Lucius Julius Ursus Servianus facts for kids

Lucius Julius Ursus Servianus (born in 45 AD, died in 136 AD) was an important Roman politician from Iberia (modern-day Spain and Portugal). He was a very important person during the time of Roman emperors Nerva, Trajan, and Hadrian. He was the last person who wasn't part of the emperor's family to become a consul three times. After him, only the emperor's family members received such a high honor.

An old stone carving shows his full name as Gaius Julius Servilius Ursus Servianus. However, in a historical book called the Augustan History, he is known as Lucius Julius Ursus Servianus.

Early Life and Family Connections

We don't know much about where Servianus came from. A historian named Ronald Syme believed his first name was Servius Julius Servianus. He thought Servianus became a consul in 90 AD.

After that year, Lucius Julius Ursus adopted him, which means Servianus changed his name. Most experts agree with this idea.

Before Trajan became emperor in 98 AD, Servianus married Aelia Domitia Paulina. She was the older sister of Hadrian, who would later become emperor. Paulina was about thirty years younger than Servianus. During Emperor Trajan's rule (98-117 AD), Paulina and Servianus had a daughter named Julia Serviana Paulina.

Servianus and Emperor Trajan

When Emperor Nerva passed away on January 27, 98 AD, Hadrian traveled to Germany to find Trajan. He wanted to be the first to tell Trajan about Nerva's death. Servianus tried to stop Hadrian from going because he was a bit jealous of how much Trajan liked Hadrian.

However, Servianus and Hadrian later became friends again and got along well for a long time.

Servianus served as a consul two times while Trajan was emperor. He also became consul a third time under Emperor Hadrian in 134 AD. As a senator, he was a very powerful and important man.

Emperor Trajan made him the governor of Germania Inferior from 97 to 99 AD. Right after that, he became the governor of Pannonia from 99 to 100 AD. These jobs gave him important military roles in wars against Dacia.

Servianus was also a friend of the senator and historian Pliny the Younger. Two of Pliny's letters that we still have today were written to Servianus. Pliny also mentioned Servianus in two other letters. Because of Servianus's influence, Emperor Trajan gave Pliny special rights. These rights were usually only given to a father with three children, called the jus trium liberorum.

Before Pliny died around 111 AD, Servianus and Paulina arranged for their daughter Julia to marry Gnaeus Pedanius Fuscus Salinator. He became a consul in 118 AD, serving alongside Emperor Hadrian. Pliny the Younger sent a letter to Servianus and his wife to congratulate them on their daughter's wedding.

Servianus and Emperor Hadrian

When Emperor Trajan died on August 8, 117 AD, his cousin and adopted son Hadrian became the new emperor. As emperor, Hadrian showed great respect to Servianus. He even considered Servianus as his first choice to follow him as emperor. When Paulina, Servianus's wife, died in 130 AD, Hadrian and Servianus held a private ceremony together to remember her.

For a long time, Emperor Hadrian thought of Servianus as his likely successor. However, as Hadrian's time as emperor was ending, he changed his mind. Hadrian believed Servianus was capable of being emperor. But Servianus was in his nineties by then, which was too old for the job.

Hadrian then started to think about Servianus's grandson, who was also named Lucius Pedanius Fuscus Salinator. Hadrian gave the young Salinator, who was his great-nephew, a special place in his court. He began to prepare him to be his heir. Servianus was very happy about this, as he had always hoped his young grandson would one day follow his brother-in-law, Hadrian.

However, in 136 AD, Hadrian changed his mind again. He decided to adopt Lucius Aelius Caesar as his son and heir instead. Servianus and the younger Salinator were upset with Hadrian's decision.

To prevent any problems with who would become emperor next, Hadrian made a difficult decision. He ordered that Salinator and Servianus should be put to death. It's interesting to note that Aelius, the person Hadrian adopted, died before Hadrian did in 138 AD. This meant Hadrian had to adopt Antoninus Pius as his heir instead.

Nerva–Antonine family tree

See also

In Spanish: Lucio Julio Urso Serviano para niños