On This Day In Roman History, February 25
Emperor Hadrian formally adopts Antoninus Pius as his heir on February 25, 138 CE. Antoninus had begun to win favor with Hadrian as early as 118, with an unusually successful fulfillment of the roles quaestor and praetor. By 120 Antoninus had served as consul and after was promoted to one of the four administrators in Italia. Sometime between 134 and 136, he became the proconsul of Asia, where he achieved even more success and popularity. Hadrian would then adopt him just a few years later on the condition that Antoninus, in turn, adopted Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, both of whom would eventually be Emperor.
Did you know?
Antoninus never commanded, or even saw, a Roman army. The modern historian J. J. Wilkes, The Journal of Roman Studies, writes about this stating "...throughout the twenty-three years of his reign, he never went within five hundred miles of a legion". His non-military reign, while obviously uncommon, came to allow him to be known as one of the "Five Good Emperors". His reign would go down as the most peaceful rule of any Principate Emperor and still saw widespread success domestically, both financially and politically.
Pictured: Statue of Antonius Pius in military garb and muscle cuirass, from the Museo Chiaramonti in Vatican City. Image by Jean-Pol GRANDMONT, via Wikimedia Commons.
Encyclopedia Britannica writes about Antoninus, praising him alongside authors such as Edward Gibbon as ideal Roman gentleman. " A few months afterwards, on Hadrian's death, he was enthusiastically welcomed to the throne by the Roman people, who, for once, were not disappointed in their anticipation of a happy reign. For Antoninus came to his new office with simple tastes, kindly disposition, extensive experience, a well-trained intelligence and the sincerest desire for the welfare of his subjects. Instead of plundering to support his prodigality, he emptied his private treasury to assist distressed provinces and cities, and everywhere exercised rigid economy (hence the nickname κυμινοπριστης "cummin-splitter"). Instead of exaggerating into treason whatever was susceptible of unfavorable interpretation, he turned the very conspiracies that were formed against him into opportunities for demonstrating his clemency. Instead of stirring up persecution against the Christians, he extended to them the strong hand of his protection throughout the empire. Rather than give occasion to that oppression which he regarded as inseparable from an emperor's progress through his dominions, he was content to spend all the years of his reign in Rome, or its neighbourhood."
Opinion
Welcome to my daily opinion! While there is no doubt Antoninus was a formidable statesman and administrator, I really think he gets more praise than he deserves. Historian J.B Bury seems to agree with me, stating that "The rest which the Empire enjoyed under his auspices had been rendered possible through Hadrian’s activity...". I fully agree with him and think while Antoninus most certainly does get to fall into the Five Good Emperors, he is in my opinion number 5. Another cool thing about Antoninus is he had confirmed direct descendants well into the fifth century and was notably the maternal grandfather of Commodus. If you want to see a crazy family tree, check out the Nerva-Antonine family tree. I'll put the link first in the further reading section. The last thing I would like to mention today is the crazy fact that the first recorded ambassadorial mission to China is recorded shortly after Antoninus' death. It is the first time the two states met and was most certainly arranged by Antoninus.
Sources
Chrisholm, Hugh (1911). The Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature and General Information, Volumes 1-2. University Press. p. 149.
Bury, J. B. (1930). A history of the Roman Empire from its foundation to the death of Marcus Aurelius. London.
Albino Garzetti. From Tiberius to the Antonines A History of the Roman Empire Ad 14-192. (2014). Routledge.
Further Reading:
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