ISBN: 2940012472816

INTRODUCTIONMARCUS AURELIUS ANTONINUS was born on April 26, A.D. 121. His real namewas M. Annius Verus, and he was sprung of a noble family which claimeddescent from Numa, second King of … More...

INTRODUCTIONMARCUS AURELIUS ANTONINUS was born on April 26, A.D. 121. His real namewas M. Annius Verus, and he was sprung of a noble family which claimeddescent from Numa, second King of Rome. Thus the most religious ofemperors came of the blood of the most pious of early kings. His father,Annius Verus, had held high office in Rome, and his grandfather, ofthe same name, had been thrice Consul. Both his parents died young, butMarcus held them in loving remembrance. On his father's death Marcuswas adopted by his grandfather, the consular Annius Verus, and there wasdeep love between these two. On the very first page of his book Marcusgratefully declares how of his grandfather he had learned to be gentleand meek, and to refrain from all anger and passion. The Emperor Hadriandivined the fine character of the lad, whom he used to call not Verusbut Verissimus, more Truthful than his own name. He advanced Marcus toequestrian rank when six years of age, and at the age of eight made hima member of the ancient Salian priesthood. The boy's aunt, Annia GaleriaFaustina, was married to Antoninus Pius, afterwards emperor. Hence itcame about that Antoninus, having no son, adopted Marcus, changing hisname to that which he is known by, and betrothed him to his daughterFaustina. His education was conducted with all care. The ablest teacherswere engaged for him, and he was trained in the strict doctrine of theStoic philosophy, which was his great delight. He was taught to dressplainly and to live simply, to avoid all softness and luxury. His bodywas trained to hardihood by wrestling, hunting, and outdoor games; andthough his constitution was weak, he showed great personal courage toencounter the fiercest boars. At the same time he was kept from theextravagancies of his day. The great excitement in Rome was the strifeof the Factions, as they were called, in the circus. The racing driversused to adopt one of four colours--red, blue, white, or green--and theirpartisans showed an eagerness in supporting them which nothing couldsurpass. Riot and corruption went in the train of the racing chariots;and from all these things Marcus held severely aloof.In 140 Marcus was raised to the consulship, and in 145 his betrothalwas consummated by marriage. Two years later Faustina brought him adaughter; and soon after the tribunate and other imperial honours wereconferred upon him.Antoninus Pius died in 161, and Marcus assumed the imperial state. Heat once associated with himself L. Ceionius Commodus, whom Antoninus hadadopted as a younger son at the same time with Marcus, giving him thename of Lucius Aurelius Verus. Henceforth the two are colleagues in theempire, the junior being trained as it were to succeed. No sooner wasMarcus settled upon the throne than wars broke out on all sides. Inthe east, Vologeses III. of Parthia began a long-meditated revolt bydestroying a whole Roman Legion and invading Syria (162). Verus was sentoff in hot haste to quell this rising; and he fulfilled his trust byplunging into drunkenness and debauchery, while the war was left to hisofficers. Soon after Marcus had to face a more serious danger at home inthe coalition of several powerful tribes on the northern frontier. Chiefamong those were the Marcomanni or Marchmen, the Quadi (mentioned inthis book), the Sarmatians, the Catti, the Jazyges. In Rome itself therewas pestilence and starvation, the one brought from the east by Verus'slegions, the other caused by floods which had destroyed vast quantitiesof grain. After all had been done possible to allay famine and to supplypressing needs--Marcus being forced even to sell the imperial jewels tofind money--both emperors set forth to a struggle which was to continuemore or less during the rest of Marcus's reign. During these wars, in169, Verus died. We have no means of following the campaigns in detail;but thus much is certain, that in the end the Romans succeeded incrushing the barbarian tribes, and effecting a settlement which made theempire more secure. Marcus was himself commander-in-chief, and victorywas due no less to his own ability than to his wisdom in choice oflieutenants, shown conspicuously in the case of Pertinax. There wereseveral important battles fought in these campaigns; and one of them hasbecome celebrated for the legend of the Thundering Legion. In a battleagainst the Quadi in 174, the day seemed to be going in favour ofthe foe, when on a sudden arose a great storm of thunder and rain thelightning struck the barbarians with terror, and they turned to rout. Digital Content>E-books>Classics>Coll Classics>Coll Classics, SAP Digital >16<

ISBN: 2940012472816

INTRODUCTIONMARCUS AURELIUS ANTONINUS was born on April 26, A.D. 121. His real namewas M. Annius Verus, and he was sprung of a noble family which claimeddescent from Numa, second King of … More...

