Gnaeus Julius Verus
Encyclopedia
Gnaeus Iulius Verus was Roman
general and senator of the mid-2nd century AD, eventually becoming governor of Britain.
Verus came from Aequum in Dalmatia, probably the son of Sextus Julius Severus
(consul
127), born in 112. He served as tribune in the legio X Fretensis
when his father was governor of Judaea in 132-5. The he served as monetalis, quaestor Augusti, and was co-opted as an augur
all suggest that he was marked out at an early career for a prominent career.
He was the legatus
of the Legio XXX Ulpia Victrix
in Germania Inferior
in the 140s, then prefect
or the aerarium Saturni. He was consul in 151.
In 154 Verus was sent to Britain
as governor, a position that he held until at least 158. 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
.
Verus stripped the Brigantes of much of their territory, possibly in order to provide land to build a new civitas
, or to be donated to the emperor. He was replaced in 158.
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
general and senator of the mid-2nd century AD, eventually becoming governor of Britain.
Verus came from Aequum in Dalmatia, probably the son of Sextus Julius Severus
Sextus Julius Severus
Sextus Julius Severus was an accomplished Roman General of the 2nd century.Julius Severus served as Governor of Moesia; he was appointed Governor of Britain around 131.In 133 he was transferred to Judea, to help suppress the Bar Kochba rebellion there...
(consul
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
127), born in 112. He served as tribune in the legio X Fretensis
Legio X Fretensis
Legio X Fretensis was a Roman legion levied by Augustus Caesar in 41/40 BC to fight during the period of civil war that started the dissolution of the Roman Republic...
when his father was governor of Judaea in 132-5. The he served as monetalis, quaestor Augusti, and was co-opted as an augur
Augur
The augur was a priest and official in the classical world, especially ancient Rome and Etruria. His main role was to interpret the will of the gods by studying the flight of birds: whether they are flying in groups/alone, what noises they make as they fly, direction of flight and what kind of...
all suggest that he was marked out at an early career for a prominent career.
He was the legatus
Legatus
A legatus was a general in the Roman army, equivalent to a modern general officer. Being of senatorial rank, his immediate superior was the dux, and he outranked all military tribunes...
of the Legio XXX Ulpia Victrix
Legio XXX Ulpia Victrix
Legio trigesima Ulpia Victrix was a Roman legion levied by the Emperor Trajan in 100 for the Dacian Wars. The legion was active until disbandment of the Rhine frontier in the beginning of the 5th century. Their emblems were the gods Neptune and Jupiter and the Capricorn...
in Germania Inferior
Germania Inferior
Germania Inferior was a Roman province located on the left bank of the Rhine, in today's Luxembourg, southern Netherlands, parts of Belgium, and North Rhine-Westphalia left of the Rhine....
in the 140s, then prefect
Prefect
Prefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
or the aerarium Saturni. He was consul in 151.
In 154 Verus was sent to Britain
Roman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
as governor, a position that he held until at least 158. 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
Brigantes
The Brigantes were a Celtic tribe who in pre-Roman times controlled the largest section of what would become Northern England, and a significant part of the Midlands. Their kingdom is sometimes called Brigantia, and it was centred in what was later known as Yorkshire...
tribe and had resulted in the abandonment of the Antonine Wall
Antonine Wall
The Antonine Wall is a stone and turf fortification built by the Romans across what is now the Central Belt of Scotland, between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde. Representing the northernmost frontier barrier of the Roman Empire, it spanned approximately 39 miles and was about ten feet ...
and a possible slaughter at the fort at Newstead
Newstead
Newstead is a name related to several places:*Newstead, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada*Newstead, New York, a town in the USA*Newstead, Victoria, a town in Australia*Newstead, Queensland, a suburb in the city of Brisbane...
.
Verus stripped the Brigantes of much of their territory, possibly in order to provide land to build a new civitas
Civitas
In the history of Rome, the Latin term civitas , according to Cicero in the time of the late Roman Republic, was the social body of the cives, or citizens, united by law . It is the law that binds them together, giving them responsibilities on the one hand and rights of citizenship on the other...
, or to be donated to the emperor. He was replaced in 158.