Who Was Marcus Aurelius? | Biography
This is an excerpt from the book ‘Introducing Ubuntu Stoicism’. Buy it on Amazon. Order here if in South Africa — or visit your nearest bookstore.
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Born: 26 April 121 AD — Rome, Italy.
Occupation: Roman emperor (161 to 180 AD) and Stoic philosopher.
Died: 17 March 180 AD — Vindobona, Pannonia Superior or Sirmium, Pannonia Inferior.
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was a Stoic philosopher and a Roman emperor alongside his adoptive brother Lucius Verus. They were both adopted sons of Antoninus Pius (138–161), and were the last of the revered ‘Five Good Emperors’: AD: Nerva (96–98), Trajan (98–117), Hadrian (117–138), and Antoninus Pius (138–161).
The period witnessed expansion of the empire, from northern Britain to Dacia, Arabia, and to Mesopotamia.
The first four emperors were succeeded by adoptive sons.
Marcus Aurelius is revered for ruling with wisdom and virtue. He refused to take office as emperor unless his adoptive brother Lucius was made co-emperor. It was the first time the roman emperor was ruled by two emperors with equal powers. Lucius died before Marcus (130 to169 AD).
Marcus often caution himself against not being consumed by the powerful ‘Caesar’ ascension name he inherited as heir and emperor: “See that you do not turn into a Caesar; do not be dipped into the purple dye — for that can happen.” The colour imperial purple was the monopolised colour of the roman imperials.
His reign was not easy, fighting wars with the Parthian Empire and The Germanic Tribes. His reign endured the Antonine Plague.
Amidst the conquests, he is said to have had a frail body.
He made his son Commodus co-emperor in 176 AD — who succeeded him after his death. His son was said to be a disappointment to Marcus. This reign marked the end of the Five Good Emperors reign.
Commodus’s reign was characterised by dictatorial leadership, megalomania, and the elimination (assassination) of his detractors within his empire. He devalued the Roman currency, put his face on coins, and renamed Rome in his name, among other crazy things. He was later assassinated through a plan of his mistress.
Marcus Aurelius is one the three revered Stoic Philosophers, along with Epictetus the slave and Seneca.
His book Meditations is one of the most revered stoic philosophy books. He wrote it as notes of virtue and ethics to himself. The most powerful man at the time writing to himself on how to make good on his responsibilities and obligations.
Why did he make his son emperor instead of adopting a qualified leader in the way he had been adopted? Was this his biggest flaw?
Well, he would have had to put his son to death. The four other emperors before Marcus either did not have biological children, heirs, or were put in power as a political compromise and with it came a condition to adopt a specific heir.
