Later Antonines

Antoninus Pius (138-160)

• Adopted by Hadrian to secure succession for M. Aurelius
• V. wealthy senator of Gallic origin
• Nothing of note happens during his long reign
• Insists on deifying Hadrian despite senate's reluctance
  • Given title "Pius"

Marcus Aurelius (160-180)

• Amateur philosopher
  • Pamphlet of personal aphorisms (Ad se ipsum "To himself") survives
  • Sources love hiim
• Insists that son of Hadrian's first adopted son be made co-emperor
  • Lucius Verus (160-169)
    • Something of a deadbeat
    • Sources hostile to him
  • Marcus really in charge
• Campaign in East (165-166)
  • More military aggression
  • L. Verus in charge
  • Ended by outbreak of plague
    • Ravages Empire
• Major incursions along Danube (167-180)
  • Philosopher emperor forced to spend a decade on campaign
  • Reasons for pressure from tribes of central Europe unclear
    • Mainly Germans, some Iranians
    • Overpopulation?
    • Central Europe under pressure from groups further to east?
  • Sign of increasing military activity in north
    • Principate not designed for fighting prolonged military conflicts
• Revolt of C. Avidius Cassius (175)
  • Cassius important Syrian magnate
  • Leads eastern legions into revolt
  • Easily suppressed
  • Isolated event or sign of loosening dynastic loyalty of soldiery?

Commodus (180-192)

• M. Aurelius' natural son
  • Shows even the philosopher emperor would have his own (miserable) son as heir
  • Raised to full status in late 170s when Commodus was only a teenager (born 162)
    • Dying Marcus was trying to secure the succession
• Total disaster as human being
  • Even philosopher kings can raise lousy children
  • Thinks he's the incarnation of Hercules
  • Fights in the arena
    • Denfinitely not what respectable Romans do
    • Far worse than what Nero did
• Under sway of disreputable cronies
• Assassinated by domestic conspiracy