Lucius Verus (; 15 December 130 – 169) was the
Roman Emperor from 161 to 169. Born
Lucius Ceionius Commodus, with the same name as his father, he became
Lucius Aelius Commodus when the latter was adopted by Hadrian, since both father and son had to change their names accordingly. When he was adopted by Caesar
Antoninus Pius in February 138, his name was changed to
L. Aelius Aurelius Commodus. His name changed again following his ascension in 161. He ruled together with his adoptive brother
Marcus Aurelius as co-emperor from 161 until his own death in 169. During his reign, the
Roman Empire defeated a revitalized
Parthia in the east: Verus's general,
Avidius Cassius, sacked their capital,
Ctesiphon, in 164. He was
deified by the
Roman Senate as the Divine Verus (
Divus Verus).