Marcus Annius Verus

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Marcus Annius Verus was a Roman man who lived in the first and second century. He was the son of an elder Marcus Annius Verus, who gained the rank of senator and praetor. His family originated from Uccibi (modern Succuba) near Corduba (modern Córdoba) in Spain. The family came to prominence and became wealthy through olive oil production in Spain.

He was prefect of Rome and was enrolled as a patrician when Vespasian and Titus were censors. Verus was three times consul. One was under the Emperor Domitian, one in 121 and the other in 126. Verus married Rupilia Faustina, a daughter from a consular family. Faustina’s half-sister was Roman Empress Vibia Sabina and was a daughter to Salonina Matidia (niece of the Roman Emperor Trajan).

Their children were:

Annia Galeria Faustina or Faustina the Elder, a future Roman Empress who married future Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius.
Marcus Annius Libo, a future consul.
Marcus Annius Verus, a praetor who married Domitia Lucilla and became father to future Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius and his sister Annia Cornificia Faustina.

After his son Marcus Annius Verus, died in 124, the elder Verus adopted and raised along with his daughter-in-law Marcus Aurelius and his sister Annia Cornificia Faustina. In the Meditations, by Marcus Aurelius, Aurelius describes his paternal grandfather as a man of 'decency' and 'a mild temper' (1.1n). Marcus Annius Verus died in 138 and was nearly at the age of ninety when he died. In his elder years, he had a mistress.

Preceded by Lucius Catilius Severus Iulianus Claudius Reginus and Antoninus Pius	Consul of the Roman Empire with Cnaeus Arrius Augur 121	Succeeded by Marcus Acilius Aviola and Lucius Corellius Neratius Pansa
Preceded by Marcus Lollius Paullinus D. Valerius Asiaticus Saturninus and Lucius Epidius Titius Aquilinus	Consul of the Roman Empire with Gaius Eggius Ambibulus 126	Succeeded by Titus Atilius Rufus Titianus and Marcus Gavius Squilla Gallicanus