The Early Life of Marcus Aurelius - The Pax Romana Podcast 048

Antoninus Pius was apparently a great emperor, but we know very little details about his reign. Instead, he is remembered as the emperor who prepared the way for his successor, Marcus Aurelius--one of the most famous emperors in all of Roman history. But Hadrian had put in place two successors, not one, for Antonine Pius. How did Antoninus balance his obvious preferences for Marcus Aurelius while also honoring the wishes of Hadrian?