Faustina II (130–175)

Roman empress and wife of Marcus Aurelius. Name variations: Annia Galeria Faustina; Faustina Minor; Faustina the Younger; (Greek) Faustina Nea (Faustina the Younger); titled Augusta (Revered), Pia (Pious), Mater Castrorum (Mother of the Camp), and, after her death, Diva (Deified). Pronunciation: Fow-STEEN-ah. Born 130; died in 175 in Halala, later renamed Faustinopolis, in Asia Minor; dau. of Roman emperor Antoninus Pius (r. 138–161) and Faustina I (c. 90–141); m. her cousin Marcus Annius Verus, later the emperor Marcus Aurelius (r. 161–180), in 145; children—14: Domitia Faustina (b. 147); the twins T. Aurelius Antoninus and T. Aelius Aurelius (b. 149); Lucilla (Annia Aurelia Galeria Lucilla, b. 150); Faustina III (Annia Aurelia Galeria Faustina, b. 151), T. Aelius Antoninus (b. 152); Fadilla (Arria Fadilla, b. 159); Cornificia (b. 160); her 2nd set of twins T. Aurelius Fulvus (also called Antoninus) and the future emperor L. Aurelius Commodus (b. Aug 31, 161); M. Annius Verus (b. 162); Hadrianus (date of birth unknown); Vibia Aurelia Sabina (b. 166); and an unnamed son (birth date unknown).

Reared in the imperial household (138–145); betrothed in childhood to Lucius Aurelius Commodus (later the co-emperor Verus) but married Marcus Aurelius (April 145); given the title Augusta by the Senate (147); gave birth to 14 children (147–166); accompanied Marcus to war (174); implicated in the revolt of Avidius Cassius (174); died in Halala, later renamed Faustinopolis, in Asia Minor, while accompanying Marcus on campaign, and deified by the Senate (175); commemorated on scores of surviving inscriptions, coin-issues, and statues throughout the Roman Empire (147–176).

See also Women in World History.