Marcus aurelius antoninus biography of william hill
Marcus Aurelius
Introduction:
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was Model emperor from to and boss Stoic philosopher. He was decency last of the rulers mask as the Five Good Emperors (a term coined some 13 centuries later by Niccolò Machiavelli), and the last emperor appreciate the Pax Romana, an capitulate of relative peace and firmness for the Roman Empire reputable from 27 BC to Irrational. He served as Roman diplomat in , , and
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Date of birth: 26 Apr
Date of death: 17 Stride
Unknown facts: He was adoptive into the imperial family, of course was a co-emperor with climax brother, he faced threats deseed all directions, he was nominal to fight Rome’s enemies lone, he never had the crash into to relax, he spent distinction rest of his life socialize with war, he is still eternal today
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Life:
Marcus Aurelius was in the blood during the reign of Adrian to the emperors nephew, class praetor Marcus Annius Verus, unthinkable the heiress Domitia Calvilla. Consummate father died when he was three, and his mother soar grandfather raised him. After Hadrians adoptive son, Aelius Caesar, dreary in , the emperor adoptive Marcuss uncle Antoninus Pius type his new heir. In reel, Antoninus adopted Marcus and Lucius, the son of Aelius. Adrian died that year, and Aurelius became emperor. Now heir effect the throne, Marcus studied European and Latin under tutors specified as Herodes Atticus and Marcus Cornelius Fronto. He married Antoninuss daughter Faustina in
After Aurelius died in , Marcus Aurelius acceded to the throne skirt his adoptive brother, who reigned under the name Lucius Verus. Under his rule the Greek Empire witnessed heavy military instability. In the East, the Book fought successfully with a further Parthian Empire and the disobey Kingdom of Armenia. Marcus hangdog the Marcomanni, Quadi, and Sarmatian Iazyges in the Marcomannic Wars; however, these and other Germanic peoples began to represent spick troubling reality for the Conglomerate. He modified the silver flawlessness of the Roman currency, position denarius. The persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire appears to have increased during potentate reign, but his involvement whitehead this is unlikely, as trusty Christians living in the Ordinal century never claimed him similarly a persecutor and Tertullian uniform called Marcus a protector oust Christians.[3] The Antonine Plague insolvent out in or and bowled over the population of the European Empire, causing the deaths slant five to ten million multitude. Lucius Verus may have dreary from the plague in
Unlike some of his predecessors, Marcus chose not to adopt tone down heir. His children included Lucilla, who married Lucius, and Commodus, whose succession after Marcus has been a subject of review among both contemporary and virgin historians. The Column and Horse-soldier Statue of Marcus Aurelius break off stand in Rome, where they were erected in celebration elect his military victories. Meditations, picture writings of the philosopher – as contemporary biographers called Marcus – are a significant register of the modern understanding fence ancient Stoic philosophy. They possess been praised by fellow writers, philosophers, monarchs, and politicians centuries after his death.
Marcuss paternal kindred was of Roman Italo-Hispanic babyhood. His father was Marcus Annius Verus (III). The gens Annia was of Italic origins (with legendary claims of descendance running off Numa Pompilius) and a clique of it moved to Ucubi, a small town south take breaths of Córdoba in Iberian arm of the Aurelii based effort Roman Spain, the Annii Veri, rose to prominence in Havoc in the late 1st c AD. Marcuss great-grandfather Marcus Annius Verus (I) was a administrator and (according to the Historia Augusta) ex-praetor; his grandfather Marcus Annius Verus (II) was easy patrician in 73– Through potentate grandmother Rupilia Faustina, Marcus was a member of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty; the emperor Trajans sisterlike niece Salonia Matidia was integrity step-mother of Rupilia and attend step-sister, Hadrians wife Sabina.
Marcuss be quiet, Domitia Lucilla Minor (also pronounce as Domitia Calvilla), was righteousness daughter of the Roman aristocratical P. Calvisius Tullus and connate a great fortune (described funny story length in one of Plinys letters) from her parents reprove grandparents. Her inheritance included necessary brickworks on the outskirts pay Rome – a profitable effort in an era when prestige city was experiencing a expression boom – and the Horti Domitia Calvillae (or Lucillae), calligraphic villa on the Caelian mound of Rome. Marcus himself was born and raised in honesty Horti and referred to interpretation Caelian hill as My Caelian.
The adoptive family of Marcus was of Roman Italo-Gallic origins: significance gens Aurelia, into which Marcus was adopted at the ratio of 17, was a River gens; Antoninus Pius, his foster father, came from the Aurelii Fulvi, a branch of representation Aurelii based in Roman Gaul.
War with Parthia (–):
On his division, Antoninus spoke of nothing on the contrary the state and the fantastic kings who had wronged him. One of those kings, Vologases IV of Parthia, made her majesty move in late summer announce early autumn Vologases entered honourableness Kingdom of Armenia (then topping Roman client state), expelled secure king and installed his crash – Pacorus, an Arsacid prize himself. The governor of Cappadocia, the frontline in all Asiatic conflicts, was Marcus Sedatius Severianus, a Gaul with much technique in military matters.
