The Adoptives
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The Nerva-Antonine dynasty, spanning from A.D. 96 to A.D. 192, represents the pinnacle of the Roman Empire, often characterized by the "Five Good Emperors." This era was unique because of the practice of adoptive succession, where the reigning emperor selected a capable successor based on merit and military or administrative talent rather than bloodline. This tradition began with Nerva, who adopted Trajan to secure the loyalty of the army. Trajan expanded the empire to its greatest territorial extent, followed by Hadrian, who focused on consolidation and cultural patronage. Antoninus Pius presided over a period of remarkable peace, and Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher-king, defended the borders against increasing Germanic incursions. By prioritizing competence over heredity, the empire enjoyed nearly a century of relative stability and prosperity. However, this system eventually collapsed when Marcus Aurelius broke tradition by appointing his biological son, Commodus. This shift back to dynastic succession ended the era of enlightened rule, leading to a period of civil unrest and economic decline that signaled the close of Rome’s golden age. |
Nerva
| MARCVS COCCEIVS NERVA was born about 32 to Marcus Cocceius Nerva and Sergia Plautilla. He pursued a legal career, but Nero awarded him triumphal insignia in 66 for some part in the suppression of the Pisonian conspiracy of 65. He then served as a consul with both Vespasian and Domitian. He became Augustus after Domitian's murder on September 18, 96, although he was probably not involved in the plot. He ruled well and wisely, although the army resented him. He named Trajan as his heir largely to appease the army. He died after a brief illness on January 25, 98 and was deified by Trajan. |
Trajan
| MARCVS VLPIVS TRAIANVS, born near Seville, Spain in 52 to Marcia and Marcus Ulpius Trajanus, pursued a military career and was appointed Governor of Germania Superior by Nerva in 97 shortly before being adopted by him. He became Augustus upon Nerva's death on January 25, 98. Although best known for adding Dacia to the Empire by a series of wars (101-106), he also built many public works and administrated ably. The Empire reached its maximum size in 117 after his Parthian victories (114-117). He died on August 8, 117, was deified, and buried in his monumental column in Rome. |
Hadrian
| PVBLIVS AELIVS HADRIANVS, born in Rome in 76 to Domitia Paulina and Publius Aelius Hadrianus Afer, became the ward of Trajan when Afer died in 86. Through Plotina's influence Hadrian was named as Trajan's successor, becoming Augustus on August 11, 117. He immediately abandoned most of Trajan's eastern conquests, and returned to Rome in mid-118. He spent the years 121-125 and 128-134 touring the provinces. He ruled wisely and well until his final two years when a lingering illness took its toll. He died on July 10, 138, was deified, and buried in the mausoleum which he had built in Rome. |
Antoninus Pius
| TITVS AVRELIVS FVLVVS BOIONIVS ARRIVS ANTONINVS, born in AD 86 to Arria Fadilla and Titus Aurelius Fulvus, served as a praetor, quaestor, and consul (120) before becoming proconsul of Asia in 135. He married Faustina Sr. about 115. He was on the Imperial Council in 138 when Hadrian's heir Aelius Caesar died, and was adopted by Hadrian on February 25, 138, becoming Augustus when Hadrian died on July 10, 138. He is known for wisdom, temperance, and a serious nature, and prosperity and peace were the hallmarks of his reign. He died peacefully on March 7, 161 and the Senate deified him. |
Faustina Sr.
| ANNIA GALERIA FAVSTINA, born about 100 to Rupilia Faustina and Marcus Annius Verus, married Antoninus Pius between 110 and 120. She is characterized as frivolous and perhaps unfaithful, but Pius seems to have loved her. They had two sons, Marcus Galerius and Marcus Aurelius Fulvus, and two daughters, Aurelia Fadilla and Annia Galeria Faustina (Faustina Jr.). When Pius became emperor on July 10, 138, she immediately became 'Augusta'. She died in 140 and was consecrated. Pius built a temple in her honor in the Roman Forum, which still stands, known as the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina |
Marcus Aurelius
| MARCVS AELIVS AVRELIVS VERVS, born Marcus Annius Verus in 121 at Rome to Domitia Lucilla and Annius Verus, had his name changed when he was adopted by his uncle Antoninus Pius in 138. He married Faustina Jr. in 145, and became Augustus after Pius died on March 7, 161. He then made Lucius Verus his co-ruler. Aurelius' reign was one of constant warfare, most of which he personally directed after 167 (Verus died in 169). He had nearly achieved total victory along the Danube when he died at Vienna on March 17, 180 after a brief illness. He was deified and buried in Hadrian's Tomb. |
Faustina Jr.
| ANNIA GALERIA FAVSTINA, born about 127 to Antoninus Pius and Faustina Sr., was engaged by Hadrian to Lucius Verus, but when Pius became Augustus on July 10, 138 he broke the engagement and engaged her to Marcus Aurelius. Due to her age the wedding was postponed until 145, with her first of perhaps thirteen children (including Commodus) being born in November of 147, when she received the title of Augusta. She accompanied Aurelius on some campaigns and trips, and was with him when she died at Halala in Cappadocia in late 175. She was deified, and Halala was re-founded as Faustinopolis. |
Lucius Verus
| LVCIVS VERVS was born in 130 as Lucius Ceionius Commodus to Domitia Lucilla and Lucius Ceionius Commodus. His father, under the name Aelius, was adopted as Hadrian's heir in 136, but died in 138. Antoninus Pius was then made heir on condition that he adopt Marcus Aurelius and Aelius' son. After Pius died on March 7, 161, Aurelius succeeded him and he made Aelius' son his co-Augustus, under the name of Lucius Verus. Verus spent 162-166 in the east while his generals fought the Parthians, but he was consumed by vice. After a brief Danubian campaign he died in February, 169 and was deified. |
Commodus
| LVCIVS AVRELIVS COMMODVS, born in 161 to Faustina Jr. and Marcus Aurelius, became Caesar on October 12, 166 and co-Augustus with Aurelius in 177. When Aurelius died on March 17, 180 he smoothly took the throne, quickly gave up Aurelius' military gains, and faced a plot against his life led by his sister Lucilla. She and his wife Crispina were exiled and killed in 183. His reign is known for violence and depravity. He was an excellent athlete, and believed he was Hercules incarnate. His cruel insanity led to his murder on December 31, 192 by his Praetorian Praefect and his mistress Marcia. |
