2021-02-01 Mon

Lucius Aelius Caesar was the father of Emperor Lucius Verus. In 136, he was adopted by Hadrian and named heir to the throne. He died before Hadrian and thus never became emperor. After Lucius' death, he was replaced by Antoninus Pius, who succeeded Hadrian the same year.

Aelius was born with the name Lucius Ceionius Commodus and became Lucius Aelius Caesar upon his adoption as Hadrian's heir. Before 130, the younger Lucius Commodus married Avidia Plautia, a well-connected Roman noblewoman who was the daughter of the senator Gaius Avidius Nigrinus. Plautia bore Lucius two sons and two daughters.

Although Lucius had no military experience, he had served as a senator, and had powerful political connections; however, he was in poor health. The Denarius issued during his reign depicts his portrait on its obverse face.

Image Source: Wikipedia.org