Gnaeus Arrius Antoninus

Who is Gnaeus Arrius Antoninus?

Gnaeus Arrius Antoninus was a member of the Arrius family. The family were of consular rank.

Antoninus was a friend and correspondent to Roman Senator and historian Pliny the Younger. Augustan History describes him as a ‘righteous person' and he pitied Nerva when he became Roman Emperor in 96.

Antoninus was twice consul, the first was in 69 and the second is at an unknown date. Antoninus married a Roman woman called Boionia Procilla. They had two daughters, Arria Antonina who married the Roman Senator Lucius Junius Caesennius Paetus, by whom she had a son called Lucius Caesennius Antoninus. Their other daughter was Arria Fadilla, married Titus Aurelius Fulvus, who was a consul in 89. Their only child a son, who became future Roman Emperor Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Arrius Antoninus Pius. Antoninus Pius' father died when he was young. Fadilla married Publius Julius Lupus, Suffect Consul in 98 and bore him two daughters Julia Fadilla and Arria Lupula.

Antoninus raised his grandson and when he died, Antoninus Pius inherited his money. Through the inheritances of both sides, Antoninus Pius became one of the wealthiest men in Rome.