Marcus Aurelius

Karl White

Ed. by Graham Allen, University College Cork, Thomas Habinek, University of Southern California
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.1.2: Ancient Roman Writing and Culture (Republic and Empire), -750-476.
Vol. editors: William John Dominik (University of Otago), Giacomo Fedeli (University of Exeter), Thomas Habinek (University of Southern California), Emily Kneebone (University of Nottingham), Elodie Paillard (University of Sydney), Sophia Papaioannou (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), Jula Wildberger (The American University of Paris)

Dates

Born 26 Apr 121
Died 17 Mar 180
Activity 161-180

Places

Born in Ancient Rome (Republic & Empire)
Active in Ancient Rome (Republic & Empire); Germany; Italy; Syria

Activities

Primary

Emperor
Military commander
Philosopher
Politician
Statesman

Resources

Born Marcus Annius Verus on 26 April A.D. 121 in Rome in the fifth year of Hadrian's reign, and of Spanish extraction, Marcus was the son of the consular M. Annius Verus, brother-in-law of the future emperor Antoninus Pius. Both of Marcus' parents died young and he was adopted by his grandfather, also named M. Annius Verus, former prefect of Rome and three times Consul.

Marcus was favoured by the patronage of Hadrian and in 136 was betrothed by him to the daughter of L. Ceionius Commodus, consul for that year and Hadrian's chosen successor. Upon Ceionius' death in 138, Hadrian adopted Marcus' uncle Antoninus Pius, in turn requiring Antoninus to adopt as his own sons both Marcus and Ceionius' son, Lucius Verus. Marcus' name was …

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514 words

Citation: White, Karl. "Marcus Aurelius". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 13 February 2006 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=2931, accessed 22 November 2024.]

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