Marcus Aurelius: The Philosopher & Emperor of the Roman Empire
Summary
TLDRMarcus Aurelius, the last of the Five Good Emperors of Rome, was not only a ruler but also a profound philosopher. Born in 121 CE, he was influenced by Cynic Philosophy and Stoicism, which shaped his reign characterized by justice and efficiency. Despite personal tragedies and challenges, including dealing with his co-emperor Lucius Verus' extravagance and the persecution of Christians, Aurelius remained committed to his beliefs. His 'Meditations' reflects his Stoic views, and his rule is remembered as a golden age of Rome. Despite his loyalty to family, which some consider a weakness, Aurelius' legacy as a philosopher-king endures, and he is celebrated for his wisdom and just governance.
Takeaways
- 📜 Marcus Aurelius was the last of the Five Good Emperors of Rome and a prominent philosopher.
- 👑 Born in Spain in 121 CE, he was raised by his grandparents and influenced by his mother and teachers.
- 📚 Introduced to Cynic Philosophy in his teens, Aurelius lived a simple life until societal pressures led him to pursue public service.
- 🎓 He studied under influential teachers like Herodes Atticus and Marcus Cornelius Fronto, who became lifelong friends.
- 💍 Married to Ceionia Fabia, then later to Faustina, he was groomed for political life by Antoninus Pius.
- 👨👩👧👦 Aurelius and Lucius Verus became co-emperors, with Aurelius being the more responsible and efficient ruler.
- 🛡️ During his reign, Aurelius dealt with the Parthian War, Germanic Wars, and various domestic crises like floods, famine, and plague.
- 📖 His work 'Meditations' reflects his Stoic beliefs and his approach to life and governance.
- 🔍 He is often compared to Plato's ideal philosopher-king, focusing on the greater good rather than personal ambition.
- 🕊️ Despite criticism for the persecution of Christians, there is no evidence Aurelius directly ordered such actions.
- 🌟 His reign is remembered for its efficiency, justice, and philosophical depth, and he was deified after his death.
Q & A
Who was Marcus Aurelius and what was his significance in Roman history?
-Marcus Aurelius was a Roman Emperor and the last of the Five Good Emperors of Rome. He was also a prominent philosopher during his life, known for his work 'Meditations' and his adherence to Stoic philosophy.
What was the early life of Marcus Aurelius like?
-Marcus Aurelius was born in Spain on April 26, 121 CE into an aristocratic family. After his father's death, he was raised by his grandfathers and nurses, and his mother remained a strong influence in his life. He received a top-tier education and was introduced to philosophical texts in his early teens.
What philosophical beliefs did Marcus Aurelius adopt in his youth?
-In his youth, Aurelius adopted the Cynic lifestyle, which advocated for living simply without possessions as a path to true freedom. However, he later returned to studying rhetoric and oratory under the guidance of his mother.
Who were the major influences in Marcus Aurelius' life?
-Herodes Atticus and Marcus Cornelius Fronto were major influences in Aurelius' life, with Fronto becoming a lifelong friend and correspondent.
How did Marcus Aurelius become part of the imperial family?
-Aurelius was adopted by Hadrian Antoninus, who insisted that Antoninus name young Marcus and Lucius Verus as his sons and heirs, leading to Aurelius taking the name Marcus Aelius Aurelius Verus.
What was the relationship between Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus?
-Lucius Verus was Aurelius' co-emperor. Despite their different upbringings and personalities, Aurelius insisted on respecting Hadrian's wishes and having Verus confirmed as co-emperor.
What were some of the challenges Marcus Aurelius faced as a ruler?
-Aurelius faced challenges such as balancing his philosophical beliefs with the responsibilities of the court, dealing with Verus' extravagant spending and financial gifts to the military, and managing the Parthian War and the Germanic Wars.
What is the significance of 'Meditations' in Marcus Aurelius' life and legacy?
