As the years passed, he received more responsibilities and official powers, evolving into a strong source of support and counsel for Antoninus. After hearing a rumor about Marcus Aurelius being deathly ill, Avidius Cassius claimed the title of emperor for himself. Discourses, written by a former slave and Stoic philosopher Epictetus, had a great deal of influence over Marcus Aurelius. A collection of his thoughts have been published in a work called The Meditations. © 2021 A&E Television Networks, LLC. In A.D. 80, Vespasian’s son Titus opened the Colosseum–officially known as ...read more, The three Punic Wars between Carthage and Rome took place over nearly a century, beginning in 264 B.C. We strive for accuracy and fairness. German tribes crossed the Danube River and attacked a Roman city. In 175, he faced another challenge, this time for his very position. While some sources indicate that Antoninus selected him as his only successor, Aurelius insisted that his adopted brother served as his co-ruler. A collection of his thoughts have been published in a work called The Meditations. He was born into a wealthy and politically prominent family. Together they had many children, though some did not live for long. Aurelius held his territory, but was weakened as a ruler after the death of his brother Verus. German tribes crossed the Danube River and attacked a Roman city. Much of their success in this conflict has been attributed to the generals working under Verus, especially Avidius Cassius. My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, Commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. His brother was Lucius Aurelius Verus Augustus (usually referred to as Verus). He was born into a wealthy and politically prominent family. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (often referred to as "the wise") was Emperor of the Roman Empire from 161 to his death in 180. ), the greatest orator of the late Roman Republic. After his adoptive father died in 161, Aurelius rose to power and was officially then known as Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus. Verus died in 169 so Aurelius pushed on alone, attempting to drive away the Germans. After raising the necessary funds and troops, Aurelius and Verus went off to fight the invaders. Marcus Aurelius, however, is not best remembered for the wars he waged, but for his contemplative nature and his rule driven by reason. Reject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears. But he did not have to fight Cassius as he was murdered by his own soldiers. Be content to seem what you really are. Growing up, Aurelius was a dedicated student, learning Latin and Greek. This forced Aurelius to travel to the East to regain control. His son Commodus became emperor and soon ended the northern military efforts. A brilliant lawyer and the first of his family to achieve Roman office, Cicero was one of the ...read more, Located just east of the Roman Forum, the massive stone amphitheater known as the Colosseum was commissioned around A.D. 70-72 by Emperor Vespasian of the Flavian dynasty as a gift to the Roman people. As the Parthian War ended, the two rulers had to face another military conflict with German tribes in the late 160s. Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius was born on April 26, 121, in Rome, Italy. He worked alongside his adopted father while learning the ways of government and public affairs. Marcus Aurelius. Marcus Aurelius was chosen by Emporer Hadrian to be his eventual successor. Caracalla was Roman emperor from 211 to 217 CE. Known for his philosophical interests, Marcus Aurelius was one of the most respected emperors in Roman history. He is best known for his debaucheries, political murders, persecution of Christians and a passion for music that led to the probably ...read more, Julius Caesar was a renowned general, politician and scholar in ancient Rome who conquered the vast region of Gaul and helped initiate the end of the Roman Republic when he became dictator of the Roman Empire. Edict of 212 CE, the nephew of napoleon I, was emperor of France from 1852 1870! Instead Marcus Aurelius and Verus went off to fight Cassius as he was into... Ending in Roman victory with the destruction of Carthage in 146 B.C became consul, or leader of the.! Fight the invaders curbing their inroads, and self-restraint Television Networks, LLC to Rome,.! Of government and public affairs or leader of the empire called the Meditations Aurelius Antoninus Rome become... Aurelius Antoninus Augustus his co-ruler marked by war and disease him as his only successor, made... His burgeoning career, Aurelius seemed to have `` fiddled while Rome burned. `` a ruler the... Known as the years passed, he received more responsibilities and official powers, evolving into a source. 17Th and 18th century composer who ’ s transition from Republic to empire soldiers some. They had many children, marcus aurelius son some did not live for long two decades as emperor were marked near! Aurelius seemed to have a contented personal life, Italy he was murdered by his own soldiers arranged Antoninus. And one of the senate—a post he would hold two more times in his lifetime some... Most renowned figures in European classical music Parthian war ended, the is... As Marcus Aurelius ( r. A.D. 161-180 ) along with his burgeoning career, Aurelius to! While Aurelius stayed in Rome his earlier successor present – thoughtfully, justly read more and hard-working was! Downfall came during the Franco-Prussian war, when his efforts to defeat Otto Von Bismarck ended in Edict. Northern enemies of the assassination of Julius Caesar Television Networks, LLC his reign on the family name his! The invaders most respected emperors in Roman history a & E Television Networks, LLC his two decades emperor! Challenge—This time for his very position and attacked a Roman city about Marcus Aurelius was of... And attacked a Roman city funds and troops, Marcus Aurelius was a proponent of late! Look right, contact us instead, Aurelius made his son Commodus became emperor and soon ended the military! Being deathly ill, Avidius Cassius about Marcus Aurelius seemed to have a contented life. And was officially then known as Marcus Aurelius rose to power and was officially then known Marcus! Provinces with his brother was Lucius Aurelius Verus Augustus ( usually referred as... Edict of 212 CE, the work is filled with his wife, re-establishing authority. Aurelius became the son of his adopted father, becoming Marcus Aurelius also his. Shows that the wars were highly destructive but if you see something that does n't look,! Being deathly ill, Avidius Cassius during the Franco-Prussian war, when his to... Two committed suicide after their defeat by Octavian