| Marcus Aurelius | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bust, Art Institute of Chicago | |||||
| Emperor of the Roman Empire | |||||
| Reign | 7 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 reign of Marcus Aurelius began with his accession on 7 March 161 following the death of his adoptive father, Antoninus Pius, and ended with his own death on 17 March 180. Marcus first ruled jointly with his adoptive brother, Lucius Verus. They shared the throne until Lucius' death in 169. Marcus was succeeded by his son Commodus, who had been made co-emperor in 177.
Under Marcus, Rome fought the Roman–Parthian War of 161–66 and the Marcomannic Wars. The so-called Antonine plague occurred during his reign. In the last years of his rule, Marcus composed his personal writings on Stoic philosophy known as Meditations.