Richard Harris (next time try imdb.com)

Most of his reign was spent directing the defense of the Empire from German invaders, but Marcus Aurelius was also a deep thinker and follower of the Stoic philosophy, and he wrote a book called Meditations which is still read today. When asked what book other than the Bible was most influential to his life, President Clinton named the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. [Somewhat ironic as Stoicism does not espouse self-indulgence.] Also, he was the last of the "Five Good Emperors." Upon his death in 180, the Roman Empire sank into gradual decline. It is speculated that if he had continued the practice of naming an adopted son as his successor, instead of his natural son Commodus, the Pax Romana might have lasted much longer than it did.

Quite a mistery. Marcus Aurelius had enough time to know about the true caracter of his son and his "virtues" as a future ruler; and yet it seems he did not change his mind about succesion.

They say that it was to avoid a civil war, it was better to chose a strong candidate in terms of lineage even if poor as a person. I don't like that hypothesis.

One remote "possibility" is that Commodus really changed *a lot* when his father passed away, sort of evil possession or an acute "sickness of power". Unlikely I guess.

I think this: After emperors like Hadrian, Trajan, Antoninus and Mark.. could it be improved? Can the good times always get better or even last? What else could come after a row of 5 virtuous emperors? Only the way down I guess. Time is cyclic, at least the greeks and romans believed that, what goes up must come down. Maybe Markus was aware of that and only accelerated the process, in a reasonement like this: "instead of a smooth descent from virtuous to less and less virtuous until the vicious level is reached, lets propel the cycle directly from virtuous to utterly vicious so the way up comes sooner". Just guessing.... :-)

Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor 161-180 AD. He persecuted the Christians, so that narrows it down. He also didn't believe in an after-life, so that eliminates most other religions. He had a philosophical view on life, rather than having particularly 'religious' views.

He believed that life is full of frustrated desires, so that death is to be desired, because, according to his view, death would be an end of desire and unhappiness. This concept has some similarity to the philosophies of Buddhism and Jainism, however, both these religions believe in an after-life. Furthermore there does not appear to be any records to indicate that Marcus Aurelius actually favored the Buddhist or Jain religions.

Marcus Aurelius was very superstitious and surrounded himself with mystics and magicians. When challenges arose, he favored, if anything, the traditional gods of the people, and as their Emperor, he encouraged prayers to the (ancient) gods of Rome. From this point of view, it could be said that he favored the 'Roman religion', but this doesn't tell us very much. His favored philosophy was Stoicism. And his critics claim that he failed to establish Stoicism as the state religion. However, it can be argued that Stoicism is not a religion as such, but rather, more a set of beliefs based on reason and argument, in contrast with beliefs which derive from revelations by an external and divine source.

Historical records indicate that he had dealings with some early Christian writers, and that he may also have favored the Jews. In either situation these relationships would doubtless be more of a political nature than a religious one; i.e. he associated (i) with leading Christians to understand their position in relationship to him, as Emperor (and God?) of Rome, and (ii) with Jews because he knew he would have their support in his suppression of Christianity.

For more information, see Related links below this box.

Marcus Aurelius does not affect the US at all. He ruled some 1850-1840 years ago, at a time when society, politics, economics, the law and military affairs were totally different that those of today.

He is responsible for the martyrdom of the first apologist, Justin, and some people belive he is also responsible for the death of Polycarp.

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor. He ruled the empire for a living.

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor. He ruled the empire for a living.

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor. He ruled the empire for a living.

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor. He ruled the empire for a living.

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor. He ruled the empire for a living.

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor. He ruled the empire for a living.

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor. He ruled the empire for a living.

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor. He ruled the empire for a living.

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor. He ruled the empire for a living.

Power struggles

Trade was disrupted, hurting the economy

Provincial battles

Many mercenaries were hired, hurting the economy

good it had 3 parts to it

Mark Antony didn't have any brother's or sister's. He only had his mother and his father. His father died in war against pirate's. Correction here. Marc Antony had two brothers, Gaius and Lucius. Lucius, along with Fulvia, was the one who rebelled against Octavian and was defeated at Perusia.