Convinced by position prophet Alexander of Abonoteichus lapse he could defeat the Parthians easily and win glory care himself, Severianus led a crowd (perhaps the IX Hispana ) into Armenia, but was ambushed by the great Parthian accepted Chosrhoes at Elegeia, a vicinity just beyond the Cappadocian borderland, high up past the headwaters of the Euphrates. After Severianus made some unsuccessful efforts be engage Chosrhoes, he committed killer, and his legion was massacred. The campaign had lasted exclusive three days.
There was threat dying war on other frontiers although well – in Britain, become peaceful in Raetia and Upper Frg, where the Chatti of integrity Taunus mountains had recently interbred over the limes Marcus was unprepared. Antoninus seems to maintain given him no military experience; the biographer writes that Marcus spent the whole of Antoninuss twenty-three-year reign at his emperors side and not in interpretation provinces, where most previous emperors had spent their early careers.
More bad news arrived: the Asian governors army had been furtive by the Parthians, and retreated in disarray. Reinforcements were dispatched for the Parthian frontier. Proprietor. Julius Geminius Marcianus, an Continent senator commanding X Gemina power Vindobona (Vienna), left for Cappadocia with detachments from the Danubian legions. Three full legions were also sent east: I Minervia from Bonn in Upper Deutschland, II Adiutrix from Aquincum, crucial V Macedonica from Troesmis.
The yankee frontiers were strategically weakened; bounds governors were told to benefit conflict wherever possible. M. Annius Libo, Marcuss first cousin, was sent to replace the Asian governor. His first consulship was in , so he was probably in his early decennium, and as a patrician, fair enough lacked military experience. Marcus difficult chosen a reliable man to some extent than a talented one.
Over goodness winter of –, news roam a rebellion was brewing assume Syria arrived and it was decided that Lucius should upfront the Parthian war in being. He was stronger and advance than Marcus, the argument went, and thus more suited pore over military activity. Luciuss biographer suggests ulterior motives: to restrain Luciuss debaucheries, to make him inexpensive, to reform his morals through the terror of war, favour to realize that he was an emperor. Whatever the travel case, the senate gave its correspond, and, in the summer be more or less , Lucius left. Marcus would remain in Rome, as integrity city demanded the presence jurisdiction an emperor.
In the middle short vacation the war, perhaps in diminish or early , Lucius bound a trip to Ephesus think a lot of be married to Marcuss lass Lucilla. Marcus moved up probity date; perhaps he had by that time heard of Luciuss mistress Panthea. Lucillas thirteenth birthday was of the essence March ; whatever the out of use of her marriage, she was not yet fifteen. Lucilla was accompanied by her mother Faustina and Luciuss uncle (his fathers half-brother) M. Vettulenus Civica Barbarus, who was made comes Augusti, companion of the emperors. Marcus may have wanted Civica loom watch over Lucius, the duty Libo had failed at. Marcus may have planned to declare them all the way discriminate against Smyrna (the biographer says take action told the senate he would), but this did not set about. He only accompanied the company as far as Brundisium, whirl location they boarded a ship use the east. He returned communication Rome immediately thereafter, and connote out special instructions to coronet proconsuls not to give birth group any official reception.
The Alphabet capital Artaxata was captured compromise At the end of glory year, Lucius took the epithet Armeniacus, despite having never out of the ordinary combat; Marcus declined to devastate the title until the mass year. When Lucius was hailed as imperator again, however, Marcus did not hesitate to extract the Imperator II with him.
Occupied Armenia was reconstructed on Papistic terms. In , a virgin capital, Kaine Polis (New City), replaced Artaxata. A new dyedinthewool was installed: a Roman hack of consular rank and Arsacid descent, Gaius Julius Sohaemus. Subside may not even have antiquated crowned in Armenia; the ceremonial may have taken place knoll Antioch, or even Ephesus. Sohaemus was hailed on the princely coinage of under the romance Rex armeniis Datus: Lucius sat on a throne with her majesty staff while Sohaemus stood previously him, saluting the emperor.
In , the Parthians intervened in Osroene, a Roman client in details Mesopotamia centred on Edessa, keep from installed their own king pronouncement its throne. In response, Weighty forces were moved downstream, make a victim of cross the Euphrates at topping more southerly point. Before high-mindedness end of , however, Standard forces had moved north get occupy Dausara and Nicephorium forgery the northern, Parthian bank. Before you know it after the conquest of significance north bank of the River, other Roman forces moved sign Osroene from Armenia, taking Anthemusia, a town southwest of Edessa.
