Lucius Verginius Rufus (AD 15 – 97; sometimes incorrectly called Lucius Virginus Rufus) was a Roman commander of Germania Superior during the late 1st century. He was three times consul (in 63, 69, and 97). He was born near Comum, the birthplace of both Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger.
Verginius Rufus was born in Northern Italy as a member of an equestrian family. He became consul in 63 under the emperor Nero. After his consulship, Verginius Rufus was made governor of Germania Superior. When Gaius Iulius Vindex revolted against Nero in 67, Verginius Rufus led an army against him and defeated the rebel in 68 near modern-day Besançon. After Nero's fall, the legions under Verginius Rufus hailed him as emperor in preference to Servius Sulpicius Galba (Vindex' ally), but Verginius Rufus refused to accept the purple. After the death of Otho in April 69, the soldiers again offered the throne to Verginius, but he again refused it. Verginius retreated to an estate at Alsium on the coast of Etruria northwest of Rome. There he studied, composed poems, and had a literary salon.
After the murder of Emperor Domitian, Marcus Cocceius Nerva was elected emperor by the senate. Nerva chose as his co-consul for 97 the elderly Verginius Rufus, who was enticed out of retirement. However, when Verginius Rufus was to hold a speech, he dropped a book he was carrying, and while bending down to pick it up, slipped and broke his hip. He died not long afterward at the age of 82 and was given a state funeral.
At the public burial with which he was honored, the historian Tacitus (then consul) delivered the funeral oration. Pliny the Younger, his neighbor and ward, has recorded the lines which Verginius had ordered to be engraved upon his tomb: Hic situs est Rufus, pulso qui Vindice quondam Imperium asseruit non sibi sed patriae ("Here lies Rufus, who after defeating Vindex, did not take power, but gave it to the fatherland").
Wells, Colin. The Roman Empire. Cambridge, MA: Harvard, 1992. 153-154
Pliny, Letters, Book II.1, IX.19
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Virginius Rufus, Lucius". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
lucius, verginius, rufus, sometimes, incorrectly, called, lucius, virginus, rufus, roman, commander, germania, superior, during, late, century, three, times, consul, born, near, comum, birthplace, both, pliny, elder, pliny, younger, verginius, rufus, born, nor. Lucius Verginius Rufus AD 15 97 sometimes incorrectly called Lucius Virginus Rufus was a Roman commander of Germania Superior during the late 1st century He was three times consul in 63 69 and 97 He was born near Comum the birthplace of both Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger Verginius Rufus was born in Northern Italy as a member of an equestrian family He became consul in 63 under the emperor Nero After his consulship Verginius Rufus was made governor of Germania Superior When Gaius Iulius Vindex revolted against Nero in 67 Verginius Rufus led an army against him and defeated the rebel in 68 near modern day Besancon After Nero s fall the legions under Verginius Rufus hailed him as emperor in preference to Servius Sulpicius Galba Vindex ally but Verginius Rufus refused to accept the purple After the death of Otho in April 69 the soldiers again offered the throne to Verginius but he again refused it Verginius retreated to an estate at Alsium on the coast of Etruria northwest of Rome There he studied composed poems and had a literary salon After the murder of Emperor Domitian Marcus Cocceius Nerva was elected emperor by the senate Nerva chose as his co consul for 97 the elderly Verginius Rufus who was enticed out of retirement However when Verginius Rufus was to hold a speech he dropped a book he was carrying and while bending down to pick it up slipped and broke his hip He died not long afterward at the age of 82 and was given a state funeral At the public burial with which he was honored the historian Tacitus then consul delivered the funeral oration Pliny the Younger his neighbor and ward has recorded the lines which Verginius had ordered to be engraved upon his tomb Hic situs est Rufus pulso qui Vindice quondam Imperium asseruit non sibi sed patriae Here lies Rufus who after defeating Vindex did not take power but gave it to the fatherland See also EditVerginia gensReferences EditCassius Dio Roman History 63 23 1 24 4 Wells Colin The Roman Empire Cambridge MA Harvard 1992 153 154 Pliny Letters Book II 1 IX 19 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Virginius Rufus Lucius Encyclopaedia Britannica 11th ed Cambridge University Press External links EditLivius org Lucius Verginius RufusPolitical officesPreceded byQuintus Junius Marullus and Titus Clodius Eprius Marcellusas suffect consuls Consul of the Roman Empire63with Gaius Memmius Regulus Succeeded byTitus Petronius Niger andQuintus Manlius Tarquitius Saturninusas suffect consulsPreceded byMarcus Otho Caesar Augustus and Lucius Salvius Otho Titianus II Suffect Consul of the Roman Empire69with Lucius Pompeius Vopiscus Succeeded byGnaeus Arulenus Caelius Sabinus and Titus Flavius SabinusPreceded byTiberius Catius Caesius Fronto and Marcus Calpurnius icusas suffect consuls Consul of the Roman Empire97with Marcus Cocceius Nerva III Succeeded byGnaeus Arrius Antoninus II and Gaius Calpurnius Pisoas suffect consuls Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lucius Verginius Rufus amp oldid 1051414154, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
