Nerva was "Proquaestor pro praetore" under Antonius in 41 BC, and it is assumed that he was with Lucius Antonius during the Perusine War. He was one of the key military officers in Antonius's army who refused to fight Octavianus and brought about the reconciliation between the two men in 40 BC. Around 38 BC, Marcus Antonius appointed Nerva as the proconsular governor of Asia, during which time he was acclaimed as imperator for some military action at Lagina. For his services to Marcus Antonius, Nerva was elected consul in 36 BC. In 31 BC he was elected to the "Quindecimviri sacris faciundis", and was raised to the Patriciate after 29 BC.