Quintus Veranius

Quintus Veranius Governor of Britannia from 57 to 58AD

Didius was followed by Veranius, who died within the year.

The Agricola, Chapter 14

First Consul for 49AD (a.u.c.802) with Gaius Pompeius Longinus Gallus his colleague. Chosen by Nero to lead the conquest of Wales, he was sent to Britain in the winter of 57AD and was possibly responsible for the establishment of the fortress at Wroxeter (Viroconium Cornoviorum) in the centre of the recently-conquered tribal territories of the Cornovii. This new legionary base was to house the Legio Quattuordecimae Gemina – The Fourteenth ‘Twinned’ Legion, who were again reunited after having been deployed in various divisions throughout the Midlands, perhaps at Mancetter (Manduessedum) and Metchley Roman Fort, certainly at Leighton Vexillation Fort beside the Wrekin hillfort. While the Fourteenth secured Veranius’ rear, Veranius campaigned in south Wales against the fearsome and war-like Silures tribe of Glamorgan, using the Legio Vicesimae Valeria Victrix (The Twentieth Legion, Valiant and Victorious) from Gloucester (Glevum). He unfortunately died after his first campaign, but succeeded in quelling the truculent tribe.

… Veranius, after having ravaged the Silures in some trifling raids, was prevented by death from extending the war. While he lived, he had a great name for manly independence, though, in his will’s final words, he betrayed a flatterer’s weakness; for, after heaping adulation on Nero, he added that he should have conquered the province for him, had he lived for the next two years.

The Agricola, Chapter 14

Read a breakdown of the military campaigns of Quintus Veranius ( AD57/58)