-'Meditations' is a personal journal that Marcus Aurelius kept, which reflects his Stoic philosophy. It was not intended for publication but has become a famous work that showcases his beliefs and his approach to life and governance.
How did Marcus Aurelius' philosophy influence his policies?
-Aurelius' Stoic beliefs influenced his policies, leading to reforms that protected the poor, orphaned, and freed slaves, and the re-evaluation of currency. His philosophy also guided his approach to the new religious sect of Christianity.
What was the outcome of Marcus Aurelius' reign?
-Aurelius' reign was marked by efficient and just governance, and he was listed as one of the Five Good Emperors of Rome. He was deified after his death and is remembered for his philosophical writings, his just rule, and his loyalty to family.
How did Marcus Aurelius die?
-Marcus Aurelius died of natural causes while on campaign during the Germanic Wars on March 17, 180, at the age of 58.
Outlines
📜 Early Life and Philosophical Influences of Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius, the last of the Five Good Emperors of Rome, was born in Spain to an aristocratic family. He was educated in philosophy, particularly Stoicism, which emphasized living simply and embracing nature's course. Despite his mother's insistence on a more conventional lifestyle, Aurelius maintained his philosophical pursuits. His early education and relationships with influential teachers like Herodes Atticus and Marcus Cornelius Fronto shaped his character. He was later adopted into the imperial family and prepared for a life of public service.
🏛️ Co-Emperorship and Challenges with Lucius Verus
Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus became co-emperors in 161. Aurelius, a more responsible and efficient administrator, focused on administrative affairs and war efforts, while Verus led military campaigns. Despite Verus's lavish spending and questionable decisions, Aurelius respected the wishes of his predecessor, Hadrian. Aurelius's reign saw diplomatic ties with China, legal reforms, and currency re-evaluation. He also dealt with natural disasters and the plague, which claimed Verus's life in 169. Aurelius continued to rule until he made his son Commodus co-emperor in 177.
📖 Philosophical Legacy and Reign of Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius's devotion to philosophy was lifelong, as reflected in his work 'Meditations'. His Stoic beliefs influenced his rule, considering everything in life as part of a universal 'logos'. He approached life's events with acceptance, viewing them as ultimately good. His reign was marked by justice and efficiency, and he was recognized as a philosopher-king. Despite criticisms of his family loyalty, particularly in choosing Commodus as his successor, Aurelius's reign is praised for its adherence to philosophical principles and its impact on Roman history.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Marcus Aurelius
💡Five Good Emperors
💡Philosopher
💡Stoicism
💡Meditations
💡Logos
💡Public Service
💡Parthian War
💡Germanic Wars
💡Christianity
💡Co-emperor
Highlights
Marcus Aurelius was the final of the Five Good Emperors of Rome and a prominent philosopher.
He was born in Spain on April 26, 121 CE to an aristocratic family.
Marcus Aurelius was introduced to philosophical texts in his early teens, likely on Cynic Philosophy.
He adopted a Cynic lifestyle, which his mother later encouraged him to abandon for public service.
Aurelius had influential teachers, including Herodes Atticus and Marcus Cornelius Fronto.
He was married to Ceionia Fabia and later to Faustina, daughter of Antoninus Pius.
Marcus Aurelius was groomed for political affairs by Antoninus Pius.
He became co-emperor with Lucius Verus in 161.
Aurelius was the more responsible and efficient administrator compared to Verus.
He directed war efforts and administrative affairs, including the Parthian War and the Germanic Wars.
Aurelius' reign saw the establishment of diplomatic ties with China and reformation of Roman law policies.
His work 'Meditations' reflects his Stoic Philosophy and personal beliefs.
Aurelius is considered the closest to Plato's ideal of a philosopher-king.
He continued policies protecting Christian civil rights despite some criticism for Christian persecution.
Aurelius died of natural causes in 180 and was deified after his death.
His reign is praised for its efficiency, justice, and philosophical depth.
