Antoninus Pius is often referred to as one of the ‘Five Good Emperors’ of ancient Rome, so called for reigning during the Roman Empire’s most powerful and influential period. While his predecessors, Trajan and Hadrian, were military leaders, Antoninus was an anomaly. A quiet and sensitive man, he avoided all forms of military service, and while skirmishes occasionally marred the empire, Antoninus’s 23-year reign was the most peaceful time in Rome’s history. Even more unusual, Antoninus was a devout family man. In his late 20s, Antoninus married the daughter of a Roman politician named Annia Galeria Faustina, with whom he raised four children.
