Faustina the Younger

Antonine dynasty


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Annia Galeria Faustina Minor ("Minor" Latin for "the younger"), Faustina Minor or Faustina the Younger (February 16 between 125 and 130-175) was a daughter of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius and Roman Empress Faustina the Elder. She was a Roman Empress and wife to her maternal cousin Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. She was the namesake of her mother. Faustina from her parent’s marriage was the youngest and the fourth child, second daughter and the only one who survived to adulthood from her siblings. She was born and raised in Rome.

Her great uncle Roman Emperor Hadrian had arranged with her father for Faustina to marry Lucius Verus. On February 25 138, she was engaged to Lucius Verus. Verus’ father was Hadrian’s first adopted son and intended successor for the emperor’s throne. However when Verus’ father died, Hadrian adopted Faustina’s father as his second adopted son and eventually, he became Hadrian’s successor. Faustina’s father had ended the engagement between his daughter and Verus. Her father had arranged for Faustina to be engaged to her maternal cousin Marcus Aurelius and Aurelius was adopted by her father. On May 13 145, Faustina married Marcus Aurelius. When her father died 7 March 161, her husband and Lucius Verus had succeeded her father’s throne and ruled the empire as co-ruler Roman Emperors. She was given the title of "Augusta" and became empress.

Unfortunately, not much has survived from the Roman sources regarding the life of Faustina. The Roman sources don’t give a good perception of her. Cassius Dio and the "Augustan History" have accused Faustina of ordering deaths of people by poison and by execution and also has been reputed to instigate the revolt of Avidius Cassius against by husband. Augustan History mentions stories of adultery with sailors, gladiators and also men of rank. Faustina and Aurelius seem to have been very close and devoted to each other. Her husband trusted her and defended her vigorously against these claims.

Faustina accompanied her husband on various military campaigns. The Roman soldiers loved and revered her and was given the title of "Mater Castrorum" or "Mother of the Camp" by Aurelius. She attempted to make her home out of an army camp. Between 170-174, Faustina was in the north and then in 175 had gone to the east on campaigns with Aurelius. The years spent travelling on military campaigns, had taken its toll on Faustina and she died in the winter of 175, from an accident. Faustina died at the military camp in Halala, (a city in the Taurus Mountains in Cappadocia).

When she died, Aurelius grieved much for his wife. Faustina was buried in the Mausoleum of Hadrian in Rome, she was deified; her statue was placed in the Temple of Venus in Rome; a temple was dedicated to her in her honor; Halala’s name was changed to "Faustinopolis" and Aurelius opened charity schools for orphan girls called "Puellae Faustinianae" or "Girls of Faustina". ["Historia Augusta", Life of Marcus Aurelius [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Historia_Augusta/Marcus_Aurelius/2*.html#26 26.4-9] .] The Baths of Faustina in Miletus are named after her.

In their thirty years of marriage, Faustina bore Marcus Aurelius thirteen children:
#Annia Aurelia Galeria Faustina (147-after 165)
#Gemellus Lucillae (died around 150), twin brother of Lucilla
#Annia Aurelia Galeria Lucilla (148/50-182), twin sister of Gemellus, married her father's co-ruler Lucius Verus
#Titus Aelius Antoninus (born after 150, died before 7 March 161)
#Titus Aelius Aurelius (born after 150, died before 7 March 161)
#Hadrianus (152-157)
#Domitia Faustina (born after 150, died before 7 March 161)
#Fadilla (159-after 211)
#Annia Cornificia Faustina Minor (160-after 211)
#Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus (161-165), twin brother of Commodus
#Commodus (161-192), twin brother of Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus, later emperor
#Marcus Annius Verus Caesar (162-169)
#Vibia Aurelia Sabina (170-died before 217)

Footnotes

References

"Scriptores Historiae Augustae", Julius Capitolinus, "Marcus Antoninis xix.1-9, xxvi.4-5, 7-9, xxix.1-3"

ources

* http://www.livius.org/fa-fn/faustina/faustina_ii.html
* http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Annia_Galeria_Faustina
* http://www.forumancientcoins.com/historia/coins/r3/r1321.htm
* http://www.roman-emperors.org/marcaur.htm
* http://www.johnbmcnamara.com/cpr027.htm
* http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Faustina%20Junior