The Life and Times of Antoninus Pius

Antoninus was the son of Titus Aurelius Follvis, who served as consol under Domitian in 89. The full-the-eye branch of the Aurelians had emerged during the early imperial period and were one of the leading families of non-Italian origin. He married Ania Galaria Faustina, granddaughter of Hadrian's friend Marcus Anius Verus. When Hadrian became emperor in 117, he found himself on the fringes of the imperial court by virtue of his relation to Verus. In 120, Antoninus was given a consulship, and later chosen to be one of the four pro-curators who governed Italy after Hadrian