The Apologists · AD 130–180 · External witness
Emperor Antoninus Pius
d. AD 161 · Roman Emperor (138–161) · Rome
External witness
Who Emperor Antoninus Pius was
The emperor to whom Justin Martyr addressed his First Apology by name — “to the Emperor Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Pius Augustus Caesar… I, Justin, present this address and petition.” His reign was, for the church, comparatively mild, and the apologists appealed to his celebrated equity to ask only for justice: judge us by our conduct, not by the name. A rescript to the province of Asia protecting Christians circulated under his name (its authenticity debated). The father, by adoption, of Marcus Aurelius, under whom the mildness ended.
Also listed in non-christian witnesses and roman emperors.
Common questions
When did Emperor Antoninus Pius die?
Emperor Antoninus Pius is dated d. AD 161 in the archive, which places Emperor Antoninus Pius in the Apologists (AD 130–180).
What did Emperor Antoninus Pius write?
Emperor Antoninus Pius has 1 catalogued writing in the archive: Rescript to the Commune of Asia (attributed; almost certainly spurious).
Which early sources mention Emperor Antoninus Pius?
Emperor Antoninus Pius is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Justin Martyr and Melito of Sardis. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Emperor Antoninus Pius from?
The archive associates Emperor Antoninus Pius with Rome.
Writings (1)
Rescript to the Commune of Asia (attributed; almost certainly spurious)
as transmitted, c. AD 150sIf any one persists in bringing accusation against any of these merely as a Christian, let the accused be acquitted, and the accuser be liable to punishment.Read the interlinear source text →
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
First Apology 1
c. AD 155To the Emperor Titus Aelius Adrianus Antoninus Pius Augustus Caesar… I, Justin, the son of Priscus… present this address and petition on behalf of those of all nations who are unjustly hated and wantonly abused, myself being one of them.Justin Martyr · 1 · source text
Melito, via Ecclesiastical History IV.26 (his letters to the cities on behalf of the Christians)
c. AD 170Thy father, when thou also wast ruling with him, wrote to the cities, forbidding them to take any new measures against us.Melito of Sardis · Ecclesiastical History IV.26 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 95 · Domitian’s reprisals, AD 95
- AD 96 · Rome writes to Corinth: 1 Clement, AD 96
- AD 112 · Pliny writes Trajan, AD 112
- AD 117 · Symeon and Ignatius martyred, AD 117
- AD 135 · Bar Kokhba crushed; Aelia Capitolina, AD 135
- AD 144 · Marcion expelled at Rome, AD 144
- AD 156 · The New Prophecy erupts, AD 156
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Emperor Antoninus Pius.
- 1Rome