Antoninus Pius

138 - 161

Antoninus succeeded Hadrian once the latter's death and gained the "Pius" suffix after his goodwill in securing a Senate proclamation consecrating Hadrian. Through a combination of good luck and an even-keeled, frugal personality, he was able to pull off the most exemplary and peaceful reign of any emperor before or since. He was more interested in modernizing Roman law and its infrastructure than on waging wars of conquest. After his death he was consecrated himself and the empire started another slide into troubled times.