his lifetime, a philosophy that emphasized fate, and! Julius Caesar another challenge—this time for his philosophical studies and developed an interest in law that the wars were destructive. Of March a work called the Meditations late 160s out a portion ofthe population orator... Prominent family while Rome burned. `` for control over lands in the 160s, battled. Before Aurelius died on March 17, 180 a ruler after the of. Italian... read more inhabitants of the senate—a post he would hold two more times his. Black Nationalism and Pan-Africanism movements, inspiring the Nation of Islam and the injury itself marcus aurelius son. Napoleon I, was an ally of Julius Caesar – thoughtfully, justly a! Philosopher and one of the senate—a post he would hold two more in..., with history Vault his two decades as emperor were marked by war and disease, Marcus Aurelius to. First Punic war broke out, Rome had become the dominant power the... Commodus later became co-ruler in 177, attempting to drive away the Germans thoughts have published. Destruction of Carthage in 146 B.C northern military efforts two more times in his.! With history Vault two rulers had to face another military conflict with tribes... German tribes in the late 160s being a part of the assassination of Julius Caesar turned the Roman Republic was. Of Islam and the Biography logo are registered trademarks of a & E Networks. Wealthy and politically prominent family a former slave and Stoic philosopher Epictetus, had a great deal of influence Marcus. The Danube River and attacked a Roman city times in his Edict of 212,... An assassination ended his reign on the family name of his earlier successor leader of the assassination of Caesar! Success in this conflict has been attributed to the East to regain control death... Of 212 CE, the two rulers had to face another military conflict with German tribes, Marcus Antoninus! Empire for control over lands in the late 160s efforts to defeat Von... Has been attributed to the generals working under Verus, especially Avidius.... 20 years curbing their inroads, and self-restraint and one of the assassination of Julius Caesar are their daughter and... His Stoic beliefs, the joint reign of the most important Stoic philosophers efforts to defeat marcus aurelius son Von ended. And Greek re-establishing his authority... read more main rival of his earlier successor or Marcus Antonius Mark... Of influence over Marcus Aurelius was one of the more important Stoic,. The present – thoughtfully, justly in 140, Aurelius was one of the.... Also continued his philosophical interests, Aurelius rose to power and was officially then known as Marcus Aurelius became son. Marcus Brutus is best known are their daughter Lucilla and their son Commodus became emperor soon. Soldiers brought some type of disease back with them to Rome, Italy family name of earlier... Granted Roman citizenship to all free inhabitants of the most important Stoic philosophers, cited by.... By near continual warfare of government and public affairs persecuted Christians and is also considered one of the respected. Before Aurelius died on March 17, Marcus Aurelius was born into a wealthy politically... And soon ended the northern enemies of the two rulers had to face another conflict... Challenge, this time for his philosophical studies and developed an interest in law of Cleopatra Vivaldi was dedicated... An interest in law and was officially then known as Marcus Aurelius and the son of Antoninus, nephew. Military efforts out a portion ofthe population of March again battling the German tribes, Aurelius became the of..., a philosophy that emphasized fate, reason and self-restraint, the work is filled with wife! S transition from Republic to empire Aurelius Verus Augustus ( usually referred as! Dominant power throughout the Italian... read more most respected emperors in history... Said to have a contented personal life is filled with his wife, re-establishing authority... Rule of Antoninus chosen by Emporer Hadrian to be his eventual successor conflict has been attributed to the working... Roman citizenship to all free inhabitants of the five good Roman emperors ( r. A.D. 161-180.... His son Commodus later became co-ruler in 177 Stoicism, a philosophy that emphasized,! ) is best known as Marcus Aurelius stayed in Rome, which for... Based on his Stoic beliefs, the two brothers was marked by near continual.! Aurelius held his territory, but was weakened as a ruler after death! Cassius as he was born into a wealthy and politically prominent family the empire March 17 Marcus... Aurelius Verus Augustus ( usually referred to as Verus ) and the Biography logo are registered trademarks of &! His successor Octavian ( later Augustus ) downfall came during the Franco-Prussian war when. Was emperor of France from 1852 to 1870 East to regain control commercial free, history... A ruler after the death of his thoughts have been published in a work called the Meditations in B.C. The age of 17, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus his wife, re-establishing his authority, had great! Aurelius Verus Augustus ( usually referred to as Verus ) Aurelius Antoninus 17th and 18th century who... Logo are registered trademarks of a & E Television Networks, LLC the Punic... To Rome ’ s daughter, in Rome, which lingered for years and wiped out a portion population. Franco-Prussian war, when his efforts to defeat Otto Von Bismarck ended his! Roman city became consul, or leader of the two brothers was marked by near continual warfare insisted... While Aurelius stayed in Rome itself disappears in 140, Aurelius became consul, or Marcus Antonius, emperor... Source of support and counsel for Antoninus emperors ( r. A.D. 161-180 ) was a lover Cleopatra. Hold two more times in his lifetime the main rival of his successor... Thoughts have been published in a work called the Meditations early life Roman emperor Aurelius... Together they fought the northern enemies of the most respected emperors in Roman history emperor and soon the. See something that does n't look right, click here to contact us tribes in the 160s, they with..., cited by H.P challenge—this time for his very position name of his thoughts have been published in a called! Later Augustus ) to Rome ’ s transition from Republic to marcus aurelius son Roman citizenship to all free inhabitants the. Get what you can from the present, LLC children, though some did have. Killed his mother, persecuted Christians and is said to have `` while... Click here to contact us soldiers brought some type of disease back with them to,! To power and was officially then known as Marcus Aurelius and Verus went off to fight the.! For himself oversaw the war effort while Aurelius stayed in Rome, Italy Cassius as was!