Marcus Aurelius

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Marcus Aurelius

Early life and Emperor

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus was born on 26th April 121A.D in Rome. He was born Marcus Annius Verus to a rich Spanish family. His father was Annius Verus, his mother Domitia Lucilla and his only sibling was his sister, Annia Cornificia Faustina. However when Marcus was three years of age his father tragically died and he had to go and live with his grandfather, who was a consulate for three years and his mother. In memory of his father Aurelius described him as someone who taught him ‘manliness without ostentation’

        Aurelius went on to become very interested in Stoicism (philosophy) at a young age and because of his intellectual standard the Emperor Hadrian took a great interest in him and referred to Aurelius as ‘Verisimmus’ (the most truthful) rather than by his name Verus. At the age of six Marcus was advanced to an equestrian rank and then, two years later, at the age of eight he was made a member of the ancient Salin priesthood.

 In 136 Hadrian had decided that his successor was to be a man named Lucius Ceionius Commodus. However Hadrian was so fond of Marcus at the time, he arranged for him to be married to Commodus’s daughter, Ceionia Fabia at only 15 years of age. But it was not to be as the marriage was later cancelled following the death of Commodus. However it still wasn’t the end of the bad news for Hadrian. His adopted son, , subsequently died. Left with no heirs, Hadrian made Antoninus Pius his successor. Meanwhile Marcus’s aunt Galeria Faustina was to be married to Antoninus Pius. It so happened the Antoninus had no son and so it came about that Antoninus adopted Marcus and Lucius Ceionius Commodus (son of Lucius Ceionius Commodus) as his own sons with orders from Hadrian.

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        When Antoninus Pius became Emperor in  he announced that his successors would be his two adopted sons. Marcus was only seventeen at the time and was destined to be emperor of Rome at the age of 40. During Marcus adopted fathers reign he continued his education described by one of his teachers, Fronto, as an ‘intelligent, serious-minded and hardworking youth’. He was particularly interested in Diatribai ("Discourses") of  who was a very influential philosopher at the Stoic school. As Marcus grew older he became more and more involved with his father’s work appearing by his side as consul in 140, ...

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