ANTONI'NUS PIUS, Trrus AIIRE'LIIIS FULVCS, a Roman emperor (138-161 A.D.). was b. in the reign of Domitian (86 A.D.). The family of A. was originally from Nematistis, now Nimes, in Gaul. A. inherited great wealth, and early gave proof of excellent quali ties. In 120, he was made consul; afterwards was sent by Hadrian as proconsul into Asia, where the wisdom and gentleness of his rule won for him a higher reputation than bad been enjoyed by any of his predecessors. By his wife Faustina he had four children, of whom three died, leaving a daughter, Faustina, afterwards wife of Marcus Aurelius. In 133, he was adopted by the emperor Hadrian, in consequence of merit alone, and came to the throne in the same year. The reign of A. was proverbially peaceful and happy. In his private character, he was simple, temperate, and benevolent; while in public affairs he acted as the father of his people. The persecution of Christians, which was continued during his reign, was partly stayed by his mild measures. He was little engag.ed in war, excepting in Britain, where he extended the power of Rome, and built a wall between the Forth and the Clyde, as a defense against invasions by the predatory inhabitants of the north; but lie was frequently employed in arbitration and general counsel on the affairs of foreign states. " Happy the nation which has no history." The
reign of A. illustrates this saying, for by the justice, wisdom, kindliness, and courtesy of the emperor, his vast empire was preserved from the crimes, conspiracies, insurrec tions, and bloodshed, the recording of which formed the largest part of the historian's work in the dark centuries of the Roman empire. It is said that only one senator was impeached during A.'s lifetime. Literature received great encouragement; the laws were improved; commerce extended; the means of communication were facilitated by the repair of roads, bridges, etc.; new sanitary regulations were introduced; and a taste for architecture fostered in the citizens. The epithet Pits was conferred on him on account of his conduct in defending the memory of his predecessor Hadrian against certain dishonoring measures brought forward by the senate. A. d. in 161 A.D. The column raised to hts memory by his adopted son and successor, Marcus Aurelius Antoni nus (q.v.). was discovered in 1709, and now exists only in fragments. The so-called pillar of Antoninus, now in the Piazza Colonna at Rome, is that raised by the senate iu honor of Marcus Aurelius, after his victory over the Marcomanni.