Gnaeus Julius Verus

Who is Gnaeus Julius Verus?

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, 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.