Faustina the elder
Annia Galeria Faustina or Faustina the Elder (Latin, Annia Galeria Faustina; 105 (or 98 according to other sources) - 140) was a Roman Empress and wife of the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius.
Biography
He came from a noble Roman family of Hispanic origin. She was the daughter of the consul Marco Annio Vero and Rupilia Faustina. Around 110-115 she married the future Emperor Antoninus Pius with whom she had two sons and two daughters, they were as follows:
- Marco Aurelio Fulvio Antonino (m. in 138). An inscription has been found in his grave at the Mausoleum of Adriano in Rome.
- Marco Galerio Aurelio Antonino (m. in 138). An inscription has been found in his grave at the Mausoleum of Adriano in Rome. Its name appears in a Greek imperial coin.
- Aurelia Fadila (m. in 135), married Lucio Lamia Silvano, consul in 145. It doesn't seem like children were born out of this marriage. His grave was found in Italy.
- Annia Galeria Faustina Minor or Faustina the Minor (125/130-175), future empress, married to the emperor Marco Aurelio. It was the only child of the emperor who lived to see Antonino and Faustina elevated to the imperial rank.
With her husband's accession to the imperial throne, she was named Augusta.
Although the Historia Augustina characterizes it as "too frank" the marriage seems to have been happy.
After her death in 140 or 141 she was consecrated and buried in Hadrian's mausoleum. In her forum, a temple was built for her worship, which today is a church dedicated to San Lorenzo.
In addition, a charitable foundation was created with his name, the Puellae Faustinianae, which took care of the daughters of the poor in Rome.
Coins of Faustina the Greater as "DIVA FAUSTINA" They are among the most sought after of the Roman Empresses.