Faustina Senior Empress 138-140 AD Wife of Antoninus Pius Died 140 AD Faustina Senior was Antoninus Pius’s wife. They were married before his accession in 110 AD. Faustina was the daughter of the Consul Marcus Annius Verus and Rupilla Faustina. She was born in Rome before the reign of Trajan. Faustina bore four children: two […]

Antoninus Pius 138 – 161 AD Born 86 – Died 161 AD, Age 75 Titus Aurelius Fulvua Boionius Arrius Antoninus, known to history as Antoninus Pius, was born of a good family in Nimes in the Gallia Narbonensis region (Southern France). Several members of his family had served as consuls of Rome, which enabled him […]

Aelius Caesar As Caesar, 136 – 138 AD In 136 AD, Hadrian was in failing health and chose that moment to select his successor. Hadrian chose Lucius Ceionius Commodus, and upon his adoption, his name was changed to Lucius Aelius Caesar. Aelius was the son of a powerful senatorial family who came to the attention […]

Antinous  Lover of Hadrian Antinous was the homosexual lover and companion of Emperor Hadrian (117-138AD). Nothing is known of his origin or age. Antinous was a Bithynian Greek youth who Hadrian became attracted to. He perhaps caught Hadrian’s eye on his trip to Bithynia about 123AD. Hadrian then took him to Rome, where he was […]

Sabina Wife of Hadrian Died 137 AD Vibia Sabina was the daughter of Matidia and grandniece of Trajan. At the prompting of Trajan’s wifePlotina, the marriage of Sabina to Hadrian took place in 100 AD without the full support of Trajan himself. The families of Trajan and Hadrian were already linked in the past since Trajan’s father was the brother of Hadrian’s […]

Hadrian 117-138 AD Born January 24th, 76 – Died 138 AD, Age 62 Publius Aelius Hadrianus, was born in Rome on January 24th, 76 AD although his family had settled in Italica (Spain) nearly 300 years prior when that region was first opened to Roman colonists. In 86 AD, Hadrian lost his father at the […]

Trajan Pater Died 100 AD The Father of Trajan died in 100 AD. He was also related to Hadrian since he was the brother of Hadrian’s grandfather. Out of respect for his family, Trajan issued commemorative coinage for most members of his family following their death. He honored his father both in sculpture as well as […]

Matidia Niece of Trajan Mother-in-law of Hadrian (68-119AD) Matidia was the daughter of Ulpia Marciana (older sister of Trajan) and C. Salonius Matidius Patriunus. Her father died in 78 AD and her mother became a devoted supporter of her brother, Emperor Trajan. She was given the rank of Augusta, which she shared with Trajan’s wife […]

Ulpia Marciana Older sister of Trajan Born 48 AD – Died 114 AD Ulpia Marciana was the older sister of Trajan born in 48 AD. She was married to Gaius Salonius Matidius Patruinus, who was apparently a wealthy man and had served as a praetor before becoming a senator. They had a daughter Salonia Matidia, who was born on July 4th, […]

Plotina Wife of Trajan Born 70 AD – Died 129 AD Pompeia Plotina was born in Nemausus (Nimes) in Gaul around 70 AD. Plotina married Trajan before he was elevated to the throne and apparently never bore any children. She was famed for her simplicity, dignity, and virtue and the historian Cassio Dio tells us […]