v57_0279 - ANTONINUS PIUS and FAUSTINA THE ELDER Unité

ANTONINUS PIUS and FAUSTINA THE ELDER

(139-141)

Antonin was born on September 19, 86 in Lanuvium. His family is from Gaul (Nîmes). He was a wealthy senator who married Faustina the Elder between 110 and 115 and thus entered Hadrian's family by marriage. After the death of Aélius on January 1, 138, Hadrian chose Antonin to succeed him on February 25, 138, adding two adopted sons, Marc Aurèle and Lucius Vérus. Hadrian dies on July 10 and Antonin succeeds him. He must first fight to deify Hadrian, enemy of the Senate. Faustina mother, daughter of Rupilia Faustina, Hadrian's sister-in-law, married Antoninus Pius between 110 and 115 and had at least two children: Marcus Galerius Antonius, a boy who died in infancy and young Faustina who married Marcus Aurelius. Faustina mother receives the title of augusta in 139 and is therefore associated with coinage. She died in 141, aged about forty. Antonin immediately had her deified and struck an important coinage of consecration, establishing the "Puellæ Faustinianæ" for young orphans or poor. Antonin will raise the temple of Faustina in the region of the Temple of Peace (Regio IV)..