Quintus Veranius


Quintus Veranius was a distinguished general to whom the Greek philosopher Onasander dedicated his Strategikos, a book on military tactics. He was III vir monetalis, tribune in 36 of Legio IV Scythica and quaestor under Tiberius. He was appointed tribune of the plebs in 41 and praetor in 42. In 43, the Emperor Claudius constituted the new province of Lycia, and appointed Veranius as its governor. He governed the province until 48, and during this period put down the rebellion of Cylicia Tracheotide. He was consul in 49, and elevated to patrician status by Claudius who also appointed him augur.
Veranius became governor of Britain in 57 then, replacing Aulus Didius Gallus. He reversed Didius's policy of maintaining existing borders and began military operations against the troublesome Silures in what is now Wales, but died within a year. In his will he flattered Nero and claimed that, had he had another two years, he would have conquered the whole of the island. He was replaced by Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, and the speed with which Suetonius took Wales suggests that Veranius had already done much of the work.

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