(A.D. 161 -192) Emperor of Rome, son of Marcus Aurelius, last of the Antonine Emperors. Became Imperator and coequal with his father in 177. His rule was chiefly identified with both increasing prosecution of the Christians and the level of despotism. He gave himself over to pleasure and left the running of the empire mostly in the hands of the army. On Dec. 31, 192 his concubine, Marcia, his chamberlain, Eclectus and the praetorian prefect, Laetus had him strangled by a wrestler named, Narcissus -- note the irony.