Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic's Wife: Faustina the Younger

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the life and legacy of Faustina the Younger, wife of Marcus Aurelius and one of the most maligned women in Roman history. Drawing on Cassius Dio, the Historia Augusta, and recent scholarship, they examine the rumors of adultery, her role in the Avidius Cassius uprising, and her influence on Marcus's reign. They discuss Faustina's travels with the emperor on the Danube front, her title Mater Castrorum, and her death near Halala in Cappadocia. Lucas unpacks how later historians portrayed her as a schemer, while Marcus's Meditations suggest genuine affection. The conversation also touches on her daughter Lucilla and the legacy of the Antonine women. Fresh angle: rather than rehashing scandal, they focus on Faustina's political agency and the challenge of reconstructing her story from hostile sources. #FaustinaTheYounger #MarcusAurelius #Stoicism #RomanEmpire #AntonineDynasty #AvidiusCassius #MaterCastrorum #CassiusDio #HistoriaAugusta #Lucilla #Cappadocia #Danube #Halala #Meditations #RomanWomen #History #FexingoHistory #AncientRome Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo