Marcus Aurelius | |||||
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Emperor of the Roman Empire | |||||
![]() Bust of Marcus Aurelius | |||||
Reign | 8 March 161–169 (with Lucius Verus); 169–177 (alone); 177–March 180 (with Commodus) (19 years, 9 days) | ||||
Predecessor | Antoninus Pius | ||||
Successor | Commodus (alone) | ||||
Born | Rome | 26 April 121||||
Died | 17 March 180 Vindobona or Sirmium | (aged 58)||||
Burial | |||||
Spouse | Faustina the Younger | ||||
Issue | 13, incl. Commodus, Lucilla, Fadilla, Faustina Minor and Sabina. | ||||
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Dynasty | Antonine | ||||
Father | Marcus Annius Verus | ||||
Mother | Domitia Lucilla |
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (26 April 121 – 17 March 180) was Roman Emperor from 161 to 180. He ruled with Lucius Verus as co-Emperor from 161 until Verus' death in 169.[1]
He was the last of the Five Good Emperors, and is considered one of the most important Stoic philosophers.
Marcus Aurelius' work Meditations, written in Greek while on campaign between 170 and 180, is still revered. It serves as an example of how Aurelius approached the Platonic ideal of a philosopher–king, and how he symbolized much of what was best about Roman civilization.[2]