Nerva-Antonine · 161 AD — 180 AD
Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus
Philosopher-emperor and Stoic. Last of the Five Good Emperors. Wrote the famous philosophical work 'Meditations'.
What shaped his reign
- Defended the empire against Germanic invasions
- Wrote Meditations, a cornerstone of Stoic philosophy
- Promoted education and legal reforms
- Ruled jointly with Lucius Verus initially
A few things to remember
- Known as the 'Philosopher King'
- Much of his reign spent on military campaigns
- His son Commodus ended the era of Good Emperors