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Here is a simple WI in keeping the recent spate of Roman threads that we've had. WI Marcus Aurelius dies sometime in the 150s AD ? During this period an aging Antoninus Pius had Marcus follow him around all day teaching him the ins and outs of administering the empire. If say the studious Marcus dies due to maybe an early breakout of the Anotnine Plague, what will Pius' reaction be with regards to succession ? Will he go with his other adopted son and future OTL co-emperor Lucius Verrus or will he decided on someone else completely.

Its pretty obvious that Pius didn't approve of Verrus' favourite pastimes of hunting, gambling and going to the chariot races. That being said Verrus wasn't a full-blown irresponsible hedonist with megalomaniacal tendencies like say Commodus or Nero. In fact when he wasn't busy cheering on the greens, Lucius actually did occasionally take an interest in his duties although his level of competency wasn't all that spectacular.

So do you think that maybe his elder brother's death might finally force Lucius to grow up ? Would this be enough to convince Pius to decalre him Caesar? Or would Pius have sent the still insufferable brat off to some Province or Legionary camp were he could learn about life outside of his pampered existence in the imperial court ? What would the effects be on the how Rome's enemies perceive her in TTL in particular Parthia ?

So please do reply! What do you think would have happened if we had had no Stoic emperor ?
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