Why was Antonius Pius important to Rome?

Answer 1

Antoninus Pius is seen as one of the Five Good Emperors, the best rulers Rome ever had. His reign was one of the most peaceful ones in the history of the Roman Empire. There were only disturbances in northern Morocco, Judea, Britannia and Dacia (Romania). He dealt with them in a stern manner and when needed, the strengthened the authority of the provincial governor. He undertook the conquest of southern Scotland and built the Antonine Wall there. He advanced the frontier in Germania by 15 miles and strengthened it fortifications. He did this without ever leading an army or leaving Italy. He just sent letters with instructions for his generals.

Antoninus had a keen interest in the law and reformed legislation on the basis of his concerns regarding humanity and equality. He introduced the principle that the accused were not to be treated as guilty before a trial and that a trial and the punishment had to be held in the place where the crime had been committed into Roman law. He reduced the use of torture and banned the torture of children below the age of 14. He also made the emancipation of slaves easier. He promoted art and science and was a patron of teachers of rhetoric and philosophy. He built theatres, temples and mausoleums. He was a very benign and wise ruler. His style of government was highly praised in his time and by later generations.

Many modern historians have a positive view of his rule. However, historian John Bury has a less favourable view of Antoninus Pius. He said that he was not a great statesman and that the peace of his reign was more than to the work done by his predecessor, Hadrian, than to his merit, that his policy of peace came to a price to the empire after his reign, that he had no originality and no initiative and that he failed to further develop Hadrian's good policies.