Early Life and Rise to Power
Marcus Aurelius was born on April 26, 121 CE, in Rome, into a wealthy and politically influential family. His full name was Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus, and he was adopted by Emperor Antoninus Pius in 138 CE, who was his uncle by marriage. This adoption set the stage for Marcus’s future as a successor to the throne, aligning him with the imperial family.
From a young age, Marcus was trained in the arts of leadership and military strategy, but he was equally drawn to philosophy, particularly Stoicism. His tutors included some of the most respected philosophers of the time, such as the Stoic philosopher Junius Rusticus, who greatly influenced Marcus’s thinking.
In 161 CE, after the death of his adoptive father, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius became emperor, sharing the title with his adoptive brother, Lucius Verus, until Lucius’s death in 169 CE. Despite the partnership, Marcus effectively ruled alone after that time. His reign was characterized by military conflict, internal unrest, and his philosophical pursuits, all of which would shape his legacy. shutdown123