\paperw4290 \margr0\margl0 \plain \fs20 \qr\li405 \f1 \b MARCUS AURELIUS\par
MARCUS AURELIUS ANTONINUS\par
(161 - 180)\par
\par
\b0 He was born in Rome in 121 with
the name of Marcus Annius Verus, which was changed at the time of his adoption by Antoninus Pius in 138. As a young man he studied Stoic philosophy, eloquence, and painting. He wrote a work entitled Conversations with Oneself. He married his cousin Faust
ina, the daughter of Antoninus, who gave him thirteen children. For eight years he ruled the Empire jointly with his adopted brother Lucius Verus: for the first time there were two Augustuses in Rome. A wise man, he always showed deference to the senate
and love for the people. He was obliged to deal with unrest, rebellions, and attacks on the Empire by its subject peoples. During his reign a number of Roman ambassadors traveled as far as China. He died of plague at the age of sixty-nine, either at Vind
obona (Vienna) or in the military camp of Sirmium (Southern Pannonia).\par
