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On this day in AD 121, the emperor Marcus Aurelius was born

Born on the 26th of April 121, he was born Marcus Annius Verus to a relatively inconspicuous father of the same name who died as praetor-designate in 124, when his son was only three years old.

On this day in 359, the emperor Gratian was born

He reigned for eight years as junior emperor and another eight years as the senior emperor of the West. And, on the 3rd October 382, Gratian saved the Roman Empire…

On this day in 195 Julia Domna was awarded the title mater castrorum

Who was this woman, and what is the significance of her title?

On this day the Roman emperor Septimius Severus was born

Lucius Septimius Severus was born on 11 April, AD 145 or 146, in Leptis Magna in modern day Libya, the first emperor to be born in Africa.

A coin of Pontius Pilate for Easter

Everyone has heard of Pontius Pilate: but what do ancient sources outside the Bible tell us about him?