Portrait of Lucius Auelius Verus (Designated Emperor 136-138 AD)

myminifactory

Lucius Verus, born December 15, 130 AD, ruled alongside his adopted brother Marcus Aurelius as co-emperors of Rome from 161 to 169 AD. At the time, Lucius was a relatively lesser-known figure compared to his powerful sibling. The brothers' rise to power dates back to their youth when they were handpicked by Emperor Hadrian to succeed Antoninus Pius, who in turn had been adopted as Hadrian's successor. This marked a significant shift as they became Rome's first co-emperors, defying the Senate's initial plans for Marcus to reign solo. Despite initial reservations, Marcus and Lucius proved to be an effective team, setting a precedent that future emperors would follow. Marcus focused on maintaining order in Rome and managing military campaigns along the northern borders, while Lucius took charge of assembling a massive army and leading it eastward. Upon their return to Rome, however, disaster struck as a devastating smallpox pandemic swept through the city. The Romans mistakenly attributed the outbreak to Lucius' actions, believing that he had disturbed the temple of Apollo and thus unleashed the disease's wrath. Tragically, Lucius fell victim to this plague, bringing an end to his life and, some argue, the golden age of the Roman Empire. Marcus continued to rule Rome solo until 177 AD when his son Commodus joined him as co-emperor. However, Marcus' reign eventually came to a close in 180 AD, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Roman history.