Who Was Marcus Aurelius?:
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus) was a Stoic philosopher and one of the 5 good Roman emperors (r. A.D. 161-180) who was born on April 26 (or 6 or 21), A.D.121. His philosophical writings are known as the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. He was considered the last of the five good emperors and was succeeded by his son the infamous Roman emperor Commodus. It was during the reign of Marcus Aurelius that the Marcomannic War broke out.
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus) was a Stoic philosopher and one of the 5 good Roman emperors (r. A.D. 161-180) who was born on April 26 (or 6 or 21), A.D.121. His philosophical writings are known as the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. He was considered the last of the five good emperors and was succeeded by his son the infamous Roman emperor Commodus. It was during the reign of Marcus Aurelius that the Marcomannic War broke out.
Occupation: Ruler
Family of Marcus Aurelius:
Marcus Aurelius, originally Marcus Annius Verus, was the son of Annius Verus, a consular of Spanish origins who was given patrician rank by Vespasian, and Domitia Calvilla or Lucilla. His father died when he was three months old at which time his grandfather adopted him. Titus Antoninus Pius adopted Marcus Aurelius when he was 17 or 18 as part of the agreement with Hadrian under which Antoninus Pius was adopted as heir.
Marcus Aurelius, originally Marcus Annius Verus, was the son of Annius Verus, a consular of Spanish origins who was given patrician rank by Vespasian, and Domitia Calvilla or Lucilla. His father died when he was three months old at which time his grandfather adopted him. Titus Antoninus Pius adopted Marcus Aurelius when he was 17 or 18 as part of the agreement with Hadrian under which Antoninus Pius was adopted as heir.
Career of Marcus Aurelius:
The Augustan History says that it was when Marcus was adopted as heir that he was first called "Aurelius" instead of "Annius." Antoninus Pius made Marcus consul and caesar in A.D. 139. In 145, he married Faustina, daughter of Pius, had a daughter and was then granted tribunician power and imperium outside Rome. When Antoninus Pius died, the Senate handed on his power to Marcus Aurelius. Marcus Aurelius gave joint power to his brother and called him Lucius Aurelius Verus Commodus. The two brothers are referred to as Antonines.
Marcus Aurelius ruled from A.D. 161-180.
The Augustan History says that it was when Marcus was adopted as heir that he was first called "Aurelius" instead of "Annius." Antoninus Pius made Marcus consul and caesar in A.D. 139. In 145, he married Faustina, daughter of Pius, had a daughter and was then granted tribunician power and imperium outside Rome. When Antoninus Pius died, the Senate handed on his power to Marcus Aurelius. Marcus Aurelius gave joint power to his brother and called him Lucius Aurelius Verus Commodus. The two brothers are referred to as Antonines.
Marcus Aurelius ruled from A.D. 161-180.
Imperial Hotspots:
- Syria
- Armenia (Marcus Aurelius took the name Armeniacus)
- Parthia (took the name Parthicus)
- Chatti (took the name Germanicus)
- Britons
- Marcomanni (when Aurelius defeated them and freed the Pannonian provinces, he and his son Commodus celebrated a triumph)
Plague:
As Marcus Aurelius was preparing for the Marcommanic War (along the Danube, between Germanic tribes and Rome), a plague broke out killing thousands. The Antonini (Marcus Aurelius and his brother) enacted legislation on burial practices and carried out burial of the poor at public expense. Marcus Aurelius acted benevolently in other circumstances, including famine, to help the people of Rome.
As Marcus Aurelius was preparing for the Marcommanic War (along the Danube, between Germanic tribes and Rome), a plague broke out killing thousands. The Antonini (Marcus Aurelius and his brother) enacted legislation on burial practices and carried out burial of the poor at public expense. Marcus Aurelius acted benevolently in other circumstances, including famine, to help the people of Rome.
Death:
Marcus Aurelius died in March 180. Before his funeral he had been declared a god. When his wife Faustina had died in 176, Marcus Aurelius asked the Senate to deify her and built her a temple. The gossipy Augustan History says that Faustina had not been a chaste wife and that it was considered a stain on Marcus Aurelius' reputation that he promoted her lovers.
Marcus Aurelius was succeeded by his biological heir, in contradistinction to the other four good emperors. Marcus Aurelius' son was Commodus.
Marcus Aurelius died in March 180. Before his funeral he had been declared a god. When his wife Faustina had died in 176, Marcus Aurelius asked the Senate to deify her and built her a temple. The gossipy Augustan History says that Faustina had not been a chaste wife and that it was considered a stain on Marcus Aurelius' reputation that he promoted her lovers.
Marcus Aurelius was succeeded by his biological heir, in contradistinction to the other four good emperors. Marcus Aurelius' son was Commodus.
Sources:
Lives of the Later Caesars
1911 Encyclopedia Article on Marcus Aurelius
Lives of the Later Caesars
1911 Encyclopedia Article on Marcus Aurelius
