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Marcus Aurelius: Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
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Marcus Aurelius became emperor upon Antoninus Pius' death on March 7, A.D. 161 and arranged for Lucius Verus to be co-regent with him; this was the first occurrence of full collegiality in the principate. Although today Marcus Aurelius is best known as the quintessential Stoic philosopher-ruler, the greater part of his effort was spent in military affairs. The title Armeniacus in the legend is connected with the recovery of Armenia from the Parthians in A.D. 163-164, which the coin celebrates. The reverse is a type frequently used for a victory; here the shield states specifically that the emperor is responsible for the victory (Victoria Augusti).
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Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was born in Rome. He came from an aristocratic family long established in Spain. His father was Annius Verus. When only a small child, he caught the attention of the Emperor Hadrian (r. 117-138) - a pedophile and his fellow countryman. He was appointed by the Emperor to priesthood in the year 129, and Hadrian ... supervised his education, which was entrusted to the best professors of literature, rhetoric and philosophy of the time.
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During the reign of Antoninus, Marcus Aurelius continued his educational preparation for the imperial throne. While the pursuit of stoicism continued, his duties under the peaceful 23 year reign of Antoninus included regular advancement through the political cursus honorum, but was surprisingly devoid of military experience (this particular exclusion could have been a tragic oversight considering the political power of the army, but the eventual succession went about completely unopposed). To further cement his bond to Antoninus Pius, the engagement to Ceonia Fabia was broken off and Marcus was married to his cousin Faustina the Younger (the emperor's daughter) in AD 145. She eventually bore him 13 children, most of whom died young, including a daughter Lucilla (the future wife of co emperor Lucius Verus, and son Commodus the eventual heir to the throne and the emperor often associated with the beginning of the imperial decline.
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Born Marcus Annius Verus on April 26, 121, of a noble family originally Spanish, Marcus Aurelius grew up close to the center of power. When he was a child, the emperor Hadrian noticed him and punned on his name, Verus ("True"), calling him Verissimus ("Truest") for his uprightness. In his final arrangement Hadrian, who had difficulty in choosing a successor, destined Marcus for ultimate rule, for when he adopted Marcus's uncle by marriage, Antoninus (soon to be known as Antoninus Pius), he had Antoninus adopt Marcus Aurelius along with the young Lucius Ceionius Commodus, later called Lucius Verus.
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Born Marcus Annius Verus on April 26, 121, of a noble family, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus grew up close to the center of power. When he was a child, the emperor Hadrian (76–138) noticed him and made a word play on his name, Verus (meaning "true"), by calling him Verissimus (meaning "truest") for his strong sense of morals. Hadrian had difficulty choosing an emperor to follow him, but placed Marcus on the path to rule. When he adopted Marcus's uncle by marriage, Antoninus Pius (86–161), he arranged for Antoninus to adopt Marcus Aurelius along with the young Lucius Verus (130–169).
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Marcus Aurelius Antoninus is regarded as one of the greatest emperors in Roman history; he is numbered among the "Five Good Emperors." Marcus ruled the vast empire from 161 to 180 AD. A highly intelligent man, he stands out as one of the greatest intellectual rulers in Western Civilization. Although a great military leader, Marcus was impressed with a firm desire for peace that manifested itself in his philosophical writings.
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Marcus Aurelius Antoninus