# Marcus Annius Verus Caesar

Marcus Annius Verus Caesar (162 or 163 – 10 September 169) was a son of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius and Empress Faustina the Younger. Annius was made caesar on 12 October 166 AD, alongside his brother Commodus, designating them co-heirs of the Roman Empire. Annius died on 10 September 169, at age seven, due to complications from a surgery to remove a tumor from under his ear. His death left Commodus as the sole heir.

## Life

Marcus Annius Verus was born in late 162 or 163 AD, the son of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina the Younger. He was given the name of Marcus Annius Verus because it was the original name of his father, Marcus Aurelius.
On 12 October 166 AD, during a triumph celebrating the victory of the Romans in the Parthian War of Lucius Verus, Annius and his elder brother Commodus were both made caesars, designating them as co-heirs to the Roman Empire. At the time, Annius was three, and Commodus was five. This was the first time such an explicit declaration of heirship had been made at such a young age, and showed a marked shift from the traditional cursus honorum, in which a presumed heir would be gradually raised through offices of increasing importance, in order to learn the skills of all positions, to a new system of imperial succession, wherein dynastic hereditary descent was the path to the throne, with heirs being instructed in how to be an emperor.
Annius died on 10 September 169 AD, at seven years of age, due to complications in removing a tumor from under his ear. This left Commodus as the sole heir. His father, Marcus Aurelius, mourned his death for just five days, while still continuing public work. Aurelius argued that because the games of Jupiter Optimus Maximus were ongoing, he should not interrupt them with his mourning. His lack of mourning was likely influenced by his Stoic philosophy, which taught of the dangers of emotion, and Roman cultural norms which treated hysterical grief at the loss of loved ones as unmanly and unnatural. Aurelius ordered statues to be made in his honor, and a golden image of him to be carried during the procession of the games. Aurelius also had his name inserted into the Carmen Saliare, the ritual songs sung by the Salii, a group of 12 priests.

## Family

Annius Verus was the son of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina the Younger. Annius was the younger brother of, in order of birth: Domitia Faustina, Titus Aurelius Antoninus, Titus Aelius Aurelius, Annia Aurelia Galeria Lucilla, Annia Galeria Aurelia Faustina, Titus Aelius Antoninus, an unnamed son, Annia Aurelia Fadilla, Annia Cornificia Faustina Minor, Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus and Lucius Aurelius Commodus Antoninus (Commodus). Annius was the older brother of Hadrianus and Vibia Aurelia Sabina.

## Nerva–Antonine family tree

vteNerva–Antonine family tree :
