Marcus Aurelius (Antonious)

Marcus Aurelius was orginally named Marcus Annius Catilius Serverus. When he became emperor he was given the name Marcus Aurelius Antonious. He was born in 121-180 in Ancient Rome. Under Diognetus's influenced young Marcus, he became a precocious Stoic at the age of 11 and remainded a devoted folloers of stoicism. Marcus Aurelius had an excellent education, he had became a Stoic philospher and he wrote Meditations in Greek as a source of his own guidance and self improvement.

Marcus raised new legions, even accepting slaves and gladiators, auctioned of furnishings from the imperials palaces to raise funds, and in 168 went with Verus to the front. Verus died in early 169, and Marcus was left to face the war alone. The barbarians were driven back, but still the war dragged on in a mixture of victories and barbarians were driven back, but still the war dragged on in a mixture of victories and defeats, with Marcus living mainly at the front, sometimes on the Danube, sometimes on the Rhine as the focus of crisis shifted. Gradually the Romans gained the upper hand, and by 175 we are told that Marcus was inteding to annex the lands of the tribes nearest the frontier when he was suddenly forced to call off the war because of the revolt of Avidius Cassius in the East.