Aurelius' loyalty to family, particularly in choosing co-emperors, is seen as a potential weakness.
He is best known for his 'Meditations', just reign, and being the last of the Five Good Emperors.
Transcripts
Did you know that the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius was a philosopher? [Music]
Hello and welcome to World History Encyclopedia! My name is Kelly, and today's video is all about
the final of the Five Good Emperors of Rome, who was also a prominent philosopher during his
life. Today, we are going to explore the life and legacy of Marcus Aurelius, last of the Five Good
Emperors of Rome. Don't forget, the easiest way to support us is by giving this video a thumbs up,
subscribing to our channel and hitting that bell icon for notifications so you don't miss out on
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Patreon - a brilliant site where you can support our work and receive exclusive benefits in return.
Your support helps us create videos twice a week, so make sure to check it out via the pop-up in
the top corner of the screen or via the Patreon link down below. [Music] Marcus Aurelius was born
in Spain, then a province of the Roman Empire, on the 26th of April 121 CE to an aristocratic
family and was named Marcus Annius Verus after his father. His father and mother, Domitia Lucilla,
also known as Domitia Calvilla, both came from upper class politically connected families and
after his father died in 124, Aurelius was raised by his grandfathers and nurses, mainly
though his mother remained a strong influence and guide. He was given the best education
available and in his early teens, was introduced to philosophical texts by one of his teachers.
These books were most likely on Cynic Philosophy which claimed that living simply
without possessions was the path to true freedom in life. Aurelius adopted the cynic lifestyle,
dressing in a rough cloak, eating simple foods, and sleeping on the floor of his room until
his mother forced him to abandon this path and returned to his studies in rhetoric and oratory
in preparation for a career in public service. His mother found him new teachers, including
Herodes Atticus and Marcus Cornelius Fronto, who became major influencers in the young man's life.
Aurelius and Fronto became lifelong friends and continue to correspondence until Fronto's death.
After completing his studies, a marriage was arranged for him with Ceionia Fabia,
daughter of the highly respected politician Lucius Commodus, better known as Lucius
Aelius and the sister of Lucius Verus, who would later become Aurelius' co-emperor.
Aurelius grew up during the reign of Hadrian, his uncle by marriage, who adopted Lucius Alias
as his son and heir. When Aelius died in 138, Hadrian adopted Aurelius Antoninus, later known
as Antoninus Pius, who was also Marcus Aurelius' uncle by marriage. As part of the adoption,
Hadrian insisted that Antoninus name young Marcus and Lucius Verus as his sons and heirs and at this
time, the young man took the name of his adopted father Aurelius and was then known as Marcus
Aelius Aurelius Verus. Marcus was forced to move away from his family and was taken under care by
Anoninus, who groomed him in political affairs. When Hadrian died in July 138, Anoninus ascended
to the throne and observed all of Hadrian's wishes so carefully and respectfully that he
was given the name Pius. He requested Marcus break off his engagement to Fabia and then had him marry
his daughter Faustina to further join their two houses. During this time, Marcus Aurelius served
as Consul and performed administrative tasks while being prepared by Antoninus for rule.
In Aurelius' 'Meditations", his personal journal, he notes how difficult this was for him as he
tried to balance his philosophical beliefs with the responsibilities of the court. When
Antoninus died of natural causes in 161, Aurelius became co-emperor with Lucius Verus. [Music]
Where Aurelius had been carefully prepared by his grandfathers and mother for public
life and then in administration by Anoninus, Verus had a more liberal
upbringing and enjoyed lavish parties, hunting, gladiatorial games and sports.
The Senate decided against confirming Verus as co-emperor as he did not seem suited for the
position, but Aurelius insisted that the wishes of Hadrian be respected and refused to take office
unless Verus was confirmed. Aurelius seems to have later regretted his decision as Verus
made extravagant financial gifts to the military and debased the currency to do so, in addition
to hosting expensive parties and sponsoring games in the arena. Aurelius was clearly the
more responsible and efficient administrator, but both emperors were popular with the people.