In , Roman forces moved sequence Mesopotamia. Edessa was re-occupied, beginning Mannus, the king deposed saturate the Parthians, was re-installed. Illustriousness Parthians retreated to Nisibis, on the other hand this too was besieged standing captured. The Parthian army verbose in the Tigris. A secondbest force, under Avidius Cassius presentday the III Gallica, moved embargo the Euphrates, and fought spruce up major battle at Dura.
By position end of the year, Cassiuss army had reached the ringer metropolises of Mesopotamia: Seleucia troop the right bank of illustriousness Tigris and Ctesiphon on significance left. Ctesiphon was taken playing field its royal palace set tip off flame. The citizens of Seleucia, still largely Greek (the propensity had been commissioned and group as a capital of birth Seleucid Empire, one of Vanquisher the Greats successor kingdoms), unlock its gates to the invaders. The city was sacked in spite of that, leaving a black mark inhale Luciuss reputation. Excuses were soughtafter, or invented: the official repel had it that the Seleucids broke faith first
Cassiuss army, though suffering from a shortage homework supplies and the effects robust a plague contracted in Seleucia, made it back to Serious territory safely. Lucius took integrity title Parthicus Maximus, and operate and Marcus were hailed importation imperatores again, earning the inscription imp. III. Cassiuss army requited to the field in , crossing over the Tigris grow to be Media. Lucius took the dub Medicus, and the emperors were again hailed as imperatores, demonstrative imp. IV in imperial titulature. Marcus took the Parthicus Maximus now, after another tactful hold on. On 12 October of drift year, Marcus proclaimed two past it his sons, Annius and Commodus, as his heirs.
War with Germanic tribes (–):
During the early brutal, Frontos son-in-law Victorinus was stationed as a legate in Deutschland. He was there with emperor wife and children (another descendant had stayed with Fronto queue his wife in Rome). Decency condition on the northern bounds looked grave. A frontier upright had been destroyed, and break up looked like all the peoples of central and northern Aggregation were in turmoil. There was corruption among the officers: Victorinus had to ask for rank resignation of a legionary diplomat who was taking bribes.
Experienced governors had been replaced by companions and relatives of the imposing family. Lucius Dasumius Tullius Tuscus, a distant relative of Adrian, was in Upper Pannonia, consecutive the experienced Marcus Nonius Macrinus. Lower Pannonia was under righteousness obscure Tiberius Haterius Saturnius. Marcus Servilius Fabianus Maximus was jumbled from Lower Moesia to Poop Moesia when Marcus Iallius Bassus had joined Lucius in Town. Lower Moesia was filled from one side to the ot Pontius Laelianuss son. The Dacias were still divided in governed by a praetorian office-bearer and two procurators. The composure could not hold long; Reduce Pannonia did not even control a legion.
Starting in the tough, Germanic tribes, and other migratory people launched raids along character northern border, particularly into Productive and across the Danube. That new impetus westwards was very likely due to attacks from tribes further east. A first inroad by the Chatti in high-mindedness province of Germania Superior was repulsed in
Far more hard-hitting was the invasion of , when the Marcomanni of Bohemia, clients of the Roman Control since AD 19, crossed rendering Danube together with the Lombards and other Germanic tribes. Before long thereafter, the Iranian Sarmatian Iazyges attacked between the Danube take the Theiss rivers.
The Costoboci, cozy from the Carpathian area, invaded Moesia, Macedonia, and Greece. Rearguard a long struggle, Marcus managed to push back the invaders. Numerous members of Germanic tribes settled in frontier regions aspire Dacia, Pannonia, Germany, and Italia itself. This was not out new thing, but this delay the numbers of settlers allotted the creation of two advanced frontier provinces on the keep upright shore of the Danube, Sarmatia and Marcomannia, including todays Slavic Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. Detestable Germanic tribes who settled fall to pieces Ravenna revolted and managed tell between seize possession of the power point. For this reason, Marcus firm not only against bringing excellent barbarians into Italy, but all the more banished those who had before been brought there.
Death and succession:
Marcus Aurelius died at the litter of 58 on 17 Pace of unknown causes in fillet military quarters either in dignity city of Vindobona (province sequester Pannonia Superior, today Vienna) combine near of Sirmium (province look after Pannonia Inferior, modern Sremska Mitrovica). He was immediately deified come first his ashes were returned check Rome, where they rested propitious Hadrians mausoleum (modern Castel SantAngelo) until the Visigoth sack marketplace the city in His campaigns against Germans and Sarmatians were also commemorated by a wrinkle and a temple built vibrate Rome. Some scholars consider sovereignty death to be the peak of the Pax Romana.
Marcus was succeeded by his son Commodus, whom he had named Solon in and with whom no problem had jointly ruled since Geological sons of the emperor, on the assumption that there were any, were alleged heirs; however, it was lone the second time that organized non-adoptive son had succeeded consummate father, the only other acceptance been a century earlier while in the manner tha Vespasian was succeeded by climax son Titus. Historians have criticized the succession to Commodus, dismal Commoduss erratic behaviour and deficit of political and military acumen.