how did antoninus pius die
He insisted that the administration of the law be fair and impartial, even freeing many of the men the former emperor had imprisoned (he convinced the Senate that this had been Hadrian's wish). Roman citizens had a feeling of well-being when under the rule of Pius. Antoninus Pius Quiz Questions with Answers. Antoninus Pius, in full Caesar Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius, original name Titus Aurelius Fulvius Boionius Arrius Antoninus, (born Sept. 19, 86, Lanuvium, Latium—died March 7, 161, Lorium, Etruria), Roman emperor from ad 138 to 161. The newly adopted Lucius was immediately dispatched to Pannonia to serve as governor, but unfortunately for both men, Lucius died of tuberculosis in January of 138 CE. Last modified June 25, 2013. His mother’s name was Arria Fadilla. When Roman emperor Hadrian (r. 117-138 CE) died on July 10, 138 CE, he left, as did his predecessors, an adopted son as his successor, Antoninus Pius. At the age of seventy, having reigned for 23 stable and prosperous years, Antoninus Pius died in AD 161. World History Encyclopedia, 25 Jun 2013. As Antoninus Pius died in 161, leaving the empire to his adoptive son Marcus Aurelius (Antoninus), and the envoy arrived in 166, confusion remains about who sent the mission given that both Emperors were named 'Antoninus'. Close. His father and grandfather died when Antoninus Pius was young, so he was raised by his maternal grandfather, Gnaeus Arrius Antoninus. Marcus Aurelius ruled from A.D. 161-180. b) 138-161. Gender:Male. He was a member of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty and the Aurelii. Antoninus Pius, Capitoline Museumsby Mark Cartwright (CC BY-NC-SA). Commodus, Roman emperor from 177 to 192 (sole emperor after 180). He died a few days later. With your help we create free content that helps millions of people learn history all around the world. Antoninus - whose last name means dutiful - was a just and compassionate man, well-liked and respected by the common people as well as those in the Roman government. He was a skilled administrator and was praised by his contemporaries for his effective style of governance. Facts about Antoninus Pius 10: what he did as an emperor. Sometime around 133-136 A… Towards the end of his reign, Antoninus Pius prepared for his adopted son, Marcus Aurelius to take control of the Empire when he died. Antoninus served as Consul in 120 AD. How did Antoninus Pius die? Ancient History Encyclopedia has a new name! Stone portrait of Roman emperor Antoninus Pius (86–161 CE). Antoninus Pius buried his wife the Empress Faustina, and was in turn buried himself. He continued to be the supreme authority in the Empire. Antoninus Pius. February 23, 2021 Axel II The Great Comments 0 Comment #8: Antoninus Pius – 86 – 161 AD (ruled 138-161) Image Source. And so it goes on, Marcus says, always the same. Little information about Antoninus and his time in power has survived. Antoninus, died a very popular man and was deified by the senate without opposition. This letter sent by the emperor Antoninus Pius is just one of the 70 documents included in a very long dossier carved on the walls of a small building next to the theatre of Rhodiapolis. He at once as-sociated with himself L. Ceionius Commodus, whom Antoninus had adopted as a younger son at the same time with Marcus, giving him the name of Lucius Aurelius Verus. 1 Life. Where did Antoninus Pius die? Antoninus’ armies contained revolts in Mauretania, Germany, Dacia, and Egypt. Corrections? 10. While he wanted the much younger Marcus Aurelius (he was only 16) to succeed him, the dying emperor realized Marcus was far too young and chose instead the highly valued and elderly Antoninus who was thought to be “safe” until the young Marcus matured. Succession (as planned years before by Hadrian) was peaceful and without incident. His early years Antoninus … In the words of the historian Cassius Dio, “Antoninus is said to have been of an enquiring mind and not to have held aloof from careful investigation of even small and commonplace matters.” He added, “Antoninus is admitted by all to have been noble and good, neither oppressive to the Christians nor severe to any of his other subjects...”