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The Reign of Antoninus Pius, AD 138-161
The reign of Antoninus Pius is widely seen as the apogee of the Roman Empire yet, due to gaps in the historical sources, his reign has been overlooked by modern historians. He is considered one of the five good emperors of the Antonine dynasty under whom the pax Romana enabled the empire to prosper, trade to flourish and culture to thrive. His reign is considered a Golden Age but this was partly an image created by imperial propaganda. There were serious conflicts in North Africa and Dacia, as well as a major revolt in Britain. On his death the empire stood on the cusp of the catastrophic invasions and rebellions that marked the reign of his successor Marcus Aurelius.
Antoninus Pius became emperor through the hand of fate, being adopted by Hadrian only after the death of his intended heir, Lucius Aelius Caesar. His rule was a balancing act between securing his own safety, securing the succession of his adopted heir and denying opportunities for conspiracy and rebellion. ‘Equanimity’ was the last password he issued to his guards as he lay on his death bed. In the face of the threats and challenges he remained calm and composed, providing twenty-three years of stability; a calm before the storms that gathered both within and beyond Rome’s borders.
Antoninus Pius became emperor through the hand of fate, being adopted by Hadrian only after the death of his intended heir, Lucius Aelius Caesar. His rule was a balancing act between securing his own safety, securing the succession of his adopted heir and denying opportunities for conspiracy and rebellion. ‘Equanimity’ was the last password he issued to his guards as he lay on his death bed. In the face of the threats and challenges he remained calm and composed, providing twenty-three years of stability; a calm before the storms that gathered both within and beyond Rome’s borders.
- GenresHistory
288 pages, Hardcover
Published November 30, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 28, 2022
A very enjoyable book, John McHughs work does a lot to demonstrate that the reign of Antoninus Pius was more than that of a 'caretaker emperor', but rather the foundation for what was hoped would be a new golden age for the Roman Empire. It is wonderful to see the reign of this often overshadowed 'good emperor' finally given its chance to shine and be made more visible for the modern reader.
The book gives a solid backgound as to the parentage and lineage of Antoninus and his family as well as a good account of his childhood and growth to the positon of a high-ranking, if very modest, senator under the emperors Trajan and Hadrian. A modest and affable man with a strong sense of duty, it was these qualities which singled him out to Hadrian for adoption as a safe choice to hold the throne while Hadrians ideal choice of successors, Lucius Ceionius Commodus (Lucius Verus) and Marcus Annius Verus (Marcus Aurelius), came of age.
While Antoninus remained stedfast in his duty to Hadrian's wishes he never the less intended to leave his and his dynasties mark on the Roman Empire. McHugh goes to great lengths throughout the book to demonstrate Antoninus' desire that his reign be seen as the dawn of a new golden age and the apex of the Pax Romana. Through visuals, literature, actions and festivals he would compare himself with Augustus, while evoking also the memory of one of Romes best Kings, Numa Pompilius. His wife would be set up as an ideal of Roman matronhood, being declared a goddess upon her death and a great restoration of Roman temples and religion would commence during his reign.
The importance of these comparisons and actions are not underestimated. The dangers of court politics, the need to present oneself as the 'Princeps inter Pares' before a hostile and dangerous aristocracy is ever present given the regiemes flimsy foundations. Antoninus was a relative nobody compared with more respected senators with more pronounced lineages. McHugh highlights these difficulties and tensions very well and they would dominate Antoninus' reign like any emperor before and after him. That he managed to play the 'glass ball game' so well is what marks him out as a great emperor.
McHugh also details Antoninus wars. Far from the ideal zenith of the Pax Romana the difficulties forshadowing the reigns of both Marcus and Lucius were already forming in Antoninus' reign and he proved ultimately unable to solve them. His minor war in northern Britian was calculated to evoke the Julio-Claudian past without risking a long term conflict. Wishful thinking considering it would cause more issues than anticipated in the long term, the details of which were carefully glossed over. Meanwhile troubles along the Danube and Parthian boarders were simply deterred rather than solved, as were revolts in Mauretania. All of these would explode from the onset of his successors reigns.
The emperors dealings with the provinces is covered. His building projects and donations to the cities, especially those of Asia was well documented, as well as the means by which he dealt with embassies. McHugh does an excellent job placing us among Antoninus in his everyday role as emperor and tries to capture his feelings of dispair, frustration, elation and contentment throughout the course of his days, be they in Rome or on his small private country estates.
