Virius Lupus
Encyclopedia
Virius Lupus was a Roman
soldier and politician of the late second and early 3rd century.
His parents were Lucius Virius, born c. 140, and wife Antonia, also born c. 140 and daughter of Marcus Antonius Zeno. His paternal grandparents were Quintus Virius, born c. 110, and wife Larcia, born c. 125, a daughter of Aulus Larcius Lepidus and wife Volumnia Calida.
He served as a Legatus
of one of the German provinces and supported Septimus Severus during the civil war that followed the murder of Pertinax
. In 196 his troops were defeated by Decimus Clodius Albinus as the fight for the throne intensified.
He would have served as consul some time previously and became Governor
or Legatus
of Britannia
once Severus was made emperor in 197.
Severus sent him to Britain immediately to recover the province from the rebellions that had swept it following Clodius Albinus' removal of most of the garrison to press his claim for the throne the previous year.
In the north he was obliged to buy peace from the Maeatae
. Fearful that they would ally with the Caledonian Confederacy and unable to secure troop reinforcements from Severus, Lupus had no choice but to pay the rebels in return for their withdrawal and the return of a few prisoners. Lupus slowly restored the forts in the Pennines
to Roman control although Hadrian's Wall
was not rebuilt until c. 205.
His governorship was assisted by the arrival of Sextus Varius Marcellus
as provincial procurator
and in who can be seen the germ of the later division of Britain into two provinces.
He served as governor until 201 or 202.
By his marriage to Julia, born c. 180, he had a daughter Viria Juliana (c. 205 - aft. 241), who married Lucius Alfenius Avitianus (c. 200 - aft. 241), son of Lucius Alfenius Avitianus, by whom she had a son Lucius Alfenius Virius Julianus.
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....
soldier and politician of the late second and early 3rd century.
His parents were Lucius Virius, born c. 140, and wife Antonia, also born c. 140 and daughter of Marcus Antonius Zeno. His paternal grandparents were Quintus Virius, born c. 110, and wife Larcia, born c. 125, a daughter of Aulus Larcius Lepidus and wife Volumnia Calida.
He served as a 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 one of the German provinces and supported Septimus Severus during the civil war that followed the murder of Pertinax
Pertinax
Pertinax , was Roman Emperor for three months in 193. He is known as the first emperor of the tumultuous Year of the Five Emperors. A high ranking military and Senatorial figure, he tried to restore discipline in the Praetorian Guards, whereupon they rebelled and killed him...
. In 196 his troops were defeated by Decimus Clodius Albinus as the fight for the throne intensified.
He would have served as consul some time previously and became Governor
Roman governor
A Roman governor was an official either elected or appointed to be the chief administrator of Roman law throughout one or more of the many provinces constituting the Roman Empire...
or 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 Britannia
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...
once Severus was made emperor in 197.
Severus sent him to Britain immediately to recover the province from the rebellions that had swept it following Clodius Albinus' removal of most of the garrison to press his claim for the throne the previous year.
In the north he was obliged to buy peace from the Maeatae
Maeatae
The Maeatae were a confederation of tribes who lived probably beyond the Antonine Wall in Roman Britain. The historical sources are vague as to the exact region they inhabited....
. Fearful that they would ally with the Caledonian Confederacy and unable to secure troop reinforcements from Severus, Lupus had no choice but to pay the rebels in return for their withdrawal and the return of a few prisoners. Lupus slowly restored the forts in the Pennines
Pennines
The Pennines are a low-rising mountain range, separating the North West of England from Yorkshire and the North East.Often described as the "backbone of England", they form a more-or-less continuous range stretching from the Peak District in Derbyshire, around the northern and eastern edges of...
to Roman control although Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall was a defensive fortification in Roman Britain. Begun in AD 122, during the rule of emperor Hadrian, it was the first of two fortifications built across Great Britain, the second being the Antonine Wall, lesser known of the two because its physical remains are less evident today.The...
was not rebuilt until c. 205.
His governorship was assisted by the arrival of Sextus Varius Marcellus
Sextus Varius Marcellus
Sextus Varius Marcellus was a Roman of equestris class, but was later elevated to the rank of senator.Although he had little administrative experience he was related to Septimius Severus and the new emperor sent him to Roman Britain in 197 to assist Virius Lupus in rebuilding the province...
as provincial procurator
Procurator (Roman)
A procurator was the title of various officials of the Roman Empire, posts mostly filled by equites . A procurator Augusti was the governor of the smaller imperial provinces...
and in who can be seen the germ of the later division of Britain into two provinces.
He served as governor until 201 or 202.
By his marriage to Julia, born c. 180, he had a daughter Viria Juliana (c. 205 - aft. 241), who married Lucius Alfenius Avitianus (c. 200 - aft. 241), son of Lucius Alfenius Avitianus, by whom she had a son Lucius Alfenius Virius Julianus.