Marcus Aurelius

Roman emperor

The rare case of Plato's 'philosopher king' and the last of the 'Five Good Emperors'.

💡 Did you know? Marcus Aurelius was at once the most powerful man in the world and a modest philosopher: the „philosopher on the imperial throne“.

Stoicism

His most important teacher from afar: the former slave Epictetus, whose writings he studied.

💡 Did you know? As a Stoic, Marcus Aurelius sought calm towards everything beyond his control.

Meditations

Written in Greek, never meant for publication: composed at night in army camps.

💡 Did you know? He wrote the „Meditations“ only for himself, in camp: never meant for publication, today a classic.

our judgement

'Remove the judgement, and the complaint "I have been harmed" is removed.': the heart of Stoic practice.

💡 Did you know? It is not things themselves that trouble us, but our judgements about them: a core idea of Stoicism.

Marcomanni

The 'Meditations' were written in the army camps of those wars.

💡 Did you know? Marcus Aurelius spent much of his reign at war against Germanic tribes on the Danube frontier.

the Antonine Plague

Probably smallpox, brought back by soldiers from the East: millions died.

💡 Did you know? A devastating plague, probably smallpox, killed millions across the empire during his reign.

the Five Good Emperors

Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius: Rome's golden age.

💡 Did you know? Marcus Aurelius is seen as the last of the „Five Good Emperors“; an era of prosperity and orderly succession.

Commodus

The gladiator emperor, for many historians the beginning of the end of Rome's golden age.

💡 Did you know? Instead of adopting a capable successor, he made his own son Commodus emperor: who plunged the empire into chaos.

Epictetus

Stoicism reached from slave to emperor: Marcus gave thanks for his acquaintance with Epictetus' writings.

💡 Did you know? His most important philosophical influence was the former slave Epictetus: proof of how far Stoicism rose above rank and birth.

in an army camp (Vindobona)

In the midst of the Marcomannic War: the film 'Gladiator' made the scene world-famous, though freely invented.

💡 Did you know? Marcus Aurelius died in 180 AD in camp on the Danube, probably at Vindobona: present-day Vienna.

It was taken for Constantine

As the supposed image of the Christian emperor it was never melted down: today it stands on the Capitoline.

💡 Did you know? His bronze equestrian statue survived the Middle Ages almost intact because it was mistaken for the Christian emperor Constantine.

a classic of the art of living

Politicians, athletes and executives swear by the book: Stoicism is enjoying a worldwide renaissance.

💡 Did you know? 'Soon you will have forgotten everything; soon everyone will have forgotten you': one of his most famous lines.

Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor and a Stoic philosopher: his „Meditations“ rank among the most-read books of wisdom in the world.

💡 Did you know? He wrote them only for himself in camp, with no intention of ever publishing them.