I would argue that McHugh could have benefitted from more detailed discussion regarding Antoninus' legal work given that reforms did occour during his reign and though some examples are mentioned in relation to his daily work it is overall very general and argueably a missed oppertunity to better understand the emperors feelings towards his subjects. The author also takes the view that Antoninus left a full and healthy tresury at the conclusion of his reign, yet Marcus and Lucis would face financial difficulties from the onset and the author does admit in places that at times the funding provided by Antoninus for building works waas insufficient and the coinage was devlued during his reign. A greater economic discussion relating to his reign would have been benefitical in this regard to at least priovide a glimpse of understadning regarding what was to come.
Interestingly McHugh has neither a formal introduction nor conclusion to his biography of Antoninus, a rare thing for a biography like this. A formal conclusion especially would have been beneficial in summing up the aims of the book and also for a brief overview of the image of Antoninus in later Roman histories and the empire, though doesnt detract from the work overall.
In all I enjoyed this book and though I would have enjoyed it more had it gone into more detail on certain topics as those mentioned above it is still a worthy addition to any library of Roman Emperors. Though his empire would experience great trials after his death, the work of his well groomed adoptive sons would keep Rome afloat in turbulent waters. While many, including the author, criticise Antoninus for his inability in military matters or to look far enough ahead to see the danger until it was too late, I would argue he deserves to be honoured in spite of these short comings. The goal of his Principate was to initiate a new Golden Age of peace and prosperity for his subjects. For most of them this would, theoretically, be reality for at least twenty years in a world normally dominated by conflict. Given the turbulence following his reign it is no wonder historians would look back so fondly on Antoninius for his efforts and his position that the retention of peace was preferrable to war.
The book gives a solid backgound as to the parentage and lineage of Antoninus and his family as well as a good account of his childhood and growth to the positon of a high-ranking, if very modest, senator under the emperors Trajan and Hadrian. A modest and affable man with a strong sense of duty, it was these qualities which singled him out to Hadrian for adoption as a safe choice to hold the throne while Hadrians ideal choice of successors, Lucius Ceionius Commodus (Lucius Verus) and Marcus Annius Verus (Marcus Aurelius), came of age.
While Antoninus remained stedfast in his duty to Hadrian's wishes he never the less intended to leave his and his dynasties mark on the Roman Empire. McHugh goes to great lengths throughout the book to demonstrate Antoninus' desire that his reign be seen as the dawn of a new golden age and the apex of the Pax Romana. Through visuals, literature, actions and festivals he would compare himself with Augustus, while evoking also the memory of one of Romes best Kings, Numa Pompilius. His wife would be set up as an ideal of Roman matronhood, being declared a goddess upon her death and a great restoration of Roman temples and religion would commence during his reign.
The importance of these comparisons and actions are not underestimated. The dangers of court politics, the need to present oneself as the 'Princeps inter Pares' before a hostile and dangerous aristocracy is ever present given the regiemes flimsy foundations. Antoninus was a relative nobody compared with more respected senators with more pronounced lineages. McHugh highlights these difficulties and tensions very well and they would dominate Antoninus' reign like any emperor before and after him. That he managed to play the 'glass ball game' so well is what marks him out as a great emperor.
McHugh also details Antoninus wars. Far from the ideal zenith of the Pax Romana the difficulties forshadowing the reigns of both Marcus and Lucius were already forming in Antoninus' reign and he proved ultimately unable to solve them. His minor war in northern Britian was calculated to evoke the Julio-Claudian past without risking a long term conflict. Wishful thinking considering it would cause more issues than anticipated in the long term, the details of which were carefully glossed over. Meanwhile troubles along the Danube and Parthian boarders were simply deterred rather than solved, as were revolts in Mauretania. All of these would explode from the onset of his successors reigns.
The emperors dealings with the provinces is covered. His building projects and donations to the cities, especially those of Asia was well documented, as well as the means by which he dealt with embassies. McHugh does an excellent job placing us among Antoninus in his everyday role as emperor and tries to capture his feelings of dispair, frustration, elation and contentment throughout the course of his days, be they in Rome or on his small private country estates.
