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Message:: [QUOTE="corvusconstantius, post: 8027261, member: 123797"]I think part of it as well is the tendency for confusion. Caracalla and Elagabalus proper names are "Antoninus" and they are called such in Cassius Dio and on coins which isn't very helpful when engaging in general discussion, therefore a unique name for them helps avoiding confusion. Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus is the same, all of those names could cause confusion so the nickname is used despite Suetonius etc. calling him Gaius. We know that Hadrian was known as the "Greekling" due to his philhellenism, but Hadrian was an appropriate enough unique identifier. Antoninus is also often referred to by his title of "Pius". Even on Decius commemorative coinage.  Constantius "Chlorus" is another. Maximinus "Thrax" is another one, although this could be legitimate or may be to emphasise his "barbarian" origin by the senatorial class.[/QUOTE]