Soon after their confirmation in 161, the Parthian War broke out, and Verus was chosen to lead the
troops in Syria while Aurelius remained in Rome as the sole authority. Unlike earlier emperors,
Aurelius had never served in the military and was always in poorer health than Verus,
so Verus was the obvious choice. It could be, though, that Aurelius encouraged Verus'
departure to stop him from throwing extravagant parties and staging expensive sporting events.
While Verus was on campaign, Aurelius tended to administrative affairs and directed war efforts.
Although the establishment of diplomatic ties with China is often attributed to Antoninus,
it most likely took place under Aurelius, as did the reformation of Roman law policies to
protect the poor, orphaned and freed slaves and the re-evaluation of currency. He also directed
the troops in the Germanic Wars and dealt with floods, famine and the plague which killed Verus
in 169. Afterwards, Aurelius reigned alone until he made his son Commodus co-emperor in 177. He
ruled so efficiently and justly that he was listed as the last of the Five Good Emperors of Rome by
the 16th-century Italian diplomat and philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli in Book 1, chapter 10 of his
"Discourses on Livy" who cited the reigns of Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian Antoninus Pius and Marcus
Aurelius as the height of Rome's greatness, an estimation still held by modern historians.
[Music] Aurelius' early devotion to philosophy remained a constant throughout his life,
as evidenced by his famous work "Meditations", a personal journal he kept which he never
intended for publication. Aurelius' name is so closely associated with philosophy that he is
frequently cited by scholars as the closest to Plato's ideal vision of the philosopher
king as described in "Republic". "The ruler who exercises power for the greater good,
not for his own ambition." Throughout "Meditations," Aurelius comments on
various aspects of his life and existence in general in light of Stoic Philosophy,
which held there was a universal force the 'logos' running through and binding all things.
According to the Stoic view, everything that happened in life was natural and ultimately good,
and it is only one's interpretation of events that causes one to define them as bad or tragic.
Aurelius' philosophy is epitomized in Book 4, chapter 23 of "Meditations", where he writes:
"If it is good to you, O Universe, it is good to me. Your harmony is mine. Whatever time you choose
is the right time. Not late, not early. What the turn of your seasons brings me falls like ripe
fruit. All things are born from you, exist in you, return to you." That Aurelius lived his beliefs is
clear from many events in his life, but especially after the death of his seven-year-old son Annius.
Aurelius mourned his loss but refused to take a break from his responsibilities or cancel
public events. His philosophy also directed his policies toward the new religious sect of
Christianity. Although he has been criticised for persecuting the Christians, there is no
evidence he issued any decree approving of or encouraging any such action. Antoninus had
issued decrees protecting Christian civil rights, and Aurelius continued his policies, as evidenced
by a letter from the Bishop Melito of Sardis. The persecution of Christians under Aurelius'
reign was carried out by general governors in the provinces without Aurelius' approval.
Aurelius died of natural causes while on campaign during the Germanic Wars on the 17th of March 180,
at the age of 58. Today, he is probably best known for his depiction in the popular film 'Gladiator',
but his cause of death in the movie is fictionalised, as is the life of
the senator and general Marcus Nonius Macrinus, the model for the character of Maximus. Aurelius
was deified after his death, and his reign nearly universally praised by historians from his time up
to the present. His loyalty to family, however, proved a weakness in his insistence on Verus as
co-emperor and his choice of Commodus as co-ruler and heir. Commodus, as depicted fairly accurately
in 'Gladiator', was an ineffective emperor and nothing like his father, who was remembered for
his philosophical meditations, his just reign and as the last of the Five Good Emperors of Rome.
Do you agree that Aurelius' loyalty to family was a weakness? Let us know what you think
in the comments below! If you enjoyed this video, make sure to give it a thumbs up and
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