Marcus Aurelius Biography

(Philosopher)

Birthday: April 26, 121 (Taurus)

Born In: Rome, Italy

Marcus Aurelius was one of the most revered Roman Emperors who believed in placing his empire before everything else. He served as the last emperor of the 'Pax Romana,' an age of relative stability and peace in the Roman Empire. An eager follower of Stoicism, his philosophical ideals and writings were compiled and preserved in a dairy for over ten years. This compilation is known to the world today as ‘Meditations.’ At a time when battle and malady destabilized the Roman empire, Aurelius made sure that he lived up to the expectation of his people by protecting them from the callousness of the Germans and the Parthians. It is believed that this powerful leader spent his childhood and early years by focusing on music, drama, literature, science, and geometry. In his youth, he studied philosophy with fervor and also developed an interest in law, which eventually earned him the position of the leader of the senate. During his reign as the emperor, he fought the northern nemeses along with his brother Verus and son Commodus and thus began expanding his empire’s borders. 13 centuries after his rule, Italian Renaissance diplomat and writer Niccolò Machiavelli named Marcus as one of Roman Empire's ‘Five Good Emperors.’ Today, he is remembered for his reign as a Roman emperor, writings, and reflective nature.

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Quick Facts

Italian Celebrities Born In April

Also Known As: Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus

Died At Age: 58

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Faustina the Younger

father: Marcus Annius Verus

mother: Domitia Lucilla

children: Annia Cornificia Faustina Minor, Annia Galeria Aurelia Faustina, Commodus, Domitia Faustina, Fadilla, Gemellus Lucillae, Hadrianus Marcus Aurelius, Lucilla, Marcus Annius Verus Caesar, marcus aurelius cornifícia, Titus Aelius Antoninus, Titus Aelius Aurelius, Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus, Vibia Aurelia Sabina

Born Country: Italy

Philosophers Italian Men

Died on: March 17, 180

place of death: Vindobona, Austria

City: Rome, Italy

  • 1

    What was Marcus Aurelius known for?

    Marcus Aurelius was known for being a Roman emperor and a prominent Stoic philosopher.
  • 2

    What is Marcus Aurelius' famous work?

    Marcus Aurelius' famous work is "Meditations," a collection of his personal writings and philosophical reflections.
  • 3

    What was Marcus Aurelius' approach to ruling the Roman Empire?

    Marcus Aurelius believed in ruling with wisdom and justice, emphasizing the importance of self-discipline and virtue in leadership.
  • 4

    How did Marcus Aurelius die?

    Marcus Aurelius died of natural causes in 180 AD while on a military campaign in present-day Vienna, Austria.
  • 5

    What impact did Marcus Aurelius have on Stoic philosophy?

    Marcus Aurelius is considered one of the most important Stoic philosophers, contributing to the development and popularization of Stoic principles and practices.
Childhood & Early Life
Marcus Aurelius was born on 26 April 121, into a wealthy, prominent family, in Rome, Italy. He was extremely bright as a young boy. He was a dedicated student, tutored by many private educators.
He was passionate about literature, music, Latin, and Greek. He also took great interest in the works of Stoic philosopher Epictetus who had a great influence on Marcus right from his early years. His intellectual dedication was noticed by the-then Emperor Hadrian.
After Hadrian’s former choice of heir passed away, he chose Titus Aurelius Antoninus to succeed him as the emperor. Hadrian also arranged for Antoninus to take young Aurelius under his wings at the age of 17.
Thus, he lived and worked closely with his adopted father Antoninus, learning the ways of political and public affairs.
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Accession & Reign
In 140 CE, Aurelius became emissary or leader of the senate—a post he would hold twice in his life. As years passed, he was given more political errands and official powers. Thus, he slowly progressed into a sturdy source of backing and guidance for his adoptive father Antoninus.
During this time, he also continued to study philosophy and harbored an interest in law. After his father passed away in 161 CE, he rose to power and was officially known as ‘Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus.’
While many documents suggest that he was the emperor’s only successor, Aurelius is believed to have insisted his brother Lucius Aurelius Verus Augustus to serve as the co-ruler.
Unlike the non-violent reign of their father Antoninus, the joint sovereignty of the two brothers was marked with several bloody wars and plagues. Through the mid and late-160s, the brothers combated the Parthians for control over the lands in the East.
Verus, his brother, supervised the war struggle, while Aurelius took care of their empire back home. Much of their victory in the battle against the Parthians has been credited to the generals employed under Verus, particularly Avidius Cassius.
The soldiers, who returned from war to Rome, carried with them a number of lethal illnesses, which destroyed nearly half the population of Rome.
Aurelius and his brother locked horns with the German tribes in the late-160s. This was after the tribes had crossed the Danube River and attacked a Roman city.
Following the sudden death of his brother Verus (possibly due to an illness) in 169 CE, Aurelius continued the battle with his troops, fighting the Germans from the border.
In 175 CE, his position as the emperor was challenged by none other than Avidius Cassius. While Aurelius was away combating the Germans, rumors were rife that he had become seriously ill. Seizing the opportunity, Cassius claimed the title of the emperor for himself.
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This forced Aurelius to travel back to Rome to regain control; however, he never had to confront Cassius as Cassius was killed by his own soldiers. Thus, he got back to traveling the eastern regions with his wife, re-establishing control in every city he set foot on.
In 177 CE, Aurelius made his son Commodus as his co-ruler. They fought the German tribes and also tussled with the northern enemies of the empire, while trying to extend the empire’s geographical borders.
Major Battles
In 167, the German tribes invaded a Roman city. Marcus and Verus arranged for funds for their own soldiers. After assembling a strong army, they drove the Germans away from their land. However, Verus died during this time and Aurelius became the sole emperor of the Roman Empire.
Personal Life & Legacy
Marcus Aurelius married Faustina the Younger, a relative, in 145. The couple had 13 children in their marriage of three decades. Two of their children— Lucilla and Commodus— went on to become famous.
From 170 to 180, Aurelius wrote ‘Meditations,’ a philosophical text. The book was first published in 1558 in Zurich, and the only remaining copy can be found in the Vatican library.
Marcus Aurelius passed away in Vindobona (Vienna) on 17 March 180, and his ashes were taken back to Rome. His son Commodus succeeded his father as the emperor. In 410, Marcus’ battles against the Germans were memorialized by a pillar and a shrine in Rome.
He was posthumously honored with the title ‘philosopher-king’; a title that still exists today.
The 1964 film ‘The Fall of the Roman Empire’ and the 2000 film ‘Gladiator’ were based on Marcus Aurelius’ life and career.
Facts About Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius was known for his love of philosophy and spent much of his time studying the teachings of Stoicism, a school of thought that emphasizes self-control, virtue, and acceptance of fate.
Despite being a powerful Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius preferred a simple and modest lifestyle, often choosing to live in a military camp rather than in the luxurious imperial palaces.
Marcus Aurelius was a prolific writer and is best known for his collection of personal philosophical reflections known as "Meditations," which continue to inspire readers around the world to this day.
Marcus Aurelius was a dedicated public servant who prioritized the well-being of his people and sought to rule with wisdom and compassion, earning him the title of "Philosopher King."
Marcus Aurelius was a devoted family man who deeply cared for his children and wife, Faustina, and sought to instill in them the values of virtue, integrity, and humility.

See the events in life of Marcus Aurelius in Chronological Order

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