Antoninus Pius

Antoninus Pius (19 September 86 to 7 March 161) was Roman emperor from AD 138 to 161, the fourth of the Five Good Emperors and of the six adoptive emperors of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty. Born into a senatorial family, he held a series of offices under Hadrian, married Hadrian's niece Faustina, and was adopted by Hadrian as son and successor shortly before Hadrian died. He gained the cognomen Pius after his accession, either because he pressed the Senate to deify his adoptive father or because he had spared senators Hadrian sentenced to death. His reign is remembered for peace within the Empire, with no major revolts or invasions; a campaign in southern Scotland early on led to the Antonine Wall. As an administrator he left a large treasury surplus, widened access to drinking water, encouraged legal conformity and eased the freeing of slaves into citizenship. He died of illness in 161 and was followed by his adopted sons Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus as co-emperors.