Faustina the Younger
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Annia Galeria Faustina Minor (Minor Latin for the younger), Faustina Minor or Faustina the Younger (February 16 between 125-130-175) 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, 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 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. However, her husband trusted her and defended her vigorously against these claims. The ancient historians either misunderstood her or were prejudice towards her.
Faustina and Aurelius seem to have been very close and devoted to each other. Faustina came from a family who believed in ethics and values. This beautiful woman, seem to have been respected by all.
Faustina accompanied her husband on various military campaigns. The Roman soldiers loved and revered her and was given the title of Matri 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. The Baths of Faustina in Miletus are named after her.
In the 30 year marriage to her maternal cousin, Faustina had bore various children to Aurelius and they were:
- Annia Aurelia Galeria Faustina (147-after 165)
- Gemellus Lucillae (died around 150) and his younger twin sister Annia Aurelia Galeria Lucilla (148/50-182), 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 (born 152, died before 7 March 161)
- Domitia Faustina (born after 150, died before 7 March 161)
- Fadilla (born 159, died after 192)
- Annia Cornificia Faustina Minor (born 160, died during the reign of Emperor Caracalla reigned 211-217)
- Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus (161-165) and his twin brother Commodus, later emperor (161-192)
- Marcus Annius Verus Caesar (162-169)
- Vibia Aurelia Sabina (170-died before 217)
[edit] Sources:
- http://www.crystalinks.com/romewomen2.html
- 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
