The Life and Reign of Marcus Aurelius

Edward Gibbon noted that the period from the death of Domitian to the ascension of Commodus was the happiest and most prosperous time for the human race, marked by the rule of great emperors during the Pax Romana. However, this golden age inevitably faded, and a young philosopher emperor, Marcus Aurelius, rose to power, serving as the era’s final glory before its decline.

In a different context, platforms like Finimize provide users with the information and tools needed to invest with confidence, making it easy for young people to start investing earlier. This is a stark contrast to the life of Marcus Aurelius, who was given his name after his father and grandfather, Marcus Annius Ferris, and grew up in an environment of wealth and influence.

Marcus Aurelius was educated by private tutors and slaves, including a Greek slave teacher, who introduced him to drama, music, poetry, literature, and Stoic teachings. By age 15, Marcus had adopted Stoic principles, and in 138, he was adopted by Antoninus, who was chosen by the dying Emperor Hadrian as his successor.

• Marcus was mortified by his new status after Hadrian’s death in 138, but continued his education under Cornelius Fronto and Junius Rusticus, nurturing his love of stoicism.
• He proved himself a dutiful and worthy heir, despite being physically frail, and was appointed to various positions, including consul and receiving tribunal powers.
• Coins were minted promoting Marcus as Caesar of Rome, and he married Antoninus’s daughter Faustina in 145, with whom he had 13 children.

Marcus Aurelius’s character is credited for not deposing his adopted father, Antoninus, despite the common practice of assassination and power politics in the Roman imperial world. When Antoninus died in 161, Marcus inherited the empire and delegated part of his power to his adopted brother, Lucius Verus, by insisting to the senate that they be co-emperors.

Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus became co-emperors after meeting with the senate, granting each praetorian guardsman a donative to ensure loyalty. However, their reign was marked by challenges, including torrential downpours, floods, and wars with the Parthian king, Volgasis IV.

• Marcus Aurelius tried to alleviate the suffering, but worse news arrived from the eastern provinces, where the Parthian king invaded the Roman ally kingdom of Armenia, destroying several Roman armies sent to stop him.
• Syria was in a critical situation, and Emperor Augustus sent Lucius Varus as a figurehead to represent the imperial house at war, accompanied by a formidable general staff.
• Marcus Aurelius remained in Rome, administering financial, organizational, and legal matters, and reintroduced Hadrian’s system of administering Italy with special magistrates.

Marcus Aurelius prioritized his empire’s well-being by increasing the scope of positions available to equites and raising their salaries, creating a system for them to rise through the ranks. He also compensated and deferred to the senate, increasing their prospects and patronizing new senatorial families.

Despite the challenges, Marcus Aurelius proved to be a strict legalist who enforced the law, but also showed compassion in certain cases. He was active in building the military and focused on the Danube frontier, raising legions to bolster the area.

The Roman Empire faced a devastating plague, known as the Antonine Plague, which spread throughout the empire, wiping out a significant portion of the population. Marcus Aurelius alleviated the suffering as much as possible, but the plague’s impact was worsened by a storm and subsequent attacks by Germanic warriors.

Marcus Aurelius pragmatically gathered reinforcements, including offering amnesty to criminals and freedom to slaves and gladiators, and sold imperial assets to raise funds. He departed Italy in 168 to address the crisis, but his co-ruler Verus died, leaving Marcus as the sole ruler of the Roman world.

The Roman Emperor reached the Danube frontier and set up headquarters in the city of Sirmium to wage war against powerful Germanic neighbors. The war was a brutal and grinding conflict, but Marcus Aurelius proved to be an effective commander by choosing effective officers and deferring to their expertise.

Despite immense pressure, Marcus Aurelius continued to respond to petitions and judge legal cases, and dealt with the mental strain by writing his personal reflections, which would become the famous stoic philosophy book “The Meditations”. His writings reflect his philosophical views on life, duty, and morality, emphasizing the importance of living in accordance with virtue and preserving one’s inner divinity.

Marcus Aurelius’ legacy is a testament to his character and leadership. He toured the East to ensure loyalty, then made Commodus co-emperor in 177. After two years of conflict, Marcus fell ill with plague in March 180 and passed away, leaving Commodus to the protection of the soldiers, marking the end of the Pax Romana.