MEDITATIONS OF MARCUS AURELIUS
INTRODUCTION
Marcus Aurelius' Meditations - tr. Casaubon v. 8.16, uploaded to www.philaletheians.co.uk, 14 July 2013
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Introduction
ARCUS AURELIUS ANTONINUS was born on April 26, A.D. 121. His real
name was M. Annius Verus, and he was sprung of a noble family which
claimed descent from Numa, second King of Rome. Thus the most reli-
gious of emperors came of the blood of the most pious of early kings. His father, An-
nius Verus, had held high office in Rome, and his grandfather, of the same name,
had been thrice Consul. Both his parents died young, but Marcus held them in lov-
ing remembrance. On his father’s death Marcus was adopted by his grandfather, the
consular Annius Verus, and there was deep love between these two. On the very first
page of his book Marcus gratefully declares how of his grandfather he had learned to
be gentle and meek, and to refrain from all anger and passion. The Emperor Hadrian
divined the fine character of the lad, whom he used to call not Verus but Verissimus,
more Truthful than his own name. He advanced Marcus to equestrian rank when six
years of age, and at the age of eight made him a member of the ancient Salian
priesthood. The boy’s aunt, Annia Galeria Faustina, was married to Antoninus Pius,
afterwards emperor. Hence it came about that Antoninus, having no son, adopted
Marcus, changing his name to that which he is known by, and betrothed him to his
daughter Faustina. His education was conducted with all care. The ablest teachers
were engaged for him, and he was trained in the strict doctrine of the Stoic philoso-
phy, which was his great delight. He was taught to dress plainly and to live simply, to
avoid all softness and luxury. His body was trained to hardihood by wrestling, hunt-
ing, and outdoor games; and though his constitution was weak, he showed great
personal courage to encounter the fiercest boars. At the same time he was kept from
the extravagancies of his day. The great excitement in Rome was the strife of the Fac-
tions, as they were called, in the circus. The racing drivers used to adopt one of four
colours — red, blue, white, or green — and their partisans showed an eagerness in
supporting them which nothing could surpass. 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 betrothal was consum-
mated by marriage. Two years later Faustina brought him a daughter; and soon after
the tribunate and other imperial honours were conferred upon him.
Antoninus Pius died in 161, and Marcus assumed the imperial state. He at once as-
sociated with himself L. Ceionius Commodus, whom Antoninus had adopted as a
younger son at the same time with Marcus, giving him the name of Lucius Aurelius
Verus. Henceforth the two are colleagues in the empire, the junior being trained as it
were to succeed. No sooner was Marcus settled upon the throne than wars broke out
on all sides. In the east, Vologeses III. of Parthia began a long-meditated revolt by de-
stroying a whole Roman Legion and invading Syria (162). Verus was sent off in hot
haste to quell this rising; and he fulfilled his trust by plunging into drunkenness and
debauchery, while the war was left to his officers. Soon after Marcus had to face a
more serious danger at home in the coalition of several powerful tribes on the north-
ern frontier. Chief among those were the Marcomanni or Marchmen, the Quadi (men-
tioned in this book), the Sarmatians, the Catti, the Jazyges. In Rome itself there was
