Verrucosa family

Verrucosa
Patrician then Gentes Minores
Country	Latium Perateia
Founded	1889 (1889)
Founder	Pelagius Verrucosus
Current head	Duke Josephus Verrucosus
Connected families	Latin Imperial Family Claudii dynasty Vitruvia family
Motto	Aut viam inveniam aut faciam (Latin: I will either find a way or make one)
Estate(s)	Villa d'Iulia Concordia Villa Verrucosae Hormisdian

The Verrucosa family is a Latin noble family of among the Gentes Minores. The family first gained notoriety during the Social War, entering the orbit of Jason Claudius, Duke of Adrianople, and was ennobled in 1950. Since then, the family has held numerous great offices, including Senate membership, the Consulship, and Count of the East. Thus far, the most notable member of the family is Zoe Verrucosa, who was Latin Empress consort from 1993 to 1999. Members of the family were integral in the creation of Delpha Media, which has since become the largest non-government run media corporation in Latium, and among the largest in the world.

Name and origin

The etymology Verrucosus comes from the Latin word for "warty", "rough", or "rugged". Under traditional Latin naming conventions, Verrucosus has served as a cognomen that was derived from personal characteristics, in this case a wart, rough features, or even a rough personality or appearance. Historically, such cognomen would have been given to distinguish a family member from another with similar praenomen. However, in the case of the Verrucosus family, it is not known how the Verrucosus cognomen first became associated with the family.

Just as with many Latin families of non-noble origin, the predominant use of the nomen fell out of favor to a cognomen or cognomen associated with different branches of the family. This is one theory by family biographers to explain the lack of notable familial nomen. However, government records have indicated that the paternal great-grandfather of house founder Josephus Verrucosus, Constantine Arruntius was a member of gens Sanquinia, potentially indicating Turscian ancestry. Given the complete lack of traditional nomen, family biographers have theorized that Pelagius Verrucous was likely an illegitimate child. Joseph Verrucosus commented on these theories during a a 1998 interview following his appointment to his second consulship, calling them "entertaining" and "humorous".

History

The first recorded member of the family to utilize the Verrucosa names was Pelagius Verrucosus, who was born in 1859. By 1925, Pelagius's son, Felix, served in the Latin Army, and was stationed in Claudiopolis, located on the Scipian side of the Diocese of the East. Over the course of his enlisted military service, Felix achieved the rank of Evocatus Tesserarius, before eventually settling in Atina, southern Latium near Suessa.

The family first achieved notoriety during the Social War, when Felix's son, and current head of the family, Josephus Verrucosus was awarded the Battle of Olympia. This achievement resulted in Joseph soon becoming one of many protegees of Jason Claudius, Duke of Adrianople, alongside Peter of Keld and Valentinian Poppaeus – both future consuls. Joseph again fought in the War of Gelonian Independence before retiring from the legion and, alongside his brother Valentinian Verrucosus, established the company that would later become Verrucosus Holdings.

The two brothers achieved great success in business and politics alike, and quickly accumulated great wealth. Joseph would serve as Consul on two occasions, from 1963 to 1966, and again from 1981 to 1991, while also serving as Count of the East from 1971 to 1977. Due to the family's service in the Social War, the Gelonian War, and favorable ties to the Claudii dynasty, the family was elevated to the rank of Gentes Minores, in 1967. Perhaps the most prominent member of the family is Zoe Verrucosa, due to her marriage to Jason VI, Latin Emperor, which infamously ended in divorce. Zoe was Latin Empress consort from 1993 to 1999, and in 2016 was given the title of Empress Mother.

Notable members

Members

• Felix Verrucosus (1902–1980)
  • Josephus Verrucosus (b. 1928)
    • John Verrucosus (b. 1959)
      • Philippa, Countess of Edinus (b. 1985)
      • Laurentius Verrucosus (b. 1986)
      • Damianus Verrucosus (b. 1988)
      • Delphina Verrucosa (b. 1990)
    • Florentine Verrucosus (b. 1960)
      • Valentia Verrucosa (b. 1986)
      • Ambrosius Verrucosus (b. 1988)
      • Veronica Verrucosa (b. 1990)
      • Vanessa Verrucosa (b. 1992)
      • Aurelius Verrucosus (b. 1994)
      • Viviana Verrucosa (b. 1997)
    • Marus Verrucosus (b. 1963)
      • Cecilia Verrucosa (b. 1987)
      • Marus Verrucosus (b. 1990)
      • Marina Verrucosa (b. 1992)
    • Adula, Duchess of Silingia (b. 1966)
    • Adriana Verrucosa (b. 1968)
    • Flora Verrucosa (b. 1971)
    • Empress Zoe, Latin Empress Mother (b. 1975)
  • Valentinian Verrucosus (1932–1999)
    • Arine Verrucosa (b. 1965)
  • Sophia Verrucosa (1936–2012)

See also

• Gentes Minores