Short Biography about the life of Antoninus Pius
Short Biography profile and facts about one of the most famous Romans of all, in the life of Antoninus Pius, Emperor of Rome and provinces of the Roman Empire.

• Name commonly known as: Antoninus Pius

• Latin Roman Name: Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Augustus

• Antoninus Pius Reigned as Roman Emperor / Caesar: 11 July 138 - 7 March 161

• Antoninus Pius was also Pontifex Maximus, the high priest of the Ancient Roman College of Pontiffs which was the most important position in the Ancient Roman religion

• Dynasty / Historical Period: Five Good Emperors & Nervan / Antonine Dynasty (96–192)

• Place and Date of Birth: Antoninus Pius was born19 September 86 at Lanuvium

• Name of previous Emperor: His predecessor or the Emperor before Antoninus Pius was Hadrian

• Family connections / Genealogy

  • Name of Father: Titus Aurelius Fulvius ( adoptive by Hadrian 25 February 138)

  • Name of Mother: Arria Fadilla

  • Married: Faustina

  • Children: Faustina was the only child who survived

    • Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus (adoptive)

• Place and Date of Death: Antoninus Pius died 7 March 161 (aged 74) at Lorium

• Name of next Emperor:  The successor to Antoninus Pius was Marcus Aureliuswho ruled jointly with Lucius Verus

Interesting facts about the life of Antoninus Pius
Why was Antoninus Pius famous? Accomplishments and achievements and important events. The excellent Antoninus Pius was born at Lanuvium on September 19th, A.D. 86 although his family came from the town of Nemausis in Gaul. Soon after his accession to the empire he married his daughter Faustina to Marcus Aurelius and made him his associate in the government of the Roman Empire. His tranquil and prosperous reign was the most pleasing period in the history of the Roman Empire. The world enjoyed a general peace, and the emperor endeavored to secure the prosperity of his subjects. Antoninus Pius applied the public revenues to founding schools, repairing roads and harbors, and encouraging industry and trade. Antoninus made no attempt to extend the boundaries of the empire. After a reign of twenty-three years, Antoninus died, March 7th, A.D. 161, in his villa at Lorium, aged seventy-five years.

Antoninus Pius - Justin Martyr and the Apologies for Christianity
Apologists are writers who argues to defend or justify a particular doctrine or ideology that is viewed under persecutory examinations - such as Christianity. Justin was a Christian writer (later made a saint and called Justin Martyr) a philosopher and the author of the Apologies for Christianity. His apology was dedicated to Emperor Antoninus Pius and its purpose was to prove to the emperors, upright and philosophical men, the injustice of the persecution of the Christians. The Apologies for Christianity were addressed to Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius and the Roman Senate. Justin later suffered martyrdom at Rome under the Emperor Marcus Aurelius

Dynasties of Roman Emperors - Five Good Emperors & Nervan / Antonine Dynasty (96–192)
The Five Good Emperors and the Nervan / Antonine Dynasty (96–192). The Five Good Emperors were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius. The Five Good Emperors were so named by the political philosopher, Niccolo Machiavelli who gave them this name in 1503 due to their good government and the respect given to them by the people of Rome. The Nervan and Antonine dynasty consisted of the "Five Good Emperors" (Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius) together with Lucius Verus, who ruled jointly with Marcus Aurelius, and Commodus the son of Marcus Aurelius.