Marcus Aurelius

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Marcus Aurelius
Alyssa C Period G 1/ 16/02

• At dawn of day, when you dislike being called,
  have this thought ready I am called to mans
  labor why then do I make a difficulty if I am
  going out to do what I was born to do and what I
  was brought into the world for?
• -Meditations

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Basic Facts

• Born 26 April 121 at Rome
• Family made its money off of Olive Oil.
• Family was from a Spanish province called
  Baetica.
• Annia Galeria Faustina (sister of Marcus) was
  married to Antoninus Pius.
• Father died and she was adopted by his
  grandfather.

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Marcuss new life

• In 136 He was betrothed to Ceionia Fabia, the
  daughter of Lucius Ceionius Commodus.
• Commudus was adopted to become the successor but
  passed away before Hadrian.
• He and Commoduss son were soon adopted by the
  new heir, Antoninus Pius

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Rising to the Top

• In 139 Marcus was given the name Caesar and
  became consul.
• Engagement was broken by Antoninus. Re-betrothed
  to his daughter Annia Faustina ( the younger)
• 32 years of marriage 14 children.

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Brothers

• Marcus had already planned for Lucius and
  himself to rule the empire together.
• Marcus became consul at the age of 18.
• Lucius became consul at 24.
• Glory and titles where shared after the Parthian
  War.
• The name Verus was given to Lucius.

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Coin
Lucius and Marcus shaking hands.
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The Parthian War

• Fight over Armenia.
• Pro-Rome leader was expelled.
• Soon the four-legion garrison of Syria was taken.
• Lucius was sent to go in person.
• 163 Roman forces capture the capital.

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Parthian War cont.

• General Avidius Cassius captured the Parthian
  capital in 165.
• Palace of the king was destroyed.
• Troops return in 166.
• First big victory since Trajans rule.
• Returning soldiers brought plague.
• Lucius was given little credit.

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The German Wars

• 169 Italy was invaded
• The two emperors work hard together to build an
  army after the effects of the plague
• Lucius died in the north and was carried back to
  Rome.

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The German War Plan

• The enemy had to be driven out of Italy and into
  their own territory.
• He wanted to capture each tribe separately (
  divide and conquer).
• Since this took a lot of funding two new legions
  were recruited.

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Avidius Cassius

• 175 Avidius Cassius, governor of Syria claimed
  the empire.
• Marcus left for the east but by the time he got
  there loyal soldiers of Marcus already killed
  Cassius.
• Marcus returned to Italy.

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Call of duty

• After returning to Italy Marcus was soon called
  to the East again.
• This time he brought Commodus, who was only 16.
• The military campaigns were successful but in
  180 Marcus died.
• Commodus continued the war, but was eager to head
  home.

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Capax Imperii

• Gibbon called Marcus the philosophic monarch.
• One of the five good emperors
• Author of the Meditations
• Father of one of the worst emperors.
• He loved his step family as his own and proved
  true to his family.

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The column
15
The Barbarians
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The Meditations

• Everything headed to myself
• Written while campaigning on the northern
  frontier.
• It was said that Marcus wrote these to console
  himself during his long times away from home.
• The Meditations showed how extensive his training
  in philosophy was.

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Bibliography

• Scarre, Chris. Chronicles Of the Roman Empire.
  New York, New York Thames Hudson Ltd.1995
• Friedman, Micheal. Chronicles Of The Roman World.
  New York FairFax.2000
• Benario, Herbert W. Marcus Aurelius. Unknown.
  Emory.lt http//www.Roman-Emperors.orggt
• Crane, Gregory. Persus Project. Taft University.
  Dec.13th 2001. lt http//www.Persus.tufts.edu gt