Marcus Aurelius

Latin Roman Name: Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus

Marcus Aurelius Reigned as Roman Emperor / Caesar:
 *** 161-169 with Lucius Verus (the adopted, licentious, brother of Marcus Aurelius)
 *** 169-177 (alone)
 *** 177-180 with Commodus (the son of Marcus Aurelius)

Early in the previous reign Antoninus Pius had made Marcus Aurelius his associate in the government of the Roman Empire. His health had suffered and Marcus Aurelius needed to share the government of the empire with his adopted brother, Lucius Verus, who was strong and healthy but was, however, addicted to licentious pleasures.

Dynasty / Historical Period: Five Good Emperors & Nervan / Antonine Dynasty (96–192)

Place and Date of Birth: Marcus Aurelius was born 26 April 121 in Rome

Name of previous Emperor: His predecessor, or the Emperor before Marcus Aurelius, was Antoninus Pius

Date succeeded as Emperor of Rome: March 8, 161

Family connections / Genealogy of Marcus Aurelius
 *** Name of Father: Marcus Annius Verus
 *** Name of Mother: Domitia Lucilla
 *** Married: Faustina the Younger
 *** Children: There were 14 children including their daughter Lucilla but Commodus was only son of the royal couple to survive childhood

Place and Date of Death: Marcus Aurelius died 17 March 180 (aged 58)

Name of next Emperor:  The successor to Marcus Aurelius was Commodus

Interesting facts about the life of Marcus Aurelius
Obtain a fast overview of the times of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius from the following facts and information about his life. Why was Marcus Aurelius famous? Accomplishments, achievements and important events. Marcus Aurelius was known as the Philosopher, his morals and his intellect were trained by the purest and wisest men of his age. Early in the previous reign Antoninus Pius had made Marcus Aurelius his associate in the government of the Roman Empire. His health had suffered and Marcus Aurelius needed to share the government of the empire with his adopted brother, Lucius Verus, who was strong and healthy but was, however, addicted to all forms of licentious pleasures.

Marcus Aurelius and the Parthian and German Wars
The Parthian king, Vologeses III, invaded the eastern provinces. Lucius Verus was sent to quell the Parthians but left the fighting to his generals who succeeded in the task. The Parthians were based in Armenia, Mesopotamia, Iran, and Afghanistan providing access to the Silk Road, the trade route between the Mediterranean Sea and China. In A.D. 166 Verus returned to Rome claiming triumph. His army brought the plague with it from the East which desolated Italy and Rome. In A.D. 168 the twin emperors escaped the plagued city of Rome to go North to the Danubian provinces, where they mounted a military offensive against the threatening Germanic tribes. Verus died in A.D. 171 riddled with disease from his dissolute lifestyle. The war with the Parthians ended the peace at first experienced in the reign of Marcus Aurelius. Barbarians called the Marcomanni, a Germanic tribe, then rebelled. They were eventually quelled by Marcus Aurelius but at great cost to the Empire and Marcus Aurelius was forced to sell the imperial plate and jewels in order to provide a new army. An insurrection shortly followed in Syria, forcing Marcus Aurelius to defend this eastern part of the empire. In A.D. 176 Marcus Aurelius triumphed at Rome for his various successes. He gave a donation of eight pieces of gold to every Roman citizen, and made his son Commodus his colleague. In A.D. 177 Marcus Aurelius was again forced to march against the Barbarians. He contracted a fever at Vindobona (Vienna) in A.D. 180, and died after a few days' illness. Marcus Aurelius was the last of the Five Good Roman emperors who labored for the welfare of his people.

Marcus Aurelius, the Christians and Justin Martyr
Despite his reputation as a benevolent Emperor Marcus Aurelius allowed a cruel persecution of the Christians in A.D. 177. Among the victims of this persecution was the Christian writer and philosopher called Justin who was the author of the Apologies for Christianity which he had presented to the previous emperor Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius. Justin suffered martyrdom and was later made a saint and called Justin Martyr. A couple of years later toward the close of his reign Marcus Aurelius become convinced of the falseness of the charges made against the Christians and became once more tolerant and philosophic.

Dynasties of Roman Emperors - Five Good Emperors & Nervan / Antonine Dynasty (96–192)
The Five Good Emperors and the Nervan / Antonine Dynasty (96–192). The Five Good Emperors were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius. The Five Good Emperors were so named by the political philosopher, Niccolo Machiavelli who gave them this name in 1503 due to their good government and the respect given to them by the people of Rome. The Nervan and Antonine dynasty consisted of the "Five Good Emperors" (Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius) together with Lucius Verus, who ruled jointly with Marcus Aurelius, and Commodus the son of Marcus Aurelius.