Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus ( c . 125 – aft . 193 ) was a politician and military commander during the Roman Empire . A general under the Emperor Marcus Aurelius , Pompeianus distinguished himself during Rome ' s Parthian and Marcomannic Wars . A member the imperial family due to his marriage to Lucilla , a daughter of Marcus Aurelius , he was a key figure during the Emperor ' s reign . Though offered the imperial throne three times , he refused to claim the title for himself . Early life . A native of Antioch in Syria , Pompeianus was from relatively humble origins . His father , Tiberius Claudius Quintianus , was a member of the Equestrian Order , the merchant and banking class of Roman citizens . His family first received their Roman citizenship during the reign of Emperor Claudius . Pompeianus was a new man ( " " novus homo " " ) as he was the first member of his family to be appointed as a Senator . Much of Pompeianus ' early life has been lost to history . He participated in the Roman – Parthian War of 161 – 166 under the commander of Emperor Lucius Verus , likely as a Legionary Commander . Sometime prior to the Parthian campaign , he was elevated to the rank of a Senator . He served with distinction during the war , earning him appointment as Suffect Consul for the remainder of the year 162 AD . Marcommani War . Following the completion the Parthian campaign , the Emperor Marcus Aurelius appointed him military governor of Lower Pannonia on the Empire ' s northern frontier along the Danube River . He likely served from 164 until 168 . In late 166 or early 167 , a force of 6 , 000 Lombards invaded Pannonia . Pompeianus defeated the invasion with relative ease , but it marked the beginning of a larger barbarian invasion . Late in 167 the Marcomanni tribe invaded the Empire by crossing in Pannonia . Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus planned a punitive expeidition to drive the barbarians back across the Danube River , but due to the effects of the Antonine Plague , the expedition was postponed until early 168 . Aided by Pompianius , the two Emperors were able force the Marcomanni to retreat . Pompeianus ' military skills earned him the confidence of Emperor Marcus Aurelius and he quickly became one of the Emperor ' s closest advisors . As the Emperors returned to their winter quarters in Aquileia , Lucius Verus fell ill and died in January 169 . Following the death of Lucius Verus , Marcus Aurelius arranged for his daughter Lucilla , Verus ' widow , to marry Pompeianus . As son - in - law to the Emperor , Pompeianus became a member of the Nerva – Antonine dynasty . The Emperor even offered to name Pompeianus as " Caesar " and his heir , but Pompeianus refused to accept the title . Instead , Pompeianus was promoted and served as the Emperor ' s chief general during the Marcommanic War . Under his guidance , the exiled Senator and fellow Parthian war veteran Pertinax was recalled and joined Pompeianus on his military staff . Pompeianus ' successes during the Marcommanic War further distinguished him , with the Emperor awarding him a second Consulship in 173 . Under Commodus . Marcus Aurelius died in 180 AD , and his 18 - year - old son Commodus , Pompeianus ' brother - in - law , was proclaimed Emperor . Pompeianus tried to persuade Commodus to remain on the Danubian frontier to complete the conquest of the Marcommani , but Commodus refused and returned to Rome in the autumn of 180 . The relationship between the young emperor and experienced officer quickly deteriorated . In 182 , Lucilla , Pompeianus ' wife and Commodus ' sister , organized a failed assassination attempt against the Emperor . Though Commodus executed Lucilla and other members of her family , Pompeianus had not participated in the conspiracy and was spared . Following the conspiracy , Pompeianus , citing old age , withdrew from public life and retired to his estates in Italy . He spent most of his time in the country away from Rome , claiming age and an ailment of the eyes as an excuse . Later life . Commodus was assassinated in 192 AD by members of the Praetorian Guard . Pompeianus returned to Rome once the plot against Commodus succeeded , resuming his seat in the Senate . Pertinax , who was the Urban Prefect at the time , offered the throne to Pompeianus , but he declined the offer . The Praetorian Guard then proclaimed Pertinax as Emperor , but he was assassinated by the Praetorians after only 87 days for attempting to impose strict discipline upon the unit . Senator Didius Julianus , after becoming Emperor by bribing the Praetorian Guard to proclaim him , experienced difficulty in garnering support within the ranks of his own troops . In a desperate attempt to save himself , Julianus asked Pompeianus to become Co - Emperor with him . Pompeianus again declined the offer , claiming old age and ailments in his eyes . Julianus was executed by on the orders of Septimius Severus after ruling for only 66 days . Pompeianus appeares to have died sometime in 193 .