| Q. Marcius Barea Soranus | Q. Marcius Barea Soranus | Q. Marcius Barea Soranus | Q. Marcius Barea Soranus | Q. Marcius Barea Soranus | Q. Marcius Barea Soranus | | | Q. Marcius Barea Sura | Q. Marcius Barea Sura | Q. Marcius Barea Sura | Q. Marcius Barea Sura | Q. Marcius Barea Sura | Q. Marcius Barea Sura | | | Antonia Furnilla | Antonia Furnilla | Antonia Furnilla | Antonia Furnilla | Antonia Furnilla | Antonia Furnilla | | | | | | | | | | | M. Cocceius Nerva | M. Cocceius Nerva | M. Cocceius Nerva | M. Cocceius Nerva | M. Cocceius Nerva | M. Cocceius Nerva | | | Sergia Plautilla | Sergia Plautilla | Sergia Plautilla | Sergia Plautilla | Sergia Plautilla | Sergia Plautilla | | | | | | | | | | | P. Aelius Hadrianus | P. Aelius Hadrianus | P. Aelius Hadrianus | P. Aelius Hadrianus | P. Aelius Hadrianus | P. Aelius Hadrianus |
| Titus (r. 79–81) | Titus (r. 79–81) | Titus (r. 79–81) | Titus (r. 79–81) | Titus (r. 79–81) | Titus (r. 79–81) | | | Marcia Furnilla | Marcia Furnilla | Marcia Furnilla | Marcia Furnilla | Marcia Furnilla | Marcia Furnilla | | | Marcia | Marcia | Marcia | Marcia | Marcia | Marcia | | | Trajanus Pater | Trajanus Pater | Trajanus Pater | Trajanus Pater | Trajanus Pater | Trajanus Pater | | | | | | | Nerva (r. 96–98) | Nerva (r. 96–98) | Nerva (r. 96–98) | Nerva (r. 96–98) | Nerva (r. 96–98) | Nerva (r. 96–98) | | | | | | | Ulpia | Ulpia | Ulpia | Ulpia | Ulpia | Ulpia | | | Aelius Hadrianus Marullinus | Aelius Hadrianus Marullinus | Aelius Hadrianus Marullinus | Aelius Hadrianus Marullinus | Aelius Hadrianus Marullinus | Aelius Hadrianus Marullinus |
| | | | | Flavia | Flavia | Flavia | Flavia | Flavia | Flavia | | | Marciana | Marciana | Marciana | Marciana | Marciana | Marciana | | | C. Salonius Matidius | C. Salonius Matidius | C. Salonius Matidius | C. Salonius Matidius | C. Salonius Matidius | C. Salonius Matidius | | | Trajan (r. 98–117) | Trajan (r. 98–117) | Trajan (r. 98–117) | Trajan (r. 98–117) | Trajan (r. 98–117) | Trajan (r. 98–117) | | | Plotina | Plotina | Plotina | Plotina | Plotina | Plotina | | | P. Acilius Attianus | P. Acilius Attianus | P. Acilius Attianus | P. Acilius Attianus | P. Acilius Attianus | P. Acilius Attianus | | | P. Aelius Afer | P. Aelius Afer | P. Aelius Afer | P. Aelius Afer | P. Aelius Afer | P. Aelius Afer | | | Paulina Major | Paulina Major | Paulina Major | Paulina Major | Paulina Major | Paulina Major |
| Lucius Mindius (2) | Lucius Mindius (2) | Lucius Mindius (2) | Lucius Mindius (2) | Lucius Mindius (2) | Lucius Mindius (2) | | | Libo Rupilius Frugi (3) | Libo Rupilius Frugi (3) | Libo Rupilius Frugi (3) | Libo Rupilius Frugi (3) | Libo Rupilius Frugi (3) | Libo Rupilius Frugi (3) | | | | | Salonia Matidia | Salonia Matidia | Salonia Matidia | Salonia Matidia | Salonia Matidia | Salonia Matidia | | | L. Vibius Sabinus (1) | L. Vibius Sabinus (1) | L. Vibius Sabinus (1) | L. Vibius Sabinus (1) | L. Vibius Sabinus (1) | L. Vibius Sabinus (1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Paulina Minor | Paulina Minor | Paulina Minor | Paulina Minor | Paulina Minor | Paulina Minor | | | L. Julius Ursus Servianus | L. Julius Ursus Servianus | L. Julius Ursus Servianus | L. Julius Ursus Servianus | L. Julius Ursus Servianus | L. Julius Ursus Servianus |
| | | | | Matidia Minor | Matidia Minor | Matidia Minor | Matidia Minor | Matidia Minor | Matidia Minor | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Sabina | Sabina | Sabina | Sabina | Sabina | Sabina | | | Hadrian (r. 117–138) | Hadrian (r. 117–138) | Hadrian (r. 117–138) | Hadrian (r. 117–138) | Hadrian (r. 117–138) | Hadrian (r. 117–138) | | | Antinous | Antinous | Antinous | Antinous | Antinous | Antinous | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. Fuscus Salinator I | C. Fuscus Salinator I | C. Fuscus Salinator I | C. Fuscus Salinator I | C. Fuscus Salinator I | C. Fuscus Salinator I | | | Julia Serviana Paulina | Julia Serviana Paulina | Julia Serviana Paulina | Julia Serviana Paulina | Julia Serviana Paulina | Julia Serviana Paulina |
