Biography of Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus
16th Emperor of the Roman Empire
Bust of Marcus Aurelius in the Musée Saint-Raymond, Toulouse.
Reign	8 March 161–169 (with Lucius Verus); 169–177 (alone); 177 – March 180 (with Commodus)
Full name	Marcus Annius Catilius Severus (or Marcus Catilius Severus; birth to marriage) Marcus Annius Verus (marriage to adoption byAntoninus Pius) Marcus Aelius Aurelius Verus Caesar (as imperial heir) Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (as emperor)
Born	26 April 121
Birthplace	Rome
Died	17 March 180 (aged 58)
Place of death	Vindobona or Sirmium
Buried	Hadrian's Mausoleum
Predecessor	Antoninus Pius
Successor	Commodus (alone)
Wife	Faustina the Younger
Issue	14, incl. Commodus, Marcus Annius Verus, Antoninus andLucilla
Dynasty	Antonine
Father	Marcus Annius Verus
Mother	Domitia Lucilla

Marcus Aurelius (Latin: Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus;^{[1][notes 1]} 26 April 121 AD – 17 March 180 AD) was a Roman Emperorfrom 161 to 180. He ruled with Lucius Verus as co-emperor from 161 until Verus' death in 169. He was the last of the Five Good Emperors, and is also considered one of the most important Stoic philosophers.

During his reign, the Empire defeated a revitalized Parthian Empire in the East; Aurelius' general Avidius Cassius sacked the capitalCtesiphon in 164. In central Europe, Aurelius fought the Marcomanni, Quadi, and Sarmatians with success during the Marcomannic Wars, with the threat of the Germanic tribes beginning to represent a troubling reality for the Empire. A revolt in the East led by Avidius Cassius failed to gain momentum and was suppressed immediately.

Marcus Aurelius' Stoic tome Meditations, written in Greek while on campaign between 170 and 180, is still revered as a literary monument to a philosophy of service and duty, describing how to find and preserve equanimity in the midst of conflict by following nature as a source of guidance and inspiration.