Faustina the Younger

Annia Galeria Faustina ( born February 16, 130, † 176 in Halala, Cappadocia ), called to distinguish them from their eponymous mother Faustina the Younger, was the wife of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

Life

Faustina was probably born as a daughter of the future emperor Antoninus Pius and Faustina the elder about the year 130. At the direction of the emperor Hadrian, it was engaged on February 25, 138 with Lucius Verus. After Hadrian's death, this compound was solved and Faustina engaged to Marcus Aurelius. At the latest in April 145 was followed by the marriage. On this occasion, coins were minted with double portraits of the couple and the city of Roman plebs received a congiarium. The couple had in the years to at least 14 children together (the last daughter was born 170 ), of which, however, very few survived their parents. On coins we praised the fecunditas (fertility) of the Empress. After the birth of the first daughter ( Domitia Faustina, born November 30, 147) it was raised to Augusta. The everyday life of the family was always an exchange of letters between Marcus Aurelius and Fronto, so that to this day many details are known about it. Her daughter Lucilla 161 was with her former fiance Lucius Verus, co-regent of the Marcus Aurelius, engaged, 164 finally took place the marriage. The most famous child of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina was the future emperor Commodus.

During the Marcomanni wars Faustina accompanied her husband and lived in Carnuntum, since there were rumors of alleged affairs with men (especially gladiators ). At the trial of Herod Atticus apparently they took influence on the course of the process. After the victory over the Quadi and probably as an excuse for the enforced stay on the Danube was 174 honored with the title mater castrorum.

According to credible reports of Cassius Dio and the Historia Augusta took Faustina contact with the Roman governor of Syria, Avidius Cassius, in order to make him an offer to marry him in the event of her husband's death, and so to help the Emperor shank him. As a false report of the death of Marcus Aurelius came to Syria, a rebellion broke out there, but which collapsed after only a few months. Nevertheless, Marcus Aurelius now embarked on the path to the trouble spot and Faustina accompanied him. On this journey, she died at the end 175/Anfang 176 in a small village in Cappadocia, which was renamed in honor of her Marcus Aurelius in Faustinopolis.

The Senate rose Faustina after her death to the diva. Also on coins of her death was thought. As her mother became her memory a Alimentarstiftung - novae Puellae Faustinianae - furnished. These measures were - not least because of rumors concerning the reputation Faustina - probably initiated aware of Marcus Aurelius. Even if you read the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, one must assume that the grief and the feelings to his wife were real. Other sources paint a rather negative picture of her.