Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius follows the philosopher-emperor whose Meditations became one of the most widely read works of Stoic reflection. It traces his adoption into the Antonine dynasty, shared rule with Lucius Verus and attempts to govern through plague, war and political strain.

The biography centres on the Marcomannic Wars along the Danube and the challenge posed by Avidius Cassius’s revolt. It compares the ideal of rational self-command in Marcus’s private writing with the demands and compromises of imperial rule, including the succession of his son Commodus.