In 138 AD Hadrian passed away and Antoninus Pius became Emperor of Rome. His reign lasted 23 years, and was marked by unbroken peace throughout - something unheard of before or since in the unsettled times of Imperial Rome. His untroubled rule allowed the 150,000,000 people living in the Roman Empire to trade and cultivate the land in peace, and as a result the Empire reached new heights of splendour. He was succeeded by Marcus Aurelius, whose wisdom and gentle character gave Rome another 19 years of good government.

"The two Antonines governed the Roman world forty-two years, with the same invariable spirit of wisdom and virtue....  Their united reigns are possibly the only period of history in which the happiness of a great people was the sole object of government."

"In my father I observed mildness of temper, and unchangeable resolution in the things which he had determined after due deliberation; and no vainglory in those things which men call honours; and a love of labour and perseverance; and a readiness to listen to those who had anything to propose for the common good; and undeviating firmness in giving to every man according to his deserts; and a knowledge derived from experience of the occasions for vigorous action and for remission."

"With such care did he govern all peoples under him that he looked after all things and all men as if they were his own. As a result, the provinces all prospered in his reign, informers were abolished, the confiscation of goods was less frequent than ever before, and only one man was condemned as guilty of aspiring to the throne."

"He was a man of steady and sound morals, which was clearly shown in that his character was corrupted neither by unbroken peace nor prolonged idleness, so much so that at length the cities were as fortunate as if they had been realms of wisdom."

"aequanimitas" (equanimity) were the last words spoken by Antoninus Pius before he died; it was in reply to the guard on duty, who asked him for that day’s watchword.