Antoninus Pius in Roman Biography

An-to-ni'nus Pi'us, or, more fully, Ti'tua Au-re'- 11-us Ful'vus Boi-o'nI-us Ar'rI-us An-to-ni'nus, [Fr. Antonin, ON'to'niN',] an excellent Roman emperor, a son of Aurelius Fulvus, was born at Lamtvium in 86 A.D. He became consul in 120 a.d., after which he governed the province of Asia, as proconsul, with wisdom and equity. He married Annia Galeria Faustina, and was adopted by Hadrian in 138, on condition that he should adopt Marcus Annius Verus. (See Aurelius, (Marcus,) and Lucius Verus.) Antoninus succeeded Hadrian in July, 138, and began under happy auspices his peaceful and prosperous reign. He appears to have treated the Christians with moderation, if not clemency. It has been stated that he issued an edict for the protection of Christians; but some writers ascribe this edict to his successor. According to Capitolinus, from whom we derive nearly all our knowledge of Antoninus, he was temperate, humane, amiable, learned, and eloquent. The name of Pater Patriae (" Father of his Country") was conferred on him by the senate. He died in 161 A.D., and was succeeded by Marcus Aurelius. His memory was so greatly venerated that five of his successors assumed the name of Antoninus. I. CapitounvS, "Vita Antonini;" Gautier de Sibert, "Vie d"Antonio.