Roman Empire.Emp Antoninus Pius.lot 432

Description: Roman Empire. Emperor Antoninus Pius Denomination: Denarius Size: 17 mm Weight: 4.10 gm Certificate of Authenticity is available. Antoninus Pius Roman emperor from 138 to 161 Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Pius(19 September 86 7 March 161) wasRoman emperorfrom 138 to 161. He was the fourth of theFive Good Emperorsfrom theNervaAntonine dynasty. Born into a senatorial family, Antoninus held various offices during the reign of EmperorHadrian. He married Hadrian's nieceFaustina, and Hadrian adopted him as his son and successor shortly before his death. Antoninus acquired thecognomenPiusafter his accession to the throne, either because he compelled theSenatetodeifyhis adoptive father,or because he had saved senators sentenced to death by Hadrian in his later years.His reign is notable for the peaceful state of the Empire, with no major revolts or military incursions during this time. A successful military campaign in southern Scotland early in his reign resulted in the construction of theAntonine Wall. Antoninus was an effective administrator, leaving his successors a large surplus in the treasury, expanding free access to drinking water throughout the Empire, encouraging legal conformity, and facilitating the enfranchisement of freed slaves. He died of illness in 161 and was succeeded by his adopted sonsMarcus AureliusandLucius Verusas co-emperors. Early life Childhood and family Antoninus Pius was born Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Antoninus nearLanuvium(modern-dayLanuvio) inItalytoTitus Aurelius Fulvus,consulin 86, and wife Arria Fadilla.The Aurelii Fulvi were anAurelianfamily settled inNemausus(modernNmes).Titus Aurelius Fulvus was the son of a senator of the same name, who, as legate ofLegio III Gallica, had supportedVespasianin his bid to the Imperial office and been rewarded with a suffect consulship, plus an ordinary one underDomitianin 85. The Aurelii Fulvi were therefore a relatively new senatorial family fromGallia Narbonensiswhose rise to prominence was supported by theFlavians.The link between Antoninus' family and their home province explains the increasing importance of the post ofproconsulof Gallia Narbonensis during the late second century. Antoninus' father had no other children and died shortly after his 89 ordinary consulship. Antoninus was raised by his maternal grandfatherGnaeus Arrius Antoninus,reputed by contemporaries to be a man of integrity and culture and a friend ofPliny the Younger.The Arrii Antonini were an older senatorial family from Italy, very influential duringNerva's reign. Arria Fadilla, Antoninus' mother, married afterwardsPublius Julius Lupus, suffect consul in 98; from that marriage came two daughters, Arria Lupula and Julia Fadilla. Marriage and children Some time between 110 and 115, Antoninus married Annia GaleriaFaustina the Elder.They are believed to have enjoyed a happy marriage. Faustina was the daughter of consulMarcus Annius Verus (II)andRupilia Faustina(a step-sister to the EmpressVibia Sabina).Faustina was a beautiful woman, and despite rumours about her character, it is clear that Antoninus cared for her deeply. Faustina bore Antoninus four children, two sons and two daughters.They were: Marcus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus (died before 138); his sepulchral inscription has been found at theMausoleum of Hadrianin Rome. Marcus Galerius Aurelius Antoninus (died before 138); his sepulchral inscription has been found at the Mausoleum of Hadrian in Rome.His name appears on a Greek Imperial coin. Aurelia Fadilla (died in 135); she marriedLucius Plautius Lamia Silvanus, consul 145. She appeared to have no children with her husband; and her sepulchral inscription has been found inItaly. Annia Galeria Faustina Minor orFaustina the Younger(between 125 and 130175), a future Roman Empress, married her maternal cousinMarcus Aureliusin 146. When Faustina died in 141, Antoninus was greatly distressed.In honour of her memory, he asked theSenateto deify her as a goddess, and authorised the construction of a temple to be built in theRoman Forumin her name, with priestesses serving in her temple.He had various coins with her portrait struck in her honor. These coins were scripted "DIVA FAUSTINA" and were elaborately decorated. He further founded a charity, calling itPuellae FaustinianaeorGirls of Faustina, which assisted destitute girlsof good family.Finally, Antoninus created a newalimenta, a Roman welfare programme, as part ofCura Annonae. The emperor never remarried. Instead, he lived withGaleria Lysistrate,one of Faustina's freed women.Concubinagewas a form of female companionship sometimes chosen by powerful men in Ancient Rome, especially widowers likeVespasian, andMarcus Aurelius. Their union could not produce any legitimate offspring who could threaten any heirs, such as those of Antoninus. Also, as one could not have a wife and an official concubine (or two concubines) at the same time, Antoninus avoided being pressed into a marriage with a noblewoman from another family. (Later, Marcus Aurelius would also reject the advances of his former fiance Ceionia Fabia, Lucius Verus's sister, on the grounds of protecting his children from a stepmother, and took a concubine instead.) Certificate of Authenticity is provided.

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