I would argue that McHugh could have benefitted from more detailed discussion regarding Antoninus' legal work given that reforms did occour during his reign and though some examples are mentioned in relation to his daily work it is overall very general and argueably a missed oppertunity to better understand the emperors feelings towards his subjects. The author also takes the view that Antoninus left a full and healthy tresury at the conclusion of his reign, yet Marcus and Lucis would face financial difficulties from the onset and the author does admit in places that at times the funding provided by Antoninus for building works waas insufficient and the coinage was devlued during his reign. A greater economic discussion relating to his reign would have been benefitical in this regard to at least priovide a glimpse of understadning regarding what was to come.
Interestingly McHugh has neither a formal introduction nor conclusion to his biography of Antoninus, a rare thing for a biography like this. A formal conclusion especially would have been beneficial in summing up the aims of the book and also for a brief overview of the image of Antoninus in later Roman histories and the empire, though doesnt detract from the work overall.
In all I enjoyed this book and though I would have enjoyed it more had it gone into more detail on certain topics as those mentioned above it is still a worthy addition to any library of Roman Emperors. Though his empire would experience great trials after his death, the work of his well groomed adoptive sons would keep Rome afloat in turbulent waters. While many, including the author, criticise Antoninus for his inability in military matters or to look far enough ahead to see the danger until it was too late, I would argue he deserves to be honoured in spite of these short comings. The goal of his Principate was to initiate a new Golden Age of peace and prosperity for his subjects. For most of them this would, theoretically, be reality for at least twenty years in a world normally dominated by conflict. Given the turbulence following his reign it is no wonder historians would look back so fondly on Antoninius for his efforts and his position that the retention of peace was preferrable to war.
September 9, 2025
The Reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius by John McHugh
Summary: After Hadrian's death and his muddy end, the purple passed to a level minded, seemingly honorable man named Antoninus Pius. Chronologically the fourth of Machiavelli's Five Good Emperors, John McHugh explores if Pius truly earn his place alongside Trajan and Hadrian.
What stood out to me about the 23-year reign of Antoninus, is just how quiet his rule appears to be. Stability and status quo defined his rule. But McHugh suggests that this calm image may have been crafted through pro-peace propaganda that downplayed natural disasters, unrest, or regional conflicts.
I think we can also see potential inaction of Pius in order to retain that facade of Pax Romana. This comes at a cost immediately after his death. Under the next dual emperors, Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, the empire faced a flood of "barbarian" invasions and battles with Parthia. I didn’t read this as enemies being scared to strike under Pius, but rather that they were preparing unopposed, waiting until the right moment. Once one frontier erupted, others followed suit, exploiting Rome’s distractions.
Overall, this is a solid read. Some timeline jumps and the sheer number of names can feel off track, but in the end, I came away with exactly what I hoped to learn about an often-overlooked emperor.
Summary: After Hadrian's death and his muddy end, the purple passed to a level minded, seemingly honorable man named Antoninus Pius. Chronologically the fourth of Machiavelli's Five Good Emperors, John McHugh explores if Pius truly earn his place alongside Trajan and Hadrian.
What stood out to me about the 23-year reign of Antoninus, is just how quiet his rule appears to be. Stability and status quo defined his rule. But McHugh suggests that this calm image may have been crafted through pro-peace propaganda that downplayed natural disasters, unrest, or regional conflicts.
I think we can also see potential inaction of Pius in order to retain that facade of Pax Romana. This comes at a cost immediately after his death. Under the next dual emperors, Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, the empire faced a flood of "barbarian" invasions and battles with Parthia. I didn’t read this as enemies being scared to strike under Pius, but rather that they were preparing unopposed, waiting until the right moment. Once one frontier erupted, others followed suit, exploiting Rome’s distractions.
Overall, this is a solid read. Some timeline jumps and the sheer number of names can feel off track, but in the end, I came away with exactly what I hoped to learn about an often-overlooked emperor.
October 23, 2023
At times the author assumes the reader has the same vast working knowledge of historical names that he does, so the text becomes hard to follow. There need to be many more maps in larger print so the reader can follow where the action is taking place.
May 16, 2024
well maybe he was a good emperor but he seems a bit too complacent and lacking foresight.
April 8, 2024
brief on detail
This was a reasonable effort for a biography, however it tends to waffle on about his life through other people. I found it informative but also frustrating because of the man
This was a reasonable effort for a biography, however it tends to waffle on about his life through other people. I found it informative but also frustrating because of the man
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews