DIO’S ROMAN HISTORY

77

Antoninus begins his reign by having various persons assassinated, among them his brother Geta (chapters 1-3).

Cruelty of Antoninus toward Papinianus, Cilo, and others (chapters 4-6).

Antoninus as emulator of Alexander of Macedon (chapters 7, 8).

His levies and extravagance (chapters 9-11).

His treachery toward Abgarus of Osrhoene, toward the Armenian king, the Parthian king, and the Germans (chapters 12, 13).

The Cenni conquer Antoninus in battle (chapter 14).

He strives to drive out his disease of mind by consulting spirits and oracles (chapter 15).

Slaughter of vestals, insults to the senate, demise of others contrary to his mother’s wishes (chapters 16-18).

Antoninus’s Parthian war (chapters 19-21).

Massacres of Alexandrians caused by Antoninus (chapters 22-24).

DURATION OF TIME.

Q. Epidius Rufus Lollianus Gentianus, Pomponius Bassus (A.D. 211 = a. u. 964 = First of Antoninus, from Feb. 4th).

C. Iulius Asper (II), C. Iulius Asper. (A.D. 212 = a.u. 965 = Second of Antoninus.)

Antoninus Aug. (IV), D. Coelius Balbinus (II). (A.D. 213 = a.u. 966 = Third of Antoninus.)

Silius Messala, Sabinus. (A.D. 214 = a.u. 967 = Fourth of Antoninus.)

Laetus (II), Cerealis. (A.D. 215 = a.u. 968 = Fifth of Antoninus.)

C. Attius Sabinus (II), Cornelius Annullinus. (A.D. 216 = a.u. 969 = Sixth of Antoninus.)

(BOOK 78, BOISSEVAIN.)

[Sidenote:  A.D. 211 (a.u. 964)] [Sidenote:—­1—­] After this Antoninus secured the entire power.  Nominally he ruled with his brother, but in reality alone and at once.  With the enemy he came to terms, withdrew from their country, and abandoned the forts.  But his own people he either dismissed (as Papinianus the prefect) or else killed (as Euodus, his nurse, Castor, and his wife Plautilla, and the latter’s brother Plautius).  In Rome itself he also executed a man who was renowned for no other reason than his profession, which made him very conspicuous.  This was Euprepes, the charioteer; he killed him when the man dared to show enthusiasm for a cause that the emperor opposed.  So Euprepes died in old age after having been crowned in an endless number of horse-races.  He had won seven hundred and eighty-two of them,—­a record equaled by none other.

Antoninus had first had the desire to murder his brother while his father was still alive, but had been unable to do so at that time because of Severus, or later, on the road, because of the legions.  The men felt very kindly toward the younger son, especially because in appearance he was the very image of his father.  But when Antoninus arrived in Rome, he got rid of this rival also.  The two pretended to love and commend each other, but their actions