p162 The Syrian army had turned soft during the east's long peace. Polite, caring, humble, she sang to the lyre perfectly and spoke clear Ionic Greek, spiced with Attic wit. The biographer calls her a "low-born girl-friend", p129 but she is probably closer to an account of Lucian: "a woman of perfect beauty", more beautiful than any of Phidias and Praxiteles' statues. He took up a mistress named Panthea, from Smyrna. Lucius spent most of the campaign in Antioch, though he wintered at Laodicea and summered at Daphne, a resort just outside Antioch. Warren from a sketch by Captain Byam Martin, R.N., 1866) p126 Antioch 162?–65 Antioch from the southwest (engraving by William Miller after a drawing by H. Statius Priscus, meanwhile, must have already arrived in Cappadocia he would earn fame in 163 for successful generalship. It is not known how long Verus' journey east took he might not have arrived in Antioch until after 162. Verus continued eastward via Corinth and Athens, accompanied by musicians and singers as if in a royal progress. Marcus made prayers to the gods for his safety in front of the senate, and hurried south to see him. He fell ill at Canosa, probably afflicted with a mild stroke, and took to bed. Lucius feasted himself in the country houses along his route, and hunted at Apulia. Lucius left in the summer of 162 to take a ship from Brundisium Marcus followed him as far as Capua. Bassus, the other Senator, had been governor of Lower Moesia, and was also made comes. Laelianus, one of the Senators, was "a serious man and an old-fashioned disciplinarian". Since a prefect had to accompany the guard, Victorinus was the clear choice. p125 Victorinus had previously served as procurator of Galatia, giving him some experience with eastern affairs. Marcus would remain in Rome the city "demanded the presence of an emperor".įurius Victorinus, one of the two praetorian prefects, was sent with Lucius, as were a pair of senators, and part of the praetorian guard. p123 Whatever the case, the senate gave its assent, and Lucius left. He was stronger and healthier than Marcus, the argument went, more suited to military activity. Over the winter of 161–62, as more bad news arrived-a rebellion was brewing in Syria-it was decided that Lucius should direct the Parthian war in person. War with Parthia had started as soon as Antoninus died. p117 The ceremony was perhaps not entirely necessary, given that Marcus' accession had been peaceful and unopposed, but it was good insurance against later military troubles. Then, like every new emperor since Claudius, Lucius promised the troops a special donative. Lucius addressed the assembled troops, which then acclaimed the pair as imperatores. Immediately after their senate confirmation, the emperors went to the camp of the praetorian guard. As the biographer wrote, "Verus obeyed Marcus.as a lieutenant obeys a proconsul or a governor obeys the emperor". It would have been clear to the public which emperor was the more senior. ![]() ![]() He had been consul once more than Lucius, he had shared in Pius' administration, and he alone was Pontifex Maximus. In spite of their nominal equality, Marcus held more authority than Verus. ![]() It was the first time that Rome was ruled by two emperors. p116 The senate accepted, granting Lucius the imperium, the tribunician power, and the name Augustus. p156 Although the senate planned to confirm Marcus alone, he refused to take office unless Lucius received equal powers. Verus started his political career as a quaestor in 153, became consul in 154, and in 161 was consul again with Marcus Aurelius as his senior partner.Įmperor Accession of Lucius and Marcus, 161 Īntoninus died on 7 March 161, and was succeeded by Marcus Aurelius. Antoninus was adopted by Hadrian on the condition that Verus and Hadrian’s great-nephew Marcus Aurelius was to be adopted by Antoninus as his sons and heirs. When his father died in early 138, Hadrian chose Antoninus Pius (86–161) as his successor. In practice, he was the junior partner of the great Marcus Aurelius. Lucius Verus ( Lucius Ceionius Commodus, 15 December 130 – 169) was Roman co-emperor with Marcus Aurelius (121–180), from 161 until his death. Lucius Aelius (natural) Antoninus Pius (adoptive, from February 138) Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus (from adoption to accession) Ĭaesar Lucius Aurelius Verus Augustus (as emperor) Daughter Aurelia Lucilla, son Lucius Verus and daughter Plautia, all died young
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