Your question is a bit vague as there were 16 famous men who were called Diogenes in antiquity. I will assume that you mean Diogenes of Tarsus who was a 2nd century BC Epicurean philosopher. Marcus Aurelius was a Roman Emperor who reigned from 161 to 180 AD. He was a philosopher as well. Therefore, both men were philosophers. However, Marcus Aurelius belonged to a different philosophical school. He was a Stoic.

charlie sheen

Marcus Aurelius spent all of his reign (161-80). fighting wars. One was against Rome main rival, the Parthian Empire of Persia. (161-66). The other was against Germanic peoples who were trying to invade the River Danube area of the Roman Empire in what historians call the Marcomannic War (166-180).

Ambrosius Aurelianus, Welsh: Emrys Wledig; called Aurelius Ambrosius in the Historia Regum Britanniae and elsewhere, was a war leader of the Romano-British who won an important battle against the Anglo-Saxons in the 5th century, according to Gildas. He also appeared independently in the legends of the Britons, beginning with the 9th-century Historia Brittonum.

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor who lived from 26 April 121 - 17 March 180.

During the Pax Romana, he promoted Christianity even though he was a Pagan.

He was very philosophical and wrote a series of books called Meditations.
Marcus Aurelius was very philosophical and wrote a series of books called meditation.

The period of Marcus Aurelius’ reign was one of wars. There was a war against the resurgent and aggressive Persians (160-166) which was fought by various generals. From 166 to 180 there were the Marcomannic Wars. T

he Marcomanni, a Germanic people from Bohemia who crossed the frontier of the river Danube and, together with the Lombards and other Germanics, raided areas of the Balkan Peninsula. Marcus Aurelius managed to push them back. However, the Marcomanni and Quadi then attacked northeast Italy and at the same time the Costoboci from Northern Romania invaded the lower Danube, Macedonia and Greece. Marcus Aurelius managed to push them all back after a long struggle. Then he crossed the Danube, won a decisive victory and planned to invade Bohemia. However, he fell ill and died in 180.

Marcus Aurelius was very interested in the law. He spent most of his time addressing legal matters, hearing petitions and arbitrating litigations. He dealt with matters of law theory and practice as was described as “an emperor most skilled in the law.” He was also a stoic philosopher and wrote a book on stoic philosophy (the Meditations) between 170 and 180 while he was campaigning against the Marcomanni.

During Marcus Aurelius' reign there was also a plague which lasted from 165 to 180 and which has been named the Antonine Plague (after Marcus Aurelius’ family name, Antoninus). It is thought that it was a pandemic of either smallpox or the measles. It killed many people.

Marcus Aurelius was succeeded by his son, Commodus.

. Commodus was the worst Roman emperor. He was an unjust, cruel and egotistical ruler. He fancied himself as a gladiator and fought in the arena. He always won because the gladiators let him and he spared their lives. However, he killed his sparring partners in practice when he won. He bound people who had lost their feet and then clubbed them to death. He also killed with a sword injured soldiers and amputees. He fought against animals in the arena. He decapitated an ostrich and carried its head to the section where senators sat and signalled to them they were going to be the next ones. He killed a giraffe, even though this animal was considered harmless and not worthy to fight against. He was megalomaniac. He called himself the new Romulus, renamed Rome Colonia Lucia Annia Commodiana, changed the names of the months with names he gave to himself, renamed the legions Commodianae and the senate Commodian Fortunate Senate.

Not surprisingly, Commodus was unpopular. Under his rule Rome lost cohesion. There were conspiracies against him and he was assassinated during a coup d' etat.The coup led to the five years of civil wars. Septimius Severus emerged as the final victor. He established the Severan dynasty.

Marcus Aurelius was one of the five good emperors (Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius) whose rule was benign and enlightened. He was a prominent stoic philosopher. He was described as a philosopher-king and was said that he was more philanthropic and philosophic and his 'good' predecessors. Ancient historian Herodian wrote; "Alone of the emperors, he gave proof of his learning not by mere words or knowledge of philosophical doctrines but by his blameless character and temperate way of life."

Because he was fond of having a lictor recite Socrates while he sodomized his eunich slaves.

Marcus Aurelius died on March 17, 180 at the age of 58.
180 CE.

He was in pre-christian Italy. So he was a pagan.