Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (121 – 180) was the 16th Roman Emperor, succeeding Antoninus Pius. He ruled the Empire from 161 AD until his death in 180 AD. Marcus Aurelius reigned with Lucius Verus until 169, when Lucius died. He was the last of the "Five Good Emperors", and one of the most important Stoic philosophers.
Although Marcus Aurelius was born in Rome in 121 AD, his family had originated in Ucubi, a small town southeast of Córdoba in Iberian Baetica, Spain. When he was young, Marcus learned Greek philosophy and was trained in oratory. In 161, he was adopted by Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius. That year, at the age of 40, Marcus Aurelius ascended the throne and shared his imperial power with his adopted brother Lucius Aurelius Verus. When he became a sole ruler, Marcus spent most of his reign waging wars against rebellious Parthians, Germanic tribes and Britons on the empire’s frontier, but he was also known to be a humane ruler.
In 175 AD, Marcus Aurelius was faced with a revolt stirred up by Avidius Cassius, the governor of Syria, who believed rumors that the Emperor had died. After the rebellion was crushed, Cassius’s head was sent to Marcus Aurelius. According to some sources, Faustina, Marcus’ wife, may have been involved in this conspiracy. An epidemic of plague followed Cassius’s army from the East and thousands of people died. Year after year Aurelius tried to push barbarians back but witnessed the gradual crumbling of the Roman frontiers. In these times of disasters, he turned more and more to the study of Stoic philosophy. In 177 AD, towards the end of his reign, Marcus Aurelius admitted his own son, Commodus, to participation in the government, which was a big mistake.
Marcus Aurelius died on March 17, 180, in the city of Vindobona (modern Vienna). He was immediately deified and his ashes were returned to Rome, and rested in Hadrian’s mausoleum until the Visigoth sack of the city in 410. His campaigns against Germans and Sarmatians were also commemorated by a column and a temple built in Rome. Marcus Aurelius was succeeded by his son Commodus.
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