| M. Annius Verus | M. Annius Verus | M. Annius Verus | M. Annius Verus | M. Annius Verus | M. Annius Verus | | | Rupilia Faustina | Rupilia Faustina | Rupilia Faustina | Rupilia Faustina | Rupilia Faustina | Rupilia Faustina | | | | | | | | | | | Boionia Procilla | Boionia Procilla | Boionia Procilla | Boionia Procilla | Boionia Procilla | Boionia Procilla | | | Cn. Arrius Antoninus | Cn. Arrius Antoninus | Cn. Arrius Antoninus | Cn. Arrius Antoninus | Cn. Arrius Antoninus | Cn. Arrius Antoninus | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. Ceionius Commodus | L. Ceionius Commodus | L. Ceionius Commodus | L. Ceionius Commodus | L. Ceionius Commodus | L. Ceionius Commodus | | | Appia Severa | Appia Severa | Appia Severa | Appia Severa | Appia Severa | Appia Severa | | | C. Fuscus Salinator II | C. Fuscus Salinator II | C. Fuscus Salinator II | C. Fuscus Salinator II | C. Fuscus Salinator II | C. Fuscus Salinator II |
| | | | | | | | | L. Caesennius Paetus | L. Caesennius Paetus | L. Caesennius Paetus | L. Caesennius Paetus | L. Caesennius Paetus | L. Caesennius Paetus | | | | | | | | | | | Arria Antonina | Arria Antonina | Arria Antonina | Arria Antonina | Arria Antonina | Arria Antonina | | | Arria Fadilla | Arria Fadilla | Arria Fadilla | Arria Fadilla | Arria Fadilla | Arria Fadilla | | | | | T. Aurelius Fulvus | T. Aurelius Fulvus | T. Aurelius Fulvus | T. Aurelius Fulvus | T. Aurelius Fulvus | T. Aurelius Fulvus | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. Caesennius Antoninus | L. Caesennius Antoninus | L. Caesennius Antoninus | L. Caesennius Antoninus | L. Caesennius Antoninus | L. Caesennius Antoninus | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. Commodus | L. Commodus | L. Commodus | L. Commodus | L. Commodus | L. Commodus | | | Plautia | Plautia | Plautia | Plautia | Plautia | Plautia | | | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | | | C. Avidius Nigrinus | C. Avidius Nigrinus | C. Avidius Nigrinus | C. Avidius Nigrinus | C. Avidius Nigrinus | C. Avidius Nigrinus |
| M. Annius Verus | M. Annius Verus | M. Annius Verus | M. Annius Verus | M. Annius Verus | M. Annius Verus | | | Calvisia Domitia Lucilla | Calvisia Domitia Lucilla | Calvisia Domitia Lucilla | Calvisia Domitia Lucilla | Calvisia Domitia Lucilla | Calvisia Domitia Lucilla | | | | | | | Fundania | Fundania | Fundania | Fundania | Fundania | Fundania | | | M. Annius Libo | M. Annius Libo | M. Annius Libo | M. Annius Libo | M. Annius Libo | M. Annius Libo | | | Faustina | Faustina | Faustina | Faustina | Faustina | Faustina | | | Antoninus Pius (r. 138–161) | Antoninus Pius (r. 138–161) | Antoninus Pius (r. 138–161) | Antoninus Pius (r. 138–161) | Antoninus Pius (r. 138–161) | Antoninus Pius (r. 138–161) | | | | | | | L. Aelius Caesar | L. Aelius Caesar | L. Aelius Caesar | L. Aelius Caesar | L. Aelius Caesar | L. Aelius Caesar | | | | | | | | | | | Avidia | Avidia | Avidia | Avidia | Avidia | Avidia |