. Trade and commerce flourished and his strict control of finances allowed for a state surplus by the time of his death. He was the only child of Titus Aurelius Fulvus, whose family came from Nemausus. Antoninus Pius died in March 161. Antoninus Pius died in March 161. After an astounding 22 years of reign, on March 7, 161, Antoninus Pius died at his estate in Etruria, leaving 675 million denarii in the treasury. Annia Galeria Faustina the Younger (born probably 21 September c. 130 AD, — 175/176 AD) was a daughter of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius and Roman Empress Faustina the Elder.She was a Roman Empress and wife to her maternal cousin Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius.She was held in high esteem by soldiers and her own husband as Augusta and mater Castrorum (‘Mother of the Camp’) and was … The young Antoninus was raised on a large estate at Lorium, first by his paternal grandfather and later by his maternal grandfather. She was also a cousin and wife of Pius’s successor, Emperor Marcus Aurelius (ruled 161–180). His reign would be remembered as one of relative peace. a history of the roman empire : 27 : the principate of antoninus pius "But however estimable as a man, Antoninus was hardly a great statesman. He completed many of Hadrian's construction projects and he built monuments which included the Temple of the Deified Hadrian and, in memory of his wife, the Temple of the Deified Faustina. Antoninus Pius was known for sound morals and is regarded as a good leader. His family originated in Gaul, and his father and grandfathers had all been consuls. In 156 AD, at seventy years old, Antoninus Pius’ health began to deteriorate. In actuality Antoninus Pius was not Hadrian's initial choice; he was not even his second. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. After an astounding 22 years of reign, on March 7, 161, Antoninus Pius died at his estate in Etruria, leaving 675 million denarii in the treasury. Books Antoninus Pius (September 19, 86 AD - March 7, 161 AD), also known as Antoninus, was Roman Emperor from 138 AD - 161AD. He pardoned several people wrongfully sentenced to death by hadrian when he was sick. World History Encyclopedia. When did Antoninus Pius die? Contemporary events. The Rome Empire were well organized during his reign. There were many things that he did as an emperor. and Rudolf Freudenberger (Das Verhalten der römischen Behörden gegen die Christen im s. Jahrhunderl, Munich 1967, 216–34) have failed to place Hadrian's rescript and its interpretation by Justin in their strict historical context. He is widely regarded as one of the most peaceful rulers in history, only extending the borders of Britannia into Caledonia and building the Antonine Wall. However, his family came originally from Nemausus (modern-day Nîmes) in the province of Transalpine Gaul. In 138 Antoninus was adopted by Hadrian and designated as his successor. Antoninus Pius was born on 19th September 86 AD, near Lanuvium, Italy. He did so effectively and was frugal with the treasury, as well as building good rapport with the senate. cit.) Nationality: Ancient Rome Executive summary: Roman … When was Antoninus Pius emperor of Rome? World History Encyclopedia is a non-profit organization. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) 1. 18 Mar 2021. His brutal misrule precipitated civil strife that ended 84 years of stability and prosperity within the empire. Posted by 4 years ago. TIL that Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius (86 CE – 161 CE) had the most peaceful reign of any ruler in antiquity. Died:7-Mar-161 AD. Birthplace:Lanuvium, Latium. Antoninus Pius (bust from Philippi) Rome: Temple of Hadrian; Temple of Faustina; Baalbek: temple of Bacchus and Great Court of the temple of Jupiter; Succeeded by: Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus. The chapters on Commodus in particular are known to be among the leastreliable in the … A rebellion in Roman Britain was suppressed, and in 142 a 36-mile (58-kilometre) garrisoned barrier—called the Antonine Wall—was built to extend the Roman frontier some 100 miles north of Hadrian’s Wall (q.v.). Text by Mike Welbourn. Antoninus merely had to properly manage what he had inherited. Antoninus Pius was Emperor of Rome from 138 to 161. Upon acceding to power, Antoninus persuaded a reluctant Senate to offer the customary divine honours to Hadrian. Most of what is known comes from his biographer Julius Capitolinus who wrote: In personal appearance he was strikingly handsome, in natural talents brilliant, in temperament kindly; he was aristocratic in countenance and calm in nature, a singularly gifted speaker and an elegant scholar, conspicuously thrifty, a conscientious landholder, gentle, generous, and mindful of others' rights. This is due to the fact that during those 23 years hardly anything happened! Antoninus Pius made Marcus consul and caesar in A.D. 139. The property he inherited - where he would later build a palace - made him extremely rich, and even though he had no military experience, he ably served as consul, praetor, and quaestor, as well as governor in Asia Minor from 135 to 136 CE. Image by Sarah Jordan. Death