His senatorial career as an ex-consul encompasses more than the average number of offices. First Bassus held the post of "curator operum locorumque publicorum et aedium sacrum", which Alföldy dates to the year 161. Then he was appointed governor of Moesia Inferior; Alföldy dates his office to the year 162. Bassus was then made one of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius' "comites", an inner circle of advisors, during the Parthian War. Upon the resolution of that conflict, Bassus was appointed governor of Pannonia Superior; Alföldy dates his tenure in that province from around 166 to 169.