| Cornificia | Cornificia | Cornificia | Cornificia | Cornificia | Cornificia | | | Marcus Aurelius (r. 161–180) | Marcus Aurelius (r. 161–180) | Marcus Aurelius (r. 161–180) | Marcus Aurelius (r. 161–180) | Marcus Aurelius (r. 161–180) | Marcus Aurelius (r. 161–180) | | | | | Faustina Minor | Faustina Minor | Faustina Minor | Faustina Minor | Faustina Minor | Faustina Minor | | | C. Avidius Cassius | C. Avidius Cassius | C. Avidius Cassius | C. Avidius Cassius | C. Avidius Cassius | C. Avidius Cassius | | | | | Aurelia Fadilla | Aurelia Fadilla | Aurelia Fadilla | Aurelia Fadilla | Aurelia Fadilla | Aurelia Fadilla | | | Lucius Verus (r. 161–169) (1) | Lucius Verus (r. 161–169) (1) | Lucius Verus (r. 161–169) (1) | Lucius Verus (r. 161–169) (1) | Lucius Verus (r. 161–169) (1) | Lucius Verus (r. 161–169) (1) | | | Ceionia Fabia | Ceionia Fabia | Ceionia Fabia | Ceionia Fabia | Ceionia Fabia | Ceionia Fabia | | | Plautius Quintillus | Plautius Quintillus | Plautius Quintillus | Plautius Quintillus | Plautius Quintillus | Plautius Quintillus | | | Q. Servilius Pudens | Q. Servilius Pudens | Q. Servilius Pudens | Q. Servilius Pudens | Q. Servilius Pudens | Q. Servilius Pudens | | | Ceionia Plautia | Ceionia Plautia | Ceionia Plautia | Ceionia Plautia | Ceionia Plautia | Ceionia Plautia |
| Cornificia Minor | Cornificia Minor | Cornificia Minor | Cornificia Minor | Cornificia Minor | Cornificia Minor | | | M. Petronius Sura | M. Petronius Sura | M. Petronius Sura | M. Petronius Sura | M. Petronius Sura | M. Petronius Sura | | | Commodus (r. 177–192) | Commodus (r. 177–192) | Commodus (r. 177–192) | Commodus (r. 177–192) | Commodus (r. 177–192) | Commodus (r. 177–192) | | | Fadilla | Fadilla | Fadilla | Fadilla | Fadilla | Fadilla | | | M. Annius Verus Caesar | M. Annius Verus Caesar | M. Annius Verus Caesar | M. Annius Verus Caesar | M. Annius Verus Caesar | M. Annius Verus Caesar | | | Ti. Claudius Pompeianus (2) | Ti. Claudius Pompeianus (2) | Ti. Claudius Pompeianus (2) | Ti. Claudius Pompeianus (2) | Ti. Claudius Pompeianus (2) | Ti. Claudius Pompeianus (2) | | | Lucilla | Lucilla | Lucilla | Lucilla | Lucilla | Lucilla | | | | | M. Plautius Quintillus | M. Plautius Quintillus | M. Plautius Quintillus | M. Plautius Quintillus | M. Plautius Quintillus | M. Plautius Quintillus | | | Junius Licinius Balbus | Junius Licinius Balbus | Junius Licinius Balbus | Junius Licinius Balbus | Junius Licinius Balbus | Junius Licinius Balbus | | | Servilia Ceionia | Servilia Ceionia | Servilia Ceionia | Servilia Ceionia | Servilia Ceionia | Servilia Ceionia |
| | | | | Petronius Antoninus | Petronius Antoninus | Petronius Antoninus | Petronius Antoninus | Petronius Antoninus | Petronius Antoninus | | | L. Aurelius Agaclytus (2) | L. Aurelius Agaclytus (2) | L. Aurelius Agaclytus (2) | L. Aurelius Agaclytus (2) | L. Aurelius Agaclytus (2) | L. Aurelius Agaclytus (2) | | | Aurelia Sabina | Aurelia Sabina | Aurelia Sabina | Aurelia Sabina | Aurelia Sabina | Aurelia Sabina | | | L. Antistius Burrus (1) | L. Antistius Burrus (1) | L. Antistius Burrus (1) | L. Antistius Burrus (1) | L. Antistius Burrus (1) | L. Antistius Burrus (1) | | | Plautius Quintillus | Plautius Quintillus | Plautius Quintillus | Plautius Quintillus | Plautius Quintillus | Plautius Quintillus | | | Plautia Servilla | Plautia Servilla | Plautia Servilla | Plautia Servilla | Plautia Servilla | Plautia Servilla | | | | | C. Furius Sabinus Timesitheus | C. Furius Sabinus Timesitheus | C. Furius Sabinus Timesitheus | C. Furius Sabinus Timesitheus | C. Furius Sabinus Timesitheus | C. Furius Sabinus Timesitheus | | | Antonia Gordiana | Antonia Gordiana | Antonia Gordiana | Antonia Gordiana | Antonia Gordiana | Antonia Gordiana | | | Junius Licinius Balbus? | Junius Licinius Balbus? | Junius Licinius Balbus? | Junius Licinius Balbus? | Junius Licinius Balbus? | Junius Licinius Balbus? |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Furia Sabina Tranquillina | Furia Sabina Tranquillina | Furia Sabina Tranquillina | Furia Sabina Tranquillina | Furia Sabina Tranquillina | Furia Sabina Tranquillina | | | | | Gordian III (r. 238–244) | Gordian III (r. 238–244) | Gordian III (r. 238–244) | Gordian III (r. 238–244) | Gordian III (r. 238–244) | Gordian III (r. 238–244) |
* (1) = 1st spouse
* (2) = 2nd spouse
* (3) = 3rd spouse
* Reddish-purple indicates emperor of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty  lighter purple indicates designated imperial heir of said dynasty who never reigned  grey indicates unsuccessful imperial aspirants  bluish-purple indicates emperors of other dynasties
* dashed lines indicate adoption; dotted lines indicate love affairs/unmarried relationships
* Small Caps = posthumously deified (Augusti, Augustae, or other)
Notes:
Except where otherwise noted, the notes below indicate that an individual's parentage is as shown in the above family tree.
↑ Sister of Trajan's father: Giacosa (1977), p. 7.
↑ Giacosa (1977), p. 8.
1 2 Levick (2014), p. 161.
↑ Husband of Ulpia Marciana: Levick (2014), p. 161.
1 2 Giacosa (1977), p. 7.
1 2 3 DIR contributor (Herbert W. Benario, 2000), "Hadrian".
1 2 Giacosa (1977), p. 9.
↑ Husband of Salonia Matidia: Levick (2014), p. 161.
↑ Smith (1870), "Julius Servianus".
↑ Smith (1870), "Hadrian", pp. 319–322.
↑ Lover of Hadrian: Lambert (1984), p. 99 and passim; deification: Lamber (1984), pp. 2–5, etc.
↑ Husband of Rupilia Faustina: Levick (2014), p. 163.
1 2 3 4 Levick (2014), p. 163.
↑ It is uncertain whether Rupilia Faustina was Frugi's daughter by Salonia Matidia or another woman.
1 2 3 4 Levick (2014), p. 162.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Levick (2014), p. 164.
↑ Wife of M. Annius Verus: Giacosa (1977), p. 10.
↑ Wife of M. Annius Libo: Levick (2014), p. 163.
1 2 3 4 5 Giacosa (1977), p. 10.
↑ The epitomator of Cassius Dio (72.22) gives the story that Faustina the Elder promised to marry Avidius Cassius. This is also echoed in HA "Marcus Aurelius" 24.
↑ Husband of Ceionia Fabia: Levick (2014), p. 164.
1 2 3 Levick (2014), p. 117. :
References:
DIR contributors (2000). "De Imperatoribus Romanis: An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Rulers and Their Families". Retrieved 2015-04-14.
Giacosa, Giorgio (1977). Women of the Caesars: Their Lives and Portraits on Coins. Translated by R. Ross Holloway. Milan: Edizioni Arte e Moneta. ISBN 0-8390-0193-2.
Lambert, Royston (1984). Beloved and God: The Story of Hadrian and Antinous. New York: Viking. ISBN 0-670-15708-2.
Levick, Barbara (2014). Faustina I and II: Imperial Women of the Golden Age. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-537941-9.
Smith, William, ed. (1870). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. :