Arrius Antoninus, and made governor of Avidius Cassius' former province,
Syria, apparently to aid in re-establishing Imperial control of that province. Verus was also rewarded for his loyalty with being appointed consul ordinarius in 179, with the co-emperor
Commodus.
His life after the ordinary consulship is not recorded.
Family
Verus married a Sergia Saturnina, a native of
Ostia. They are known to have had a son,
Publius Martius Sergius Saturninus, ordinary consul in 198.
[Paul M. M. Leunissen, ''Konsuln und Konsulare in der Zeit von Commodus bis Severus Alexander (180-235 n. Chr.)'' (Amsterdam, 1989), p. 133]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Martius Verus, Publius
Imperial Roman consuls
Roman governors of Cappadocia
Roman governors of Syria
Ancient Roman generals
2nd-century Romans
Year of birth uncertain
Year of death unknown