You can also read our introduction to Stoicism if you are not familiar with the philosophy. Stoicism is no exception. Before we begin our studies we need to ask ourselves: Who are the people that followed these precepts? Who can I point out as an example? Am I proud to look up to this person?
Do I want to be more like them? And Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius , born nearly two millennia ago — , is a leader and example who provides a resounding yes. Marcus Annius Verus was born in a prominent and established family but nobody at the time would have predicted that he would one day be Emperor of the Empire. There is little that is known of his childhood but he was a serious young man who also enjoyed wrestling, boxing and hunting.
Around his teenage years, the reigning emperor at the time, Hadrian was nearing death and was childless. He had to pick a successor and after his first choice, Lucius Ceionius, died unexpectedly, he chose Antoninus.
Once Hadrian died, it was clear that Marcus was next in line for the most important position in the empire. His education would become of serious concern and he would have the privilege of studying under Herodes Atticus, a rhetorician from Athens Marcus would later write his Meditations in Greek as well as Marcus Cornelius Fronto, his instructor in Latin whose letters of correspondence with Marcus survive to this day. Marcus would also serve as a consul twice thus receiving a valuable and practical education.
In , as Antoninus died and ended one of the longest reigns, Marcus became the Emperor of the Roman Empire and ruled for nearly two decades until his death in But for my part, I admire him all the more for this very reason, that amid unusual and extraordinary difficulties he both survived himself and preserved the empire.
Just one thing prevented him from being completely happy, namely, that after rearing and educating his son in the best possible way he was vastly disappointed in him.
It is important to realize the gravity of that position and the magnitude of power that Marcus possessed. He held one of—if not the most—powerful positions in the world at the time. The Parthian cities of Ctesiphon and Seleucia were both sacked, despite the latter opening its gates to the invaders.
Vologases IV made peace with the Romans, with one of the terms of the settlement forcing the King to cede the territory of western Mesopotamia to the Romans. For his successes, Lucius was awarded the title Parthicus Maximus , whilst both he and Marcus were saluted once more as Imperatores the reality was that most of the fighting was done through their generals.
As a member of the Roman aristocracy and heir to the imperial throne, Marcus benefitted from the very best education on offer to a young Roman nobleman. This education was in effect training for the life at the heart of politics that awaited the young man.
Accordingly, rhetoric and oratory were two of the most important skills he would learn. In this, he was fortunate enough to benefit from the expertise and talents of Herodes Atticus and Fronto, the two most celebrated orators of the period. In the Roman Empire, a cultural movement known as the Second Sophistic was blossoming, in which writers — predominately Greek hence, Sophistic — reintroduced and reinvigorated literary culture in the empire.
In Marcus, this cultural flowering appears to have met a receptive mind, particularly with regard to the importance of education. Herodes was one of the richest men in the empire, and evidence of his architectural munificence in his native Athens still survives to this day; the most notable being the Odeon in Athens , built in in memory of his wife.
This enormous theatre dominates the southwest slope of the Athenian acropolis. What survives of Fronto is less ostentatious but no less significant. A considerable amount of the correspondence between Fronto and Marcus has survived and attests to the closeness of their relationship, with Marcus counting the rhetorician as much a friend as a tutor.
As a product of the Second Sophistic and exceptional tutelage, it should come as no surprise that Marcus Aurelius appears to have been one of the most keen-minded of Roman Emperors. Much of the modern understanding of Stoicism as a philosophical school comes in part from the writings of Marcus himself. Written whilst on a campaign against the Germanic tribes, his Meditations , are a series of personal reflection on his own Stoic beliefs, presented in 12 books.
The Meditations are some of the most cherished works to have survived from antiquity and have contributed enormously to the golden reception of Marcus Aurelius, counting among its fans readers as diverse as Frederick the Great, John Stuart Mill, and Bill Clinton. Whereas other Roman emperors are remembered for their debaucheries, megalomania, and cruelties, Marcus is instead remembered as the philosopher. At the same time as Lucius Verus was waging war in the East against Vologases and the Parthian incursions against the Empire, beyond the northern frontiers trouble was stirring.
As large numbers of people began migrating in Central Europe, notably the Goths, pressure was placed on those living closer to the northern Roman imperial frontiers.
As Germanic raids across the borders increased, Rome was once again embroiled in war. Generally known as the Marcomannic Wars, these were a series of protracted conflicts fought between the Romans and various Germanic tribes, including the Chatti, the Quadi, the Sarmatians and the Marcomanni. Yes, you can, if you do everything as if it were the last thing you were doing in your life, and stop being aimless, stop letting your emotions override what your mind tells you, stop being hypocritical, self-centered, irritable.
Men seek retreats for themselves, houses in the country, sea-shores, and mountains; and thou too art wont to desire such things very much. But this is altogether a mark of the most common sort of men, for it is in thy power whenever thou shalt choose to retire into thyself.
Nothing has such power to broaden the mind as the ability to investigate systematically and truly all that comes under thy observation in life. For the sole thing of which any man can be deprived is the present; since this is all he owns, and nobody can lose what is not his. Marcus Aurelius: Debts and Lessons — Marcus Aurelius, in book one of Debts and Lessons, explores the lessons he learned from those closest to him.
They are the heart of the Meditations and his philosophy. Marcus Aurelius: You Have One Life To Live — A powerful section by Marcus on making the most of the limited lifetime you have available to you, no matter how long it might be. Who Is Seneca? This is the most modern translation of Meditations , and best puts the words of Marcus Aurelius into modern language without losing the original feel. Pardon the phrase: it needs to be meditation.
This is a good book to get you going down that path. As the Parthian War ended, the two rulers had to face another military conflict with German tribes in the late s.
German tribes crossed the Danube River and attacked a Roman city. After raising the necessary funds and troops, Marcus Aurelius and Verus went off to fight the invaders. Verus died in so Marcus Aurelius pushed on alone, attempting to drive away the Germans. In , he faced another challenge, this time for his very position. After hearing a rumor about Marcus Aurelius being deathly ill, Avidius Cassius claimed the title of emperor for himself.
This forced Marcus Aurelius to travel to the East to regain control. But he did not have to fight Cassius as he was murdered by his own soldiers. Instead Marcus Aurelius toured eastern provinces with his wife, re-establishing his authority. Unfortunately, Faustina died during this trip. While once again battling the German tribes, Marcus Aurelius made his son Commodus his co-ruler in Together they fought the northern enemies of the empire.
Marcus Aurelius died on March 17, His son Commodus became emperor and soon ended the northern military efforts. Marcus Aurelius, however, is not best remembered for the wars he waged, but for his contemplative nature and his rule driven by reason.
A collection of his thoughts have been published in a work called The Meditations. Based on his Stoic beliefs, the work is filled with his notes on life. Start your free trial today.
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