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Antonia's enmity by scheming for the throne. In the process of trying to fulfill his ambitions, he murdered
Drusus the Younger (see DRUSUS [3]), Tiberius' son and the husband of Livilla.
By 31 A.D., Sejanus had few overt opponents. Antonia, however, sent Tiberius a letter of warning,
delivered by her most trusted freedman, PALLAS. Tiberius believed the warning and began the intrigue
necessary to bring Sejanus into custody. The prefect died as a result of his crimes, but the episode
uncovered yet another schemer within the royal family. Apicata, the former wife of Sejanus, implicated
Livilla, who had been Sejanus's mistress, in the murder of Drusus the Younger. Tiberius did not move
against Livilla, partly out of respect for Antonia. Dio reported that Antonia imprisoned Livilla, who
either starved to death or killed herself because she knew there was no escape from that formidable jailer.
Late in Antonia's life, after Livia's death, her orphaned grandchildren GAIUS CALIGULA and
DRUSILLA were in her custody. She entertained several eastern client princes, including Herod
AGRIPPA i. Gaius did not forget Antonia's kindness. When elevated to the throne, he gave her the title
Augusta. Antonia, however, is believed to have committed suicide.
¤ ANTONIA (2) (fl. early 1st century A.D.) Elder sister of Antonia (1), a daughter of Marc ANTONY and
OCTAVIA. Although overshadowed by her sister, the elder Antonia possessed the same sense of duty and
devotion, the lasting gift of their mother. She was, in her own way, responsible for placing a descendant on
the throne of Rome.
Her marriage to L. Domitius Ahenobarbus resulted in the birth of C. Domitius
Ahenobarbus, the father of NERO.
¤ ANTONIA (3) (fl. mid-lst century A.D.) Daughter of CLAUDIUS and his second wife, Aelia Paetina.
¤ ANTONINES The dynasty that began with the
reign of ANTONINUS PIUS (138 A.D.) and ended
with the death of COMMODUS in 192; during this time Rome achieved the greatest heights of power,
glory, material accomplishments and stability that it would ever know. Emperor HADRIAN (117-138
A.D.) actually founded the line by ensuring the adoption of Antoninus Pius and the subsequent adoption of
Marcus Aurelius. The emperors involved were: Antoninus Pius (138-161); Marcus Aurelius (161-
180), co-ruled with Lucius Verus (161-169); and Commodus (177-192). The dynasty ended with the
assassination of Commodus. The subsequent chaos established a pattern of deterioration from which Rome
never fully recovered. See individual entries for the emperors and PRAETORIAN GUARD;
DIDIUS JULIANUS; PERTINAX; SEVERUS, SEPTIMIUS.
¤ ANTONINE WALL See WALL OF ANTONINUS.