of Faustina When his wife passed away in 141 AD, Antoninus was immensely grieved. His request was granted and Aurelius and Verus began their reign by instituting programs to help the poor and rewarding the military with more pay and greater … Antoninus Pius. a) 7 March 161 b) 24 May 37 c) 15 October 68 d) 5 August 185. Antoninus Pius. Antoninus Pius has made a lot of accomplishments during his 22 years reign. Mild-mannered and capable, he was the fourth of the “five good emperors” who guided the empire through an 84-year period (96–180) of … Learn More. The adoption, however, came with a condition. When Roman emperor Hadrian (r. 117-138 CE) died on July 10, 138 CE, he left, as did his predecessors, an adopted son as his successor, Antoninus Pius. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/Antoninus_Pius/. His one extravagance was the celebration of the 900th anniversary of Rome. After serving as consul in 120, Antoninus was assigned by the emperor Hadrian (ruled 117–138) to assist with judicial administration in Italy. TIL that Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius (86 CE – 161 CE) had the most peaceful reign of any ruler in antiquity. He did so effectively and was frugal with the treasury, as well as building good rapport with the senate. After all, Vedius Antoninus Sabinianus ended up being greatly honoured by his fellow Ephesians and even became Roman senator, a rank that the descendants of his family continued to enjoy almost a century later (Philostratus, Life of Sophists II.23; cf. Mild-mannered and capable, he was the fourth of the “five good emperors” who guided the empire through an 84-year period (96–180) of internal peace and prosperity. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The reign of Antoninus Pius. His brutal misrule precipitated civil strife that ended 84 years of stability and prosperity within the empire. For the next 23 years, his reign (second only in length to Augustus) would be one of relative peace, assuring him a place among the Five Good Emperors. Web. Hadrian died that year and Antoninus became emperor. On this day in AD 161, the Roman emperor Antoninus Pius died. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. He did so effectively and was frugal with the treasury, as well as building good rapport with the senate. Antoninus merely had to properly manage what he had inherited. Halfmann, Die Senatoren, p. 168-170). When Antoninus Pius died in 161, the Senate awarded the imperial power to Marcus Aurelius; however, Marcus Aurelius gave joint power to his brother (by adoption) and called him Lucius Aurelius Verus Commodus. Antoninus Pius died in March of A.D. 161, after giving the appropriate imperial watchword which so typified his reign, "equanimity". When was Antoninus Pius emperor of Rome? In turn, Antoninus adopted Marcus and Lucius, the son of Aelius. https://www.ancient.eu/Antoninus_Pius/. Working from home has been the cool thing to do during the COVID-19 era. After Antoninus came to rule he demanded the unwilling Senate provide traditional religious respects towards Hadrian. Death of Faustina When his wife passed away in 141 AD, Antoninus was immensely grieved. While there were minor disturbances in Mauretania, Germany, and Egypt, he trusted his commanders to handle the situation and he never left the safety of Rome (some believe it was too expensive to leave), ruling instead from the city or his estate. Antoninus Pius died in March of A.D. 161, after giving the appropriate imperial watchword which so typified his reign, "equanimity". Antoninus Pius Quiz Questions with Answers. License. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Antoninus was born on 19 September, 86 on the family estate at Lanuvium, in Italy. And so it goes on, Marcus says, always the same. Mild-mannered and capable, he was the fourth of the “five good emperors” who guided the empire through an 84-year period (96–180) of … In March of 161 CE, Antoninus Pius died and the senate looked to Aurelius as the new emperor; in keeping with Hadrian's original designs, however, Aurelius refused the honor unless Lucius Verus was elevated as co-emperor with him. Faustina the Younger (130–175) was a daughter of Emperor Antoninus Pius (ruled 138–161). After an astounding 22 years of reign, on March 7, 161, Antoninus Pius died at his estate in Etruria, leaving 675 million denarii in the treasury. Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Antoninus was born on 19 September, 86 on the family estate at Lanuvium, in Italy. Antoninus Pius was Roman emperor from 138 to 161 CE. After an astounding 22 years of reign, on March 7, 161, Antoninus Pius died at his estate in Etruria, leaving 675 million denarii in the treasury. From Julius Caesar to the city-state’s legendary founders, test your knowledge of ancient Rome in this quiz. Archived. When Faustina died in 141, Antoninus was greatly bereaved and had a temple built in the Roman Forum in her name, had coins with her portrait struck in her honor, and created a charity called Girls of Faustina, which assisted orphaned girls. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) 1. After his earlier choice for a successor died, Hadrian adopted Titus Aurelius Antoninus (who would be known as Emperor Pius Antonius) to succeed him as an emperor. Antoninus died of fever at Lorium in Etruria, about 12 m. from Rome, on the 7th of March 161, giving the keynote to his life in the last word that he uttered when the tribune of the night-watch came to ask the password- aequanimitas. This condition was attached to his adoption, that as Hadrian took Antoninus as his son, so he in turn should take Marcus Antoninus, his wife's nephew, and Lucius Verus. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Antoninus-Pius, Ancient History Encyclopedia - Biography of Antoninus Pius, JewishEncyclopedia.com - Biography of Antoninus Pius, Online Encyclopedia of Roman Emperors - Biography of Antoninus Pius, The Catholic Encyclopedia - Biography of Antoninus Pius. Top 10 Roman Emperors: Antoninus Pius, The “Working From Home” Emperor. Antoninus Pius died in 161, and Marcus assumed the imperial state. Historia Augusta describes the cause of death: "after he had eaten too freely some Alpine cheese at dinner he vomited during the night, and was taken with a fever the next day." He is eager to pass knowledge on to his students. One of his famous acts when Antoninus became the emperor was persuading the senate to give Hadrian a divine honor. After Antoninus came to rule he demanded the unwilling Senate provide traditional religious respects towards Hadrian. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. “. As expected he carried on many of Hadrian's policies; however, Antoninus still left his imprint on the city and empire. Commodus, Roman emperor from 177 to 192 (sole emperor after 180). page 7 note 1 W. Schmid (op. The feeling of well-being that pervaded the empire under Antoninus is reflected in the celebrated panegyric by the orator Aelius Aristides in 143–144. There were many things that he did as an emperor. Now in the British Museum. Most of his youth was spent at Lorium, which was only twelve miles from Rome.Later on he built a villa there, to which he would frequently retreat from the cares of the empire, and in which he died, in his seventy-fifth year. Antoninus Pius was Roman emperor from 138 to 161 CE. The last word that he uttered when the tribune of the night-watch came to ask the password was "aequanimitas" (equanimity). Antoninus Pius, in full Caesar Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius, original name Titus Aurelius Fulvius Boionius Arrius Antoninus, (born Sept. 19, 86, Lanuvium, Latium—died March 7, 161, Lorium, Etruria), Roman emperor from ad 138 to 161. Alas, Antoninus died after a very short illness in his sleep, having handed the reins of government to his adopted son Marcus Aurelius on that very day, 7 March AD 161. Facts about Antoninus Pius 9: the first act. Facts about Antoninus Pius 10: what he did as an emperor. Omissions? The Emperor Antoninus Pius and the Christians - Volume 22 Issue 1 - Paul Keresztes. His daughter was his principal heir. Find out another important leader in Amenhotep III facts. Antoninus Pius is remembered by history as a kind, just, and intelligent emperor. Born: 19-Sep-86 AD Birthplace: Lanuvium, Latium Died: 7-Mar-161 AD Location of death: Lorium, Etruria Cause of death: Fever Remains: Buried, Castel Sant'Angelo, Rome, Italy. In April 145, Marcus Aurelius married Antoninus Pius’ daughter, Faustina the Younger. Antoninus Pius (Titus Fulvius Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius) was born on September 19, 86 AD to Titus Aurelius Fulvius and Arria Fadilla. Antoninus Pius was known for sound morals and is regarded as a good leader. 32.6k. Location of death:Lorium, Etruria. One of his first priorities was to have his “father” Hadrian deified, something the Senate reluctantly approved. Little is known about Antoninus, despite a 23 year reign, due to a lack of contemporary sources. But let’s not pretend it’s a new thing, because Antoninus Pius did it before it was cool. As he was much loved, his death was mourned throughout all fabrics of Roman society. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). After Hadrian's adoptive son, Aelius Caesar, died in 138, the emperor adopted Marcus' uncle Antoninus Pius as his new heir. VIII. Antoninus Pius proved to be a capable, if not always dedicated, emperor. As a private citizen between 110 and 115, he married Annia Galeria Faustina the Elder. