| Marcus Aurelius | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Marble statue of a young Marcus in military garb, wearing the muscle cuirass, Altes Museum, Berlin | |||||
| Emperor of the Roman Empire | |||||
| Reign | 8 March 161 – 17 March 180 | ||||
| Predecessor | Antoninus Pius | ||||
| Successor | Commodus | ||||
| Co-emperors | Lucius Verus (161–169) Commodus (177–180) | ||||
| Born | Marcus Annius Verus 26 April 121 Rome | ||||
| Died | 17 March 180 (aged 58) Vindobona or Sirmium | ||||
| Burial | |||||
| Spouse | Faustina the Younger | ||||
| Issue | 14, incl. Commodus, Marcus Annius Verus, Antoninus and Lucilla | ||||
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| Dynasty | Nerva-Antonine | ||||
| Father |
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| Mother | Domitia Lucilla Minor | ||||
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The early life of Marcus Aurelius (r. 161–180) spans the time from his birth on 26 April 121 until his accession as Roman emperor on 8 March 161.
Following the death of his father, Marcus Annius Verus (III), Marcus Aurelius was raised by his grandfather, Marcus Annius Verus (II). Educated at home, Marcus became an adherent of Stoicism at a young age. In 138 he was adopted by Titus Aurelius Antoninus, himself the adopted heir of Emperor Hadrian. Hadrian died later that year, and his adoptive son succeeded him under the name Antoninus Pius.
Among Marcus' tutors were the orators Marcus Cornelius Fronto and Herodes Atticus. Marcus held the consulship jointly with Antoninus Pius in 140 and in 145. In between his first and second consulships, Marcus served as a quaestor. In 145 he married his first cousin, Pius' daughter Faustina. They had a number of children, including the future empress Lucilla and the future emperor Commodus. Marcus took on more responsibilities of state as Pius aged; at the time of Pius' death in 161, he was consul with his adoptive brother Lucius. Upon their adoptive father's death, Marcus and Lucius became co-emperors.