Marcus Aurelius: A Roman Emperor, Philosopher, and Author

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was a Stoic philosopher and the Roman Emperor from 161 to 180 CE. He is remembered as the last of the Five Good Emperors, a term coined by Niccolò Machiavelli over a thousand years later, and as the final ruler of the Pax Romana, the long period of relative peace and stability that the Roman Empire experienced from 27 BCE to 180 CE. Throughout his political career, Marcus held the position of Roman consul in 140, 145, and 161, marking his steady ascent to power. 

Born during the reign of Emperor Hadrian, Marcus was the son of Marcus Annius Verus, a praetor, and Domitia Calvilla, a wealthy heiress. His father passed away when he was only three years old, leaving him to be raised primarily by his mother and grandfather. Recognizing Marcus' potential, Hadrian ensured his future by naming his uncle, Antoninus Pius, as heir following the unexpected death of Hadrian’s initial choice, Aelius Caesar, in 138 CE. As part of this arrangement, Antoninus was required to adopt both Marcus and Aelius' son, Lucius Verus. When Hadrian died later that year, Antoninus became emperor, and Marcus was positioned as his successor. Over the following decades, Marcus received an extensive education, studying Greek and Latin under renowned scholars such as Herodes Atticus and Marcus Cornelius Fronto. In 145 CE, he married Antoninus' daughter, Faustina the Younger, solidifying his connection to the imperial family. 

Upon Antoninus Pius’ death in 161, Marcus ascended to the throne alongside his adopted brother, Lucius Verus, marking the first time in Roman history that the empire was ruled by co-emperors. His reign was defined by continuous military conflicts.