Marcus Aurelius
121-180 A.D.
Marcus Aurelius, who assumed power
in 161 A.D., was the fifth of the "Adoptive Emperors", the Golden
Age of the Empire under the emperors Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and himself. Unfortunately, Marcus Aurelius
broke with the tradition of adopting the best man for the job, and passed
the Empire on to his own son; the dynasty soon came to an end. Marcus ruled
during difficult times; famine and plague hurt Rome within, and barbarians
were pushing back the borders from without. Marcus Aurelius is best known
as the philosopher-emperor who wrote down his "meditations" in
Greek; they are among the best examples of Stoic philosophy which we have.
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