15 ANTONINUS PIUS (74; r.138-161)
North Africa
In 145 it was decided to open the Saltus Aurasius (Aures Mountains, northeast Algeria), which was apparently a hideaway for bandits, by building a road across the hills behind the legionary base at Lambaesis. Progress was slow because of the presence of the bandits. By 150 the brigands had been driven westwards and taken refuge in Mauretania, where they combined with the tribes in the hills of the Atlas Mountains and organised a resistance to the Roman forces. Reinforcements were brought in from other provinces and by 152 the rebels had been defeated and a peace agreed.
Egypt
Egypt was of the utmost importance to the Romans as a major producer of grain for the Empire. Heavy taxation, the demand for compulsory contributions and perhaps the imposition of forced labour by the Romans culminated in an armed uprising in 152. When the grain supply to Rome was interrupted, Antoninus had to personally intervene and the revolt was suppressed by military force.
Rhine-Danube Frontier (158) [3/5]
In the late 150s Antoninus ordered an extension of territory of some nineteen miles (30 km) eastward in Germania Superior by the construction of a new outer limes. After a revolt in 158, Dacia Superior (north and central) was divided into two provinces: Dacia Porolissensis (north), with the camp at Porolissum being rebuilt in stone, and Dacia Apulensis (central). Dacia Inferior (south) became known as Dacia Malvensis (south). There was a senatorial governor of Apulensis at its capital, Apulum (Alba Julia), whereas Apulensis and Porolissensis were governed by procurators of equestrian rank.
Antoninus died at Lorium near Rome on 7 March 161. Marcus Aurelius, the eldest of his adoptive sons, had been effectively deputy-emperor for over thirteen years, but at the meeting of the Senate he refused to accept the position unless equal powers were conferred on Lucius Verus.
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