INTRODUCTIONMARCUS AURELIUS ANTONINUS was born on April 26, A.D. 121. His real namewas M. Annius Verus, and he was sprung of a noble family which claimeddescent from Numa, second King of Rome. Thus the most religious ofemperors came of the blood of the most pious of early kings. His father,Annius Verus, had held high office in Rome, and his grandfather, ofthe same name, had been thrice Consul. Both his parents died young, butMarcus held them in loving remembrance. On his father's death Marcuswas adopted by his grandfather, the consular Annius Verus, and there wasdeep love between these two. On the very first page of his book Marcusgratefully declares how of his grandfather he had learned to be gentleand meek, and to refrain from all anger and passion. The Emperor Hadriandivined the fine character of the lad, whom he used to call not Verusbut Verissimus, more Truthful than his own name. He advanced Marcus toequestrian rank when six years of age, and at the age of eight made hima member of the ancient Salian priesthood. The boy's aunt, Annia GaleriaFaustina, was married to Antoninus Pius, afterwards emperor. Hence itcame about that Antoninus, having no son, adopted Marcus, changing hisname to that which he is known by, and betrothed him to his daughterFaustina. His education was conducted with all care. The ablest teacherswere engaged for him, and he was trained in the strict doctrine of theStoic philosophy, which was his great delight. He was taught to dressplainly and to live simply, to avoid all softness and luxury. His bodywas trained to hardihood by wrestling, hunting, and outdoor games; andthough his constitution was weak, he showed great personal courage toencounter the fiercest boars. At the same time he was kept from theextravagancies of his day. The great excitement in Rome was the strifeof the Factions, as they were called, in the circus. The racing driversused to adopt one of four colours--red, blue, white, or green--and theirpartisans showed an eagerness in supporting them which nothing couldsurpass. Riot and corruption went in the train of the racing chariots;and from all these things Marcus held severely aloof.In 140 Marcus was raised to the consulship, and in 145 his betrothalwas consummated by marriage. Two years later Faustina brought him adaughter; and soon after the tribunate and other imperial honours wereconferred upon him.Antoninus Pius died in 161, and Marcus assumed the imperial state. Heat once associated with himself L. Ceionius Commodus, whom Antoninus hadadopted as a younger son at the same time with Marcus, giving him thename of Lucius Aurelius Verus. Henceforth the two are colleagues in theempire, the junior being trained as it were to succeed. No sooner wasMarcus settled upon the throne than wars broke out on all sides. Inthe east, Vologeses III. of Parthia began a long-meditated revolt bydestroying a whole Roman Legion and invading Syria (162). Verus was sentoff in hot haste to quell this rising; and he fulfilled his trust byplunging into drunkenness and debauchery, while the war was left to hisofficers. Soon after Marcus had to face a more serious danger at home inthe coalition of several powerful tribes on the northern frontier. Chiefamong those were the Marcomanni or Marchmen, the Quadi (mentioned inthis book), the Sarmatians, the Catti, the Jazyges. In Rome itself therewas pestilence and starvation, the one brought from the east by Verus'slegions, the other caused by floods which had destroyed vast quantitiesof grain. After all had been done possible to allay famine and to supplypressing needs--Marcus being forced even to sell the imperial jewels tofind money--both emperors set forth to a struggle which was to continuemore or less during the rest of Marcus's reign. During these wars, in169, Verus died. We have no means of following the campaigns in detail;but thus much is certain, that in the end the Romans succeeded incrushing the barbarian tribes, and effecting a settlement which made theempire more secure. Marcus was himself commander-in-chief, and victorywas due no less to his own ability than to his wisdom in choice oflieutenants, shown conspicuously in the case of Pertinax. There wereseveral important battles fought in these campaigns; and one of them hasbecome celebrated for the legend of the Thundering Legion. In a battleagainst the Quadi in 174, the day seemed to be going in favour ofthe foe, when on a sudden arose a great storm of thunder and rain thelightning struck the barbarians with terror, and they turned to rout. Digital Content>E-books>Literature>Literature>Literature, SAP Digital >16<

ISBN: 2940012472816

MEDITATIONS MEDITATIONS~~Marcus-Aurelius Literature>Literature>Literature NOOK Book (eBook), SAP