Virius Lupus facts for kids

Virius Lupus (born around 160 CE – died after 205 CE) was an important Roman soldier and leader. He lived during the late 100s and early 200s CE.

Virius Lupus: A Roman Leader

Virius Lupus was the first person in his family, known as the gens Virii, to reach a high position in the Roman Empire. We don't know much about his early life or how he started his career. However, before the year 196 CE, he became a consul suffectus. This was a special kind of consul who filled in for another consul.

Lupus first appears in history as a governor, or Legatus Augusti pro praetore, in a Roman province called Germania Inferior. This area is now part of modern-day Germany and the Netherlands. He strongly supported Septimius Severus during a big civil war. This war happened after the Roman emperor Pertinax was killed.

In 196 CE, Lupus's troops faced a defeat by Decimus Clodius Albinus. This was during a time when different leaders were fighting to become the new emperor.

Governor of Roman Britain

After Septimius Severus won the civil wars, Virius Lupus was given a very important job. In 197 CE, he became the Governor of Britannia, which is now Great Britain. Severus sent him to Britain right away. His main task was to bring the province back under control. There had been many rebellions after Clodius Albinus took most of the Roman soldiers out of Britain to help his own claim for the throne.

In the northern part of Britain, Lupus had to make a difficult choice. He had to buy peace from a local group called the Maeatae. He was worried they might team up with another powerful group, the Caledonian Confederacy. Since he couldn't get more soldiers from Emperor Severus, Lupus had no other option. He paid the rebels money in exchange for them leaving and returning a few prisoners.

Lupus worked slowly to bring the Roman forts in the Pennines mountains back under Roman control. However, the famous Hadrian's Wall was not fully rebuilt until around 205 CE.

Another important person, Sextus Varius Marcellus, helped Lupus during his time as governor. Marcellus arrived as a procurator, who managed the province's money. Their teamwork showed the early signs of how Britain would later be divided into two separate Roman provinces. Virius Lupus served as governor until 201 or 202 CE.

Virius Lupus's Family

It is believed that Virius Lupus was the father of two other important Roman figures. One was Lucius Virius Agricola, who became a consul in 230 CE. The other was Lucius Virius Lupus Iulianus, who became a consul in 232 CE. He might also have been related to Quintus Virius Egnatius Sulpicius Priscus, another consul who served during the time of Septimius Severus or Caracalla.

See also

• List of Roman governors of Britain