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Marcus Aurelius and the Mysterious Death of Lucius Verus
In 169 AD, Lucius Verus, co-emperor with Marcus Aurelius, died suddenly while traveling from the Danubian front to Rome. Rumors swirled: was it murder? The Historia Augusta hints at poison, a toothpick, and a tale of a young man sent by Marcus's own wife, Faustina. Historian David Potter and others debate whether Verus died of natural causes — perhaps smallpox from the Antonine Plague — or was killed. This episode examines the sources, the political context, and the chain of events: Verus's illness at Altinum, his death at the age of 38, the funeral, and the deification. We also…
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