this post was submitted on 12 Oct 2025
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Explanation: Roman Emperors, both by the nature of men in power and the needs of the job, generally made a lot of fucking enemies, both contemporary and in the recollections of history.
Antoninus Pius is a rare exception, a man who came to power by uncontroversial means (being chosen as a successor by Emperor Hadrian for his integrity), ruling through a period of uninterrupted peace, prosperity, and legal reform, having few vices and living a simple and unextravagant life, and then handing power over to a well-regarded emperor (Marcus Aurelius, and, less importantly, his adoptive brother Lucius Verus). By the recollections of those who lived after his rule, his mildness and attention towards public good and infrastructure was highly regarded, and in his personal life, Pius was likewise uncontroversial, and his adoptive sons and their tutor remembered him as a kind man who enjoyed the simple pleasures - fishing, comedy, theatre, watching boxing matches.
We love Emperor Pius in this house!
Heh, unlike popes of similar names, it sounds like this guy actually embodied "pius." Great share, Pug!
He also implemented the legal standard of "Innocent until proven guilty", implemented new protections for slaves, instituted a preference for assuming freedom rather than slavery when a person's status was in question, and reduced the applicability of torture against slaves during judicial trials (reduced, not eliminated, because the past is still a REALLY shitty place). He respected the Senate and ruled with them as a partner, separated the personal wealth of the Emperor from the Empire's treasury (didn't last, but it was a nice thought), and mandated records to be kept of interrogations that were to be used in trials to reduce fraud on the part of prosecutors and magistrates.
As far as pre-modern autocrats go, he's probably as wholesome as one could wish for without looking for an outright revolutionary.
Interesting enough, he was given the title "Pius" by the Senate after he was appointed Emperor, because of his actions towards his adoptive father, Emperor Hadrian, even rushing to stop him from committing suicide and physically supporting him when he had trouble standing. After Hadrian's death the Senate, who never liked Hadrian all that much (and the feeling was mutual on Hadrian's part), was eager to move on from Hadrian's rule; Antoninus, however, insisted on honoring his adoptive father in the traditional way.
Because of this, while the Senate was not thrilled at honoring Hadrian, it was seen as a remarkably filial thing for a man to do who could have very easily garnered political support by simply refraining from doing so. As Roman society valued respect for one's father (adoptive or otherwise) very highly, the Senate bestowed on him the name 'Pius' - 'Morally Dutiful'.