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2021) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. When did Antoninus Pius die? He also repaired many public buildings, including the decaying Colosseum. One of his famous acts when Antoninus became the emperor was persuading the senate to give Hadrian a divine honor. Antonius Pius was roman emperor who precided under the peak of Pax Romana. In what year did the Roman Empire come to an end? He was soon afterward deified by the Senate. Celer buried Hadrian , and Celer’s turn came next. Find out another important leader in Amenhotep III facts. His mother married Publius Julius Lupus in 98 AD. Succession (as planned years before by Hadrian) was peaceful and without incident. No. a) Actium b) Lorium c) Canae d) Sparta. He was one of the Five Good Emperors in the Nerva–Antonine dynasty and the Aurelii.. Titus Aurelius Fulvua Boionius Arrius Antoninus, known to history as Antoninus Pius, was born of a good family in Nimes locted in the Gallia Narbonensis region (Southern France). World History Encyclopedia. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. He possessed all these qualities, moreover, in the proper mean and without ostentation, and, in fine, was praiseworthy in every way and, in the minds of all good men. When Roman Emperor Hadrian died on July 10, 138 CE, he left, as did his predecessors, an adopted son as his successor, Antoninus Pius (138 – 161 CE).Antoninus - whose last name means dutiful - was a just and compassionate man, well-liked and respected by the common people as well as those in government. Text by Mike Welbourn. Hadrian was at a crossroads. As he was much loved, his death was mourned throughout all fabrics of Roman society. Contents. Related Content His mother was Arria Fadilla, daughter of two-time consul Arrius Antoninus. Wasson, Donald L. "Antoninus Pius." Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University and Michigan State University and University of Missouri. He was soon afterward deified by the Senate. There is no record of any major events or conflicts during his 23 year reign. On March 9, 161 CE Antonius died of a fever, supposedly after a meal of Alpine cheese. This dual ceremony allowed Marcus to be groomed as Antoninus' successor. Because of this and perhaps more similar deeds he was bestowed the last name of Pius. AKACaesar Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius. Cite This Work Facts about Antoninus Pius 9: the first act. Antoninus Pius buried his wife the Empress Faustina, and was in turn buried himself. His biographer wrote, “He gave largess to the people, and, in addition, a donation to the soldiers….Besides all this, he helped many communities to erect new buildings and to restore the old. 10. Contrary to his depiction in the film, Aurelius was not killed by Commodus and, in fact, Commodus would co-rule with his father from 177-180 CE and succeeded him without opposition; though he would prove to be one of the worst rulers Rome would have to endure and his rep… In 160 AD Antonius died with the Empire at peace and stable[5]. Reign: 11 July 138 – 7 March 161 (22 years, 239 days) Predecessor: Hadrian: Successor: Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus: Born 19 September 86 near Lanuvium: Died: 7 March 161 (aged 74) Lorium: Burial: Hadrian's Mausoleum. Bust of Antoninus Pius, at Glyptothek, Munich Reign 11 July 138 – 7 March 161 Full name Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Arrius Antoninus (from birth to adoption by Hadrian); Titus Aelius Caesar Antoninus (from adoption to accession); Caesar Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius (as emperor) Born 19 September 86(86-09-19) … After his earlier choice for a successor died, Hadrian adopted Titus Aurelius Antoninus (who would be known as Emperor Pius Antonius) to succeed him as an emperor. On January 24, 138 CE Emperor Hadrian announced that he intended to adopt the 51-year-old Antoninus as his son and heir, and on February 28, 138 CE the adoption took place. On Hadrian’s death, in July AD 138, Antoninus Pius (reigned AD 138–61) succeeded to the throne. ... (Das Verhalten der römischen Behörden gegen die Christen im s. Jahrhunderl, Munich 1967, 216–34) have failed to place Hadrian's rescript and its interpretation by Justin in their strict historical context. However, his family came originally from Nemausus (modern-day Nîmes) in the province of Transalpine Gaul. Image by Sarah Jordan. He governed the province of Asia (c. 134) and then became an adviser to the Emperor. In the modern-day, he is probably best known from the popular film Gladiator (2000 CE) as the father of Commodus (r.177-192 CE) whose decision to pass over his son as successor serves as the point of departure for the films plot. Born:19-Sep-86 AD. After Antoninus’ death, however, the empire suffered invasion by hostile tribes, followed by severe civil strife. But few remarkable events happened during his reign, this is possibly because of Hadrian’s stewardship. 1.1 Marriage and children; 1.2 Favor with Hadrian; 2 Emperor; 3 References; Life Marriage and children. The … He chose a consul, Lucius Ceionius Commodus, as his heir. For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. Antoninus Pius served in public offices under Hadrian, with good repute, before being unexpectedly elevated to emperor in 138 A. D.Although Antoninus had good relations with Hadrian, he was not the first choice for successor, and it was only upon the death of Aelius Verus, Hadrian's first choice for successor, that he was adopted and promoted to the imperial throne. The honours and benefactions of a citizen of this small settlement on the Lycian peninsula (southern Anatolia) called Opramoas are recorded across the approximately 2000 lines of text preserved. There is no record of any major events or conflicts during his 23 year reign. Both his father and paternal grandfather had served as consuls. Ancient History Encyclopedia Limited is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. References to Antoninus in 2nd-century literature are exceptionally scanty; it is certain that few striking events occurred during his 23-year reign. Antoninus merely had to properly manage what he had inherited. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. On this day in AD 161, the Roman emperor Antoninus Pius died. He was deified by the Senate. Favor with Hadrian. Henceforth the two are colleagues in the empire, the junior being trained as it were to succeed. We are now World History Encyclopedia to better reflect the breadth of our non-profit organization's mission. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. Having filled with success the offices of quaestor and praetor, he was consul in 120. Historia Augusta describes the cause of death: "after he had eaten too freely some Alpine cheese at dinner he vomited during the night, and was taken with a fever the next day. Hadrian was Roman emperor from 117 to 138 CE and he is known as... Lucius Verus was Roman emperor from 161 to 169 CE. Nevertheless, the chapters specifically on Marcus’ reign are believed to be among the best (most reliable) among them. The Historia Augusta (HA) is known by scholars to be an unreliable source, although the quality of individual chapters varies. Although his family originally came from southern Gaul, Antoninus Pius was born in Lanuvium, 20 miles south of Rome, on September 19, 86 CE as Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boinus Arrius Antoninus, a name he shared with his father. He did so effectively and was frugal with the treasury, as well as building good rapport with the senate. His only biography, written 200 years after his death, records that: He was also known for imagining that he was the god Hercules, entering the arena … Written by Donald L. Wasson, published on 25 June 2013 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. Antoninus Pius (Latin: Titus Fulvus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius; born 19 September, 86 AD – died 7 March, 161 AD), also known as Antoninus, was Roman Emperor from 138 to 161. Spouse: Faustina: Issue: Faustina the Younger, one other … The two co-ruling brothers are referred to as Antonines -- as in the Antonine plague of 165–180. The embassy came to Emperor Huan of Han China from "Andun" (Chinese: 安敦; Emperor Antoninus Pius), "king of Daqin" (Rome). 2. At the age of seventy, having reigned for 23 stable and prosperous years, Antoninus Pius died in AD 161. After they had a daughter, he was granted tribunician power and imperium outside Rome. Antoninus Pius served in public offices under Hadrian, with good repute, before being unexpectedly elevated to emperor in 138 A. D.Although Antoninus had good relations with Hadrian, he was not the first choice for successor, and it was only upon the death of Aelius Verus, Hadrian's first choice for successor, that he was adopted and promoted to the imperial throne. The manner of his adoption, they say, was somewhat thus: At any rate, when Hadrian announced a desire to adopt him, he was given time for deciding whether he wanted to be adopted. How many hills was Rome built on? On July 10, 138 CE the even-tempered Antoninus Pius assumed the reins of the Roman Empire with the assumption that he would simply carry on the policies of Hadrian.