Marcus Aurelius Popular Books
Marcus Aurelius Biography & Facts
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (Latin: [ˈmaːrkʊs au̯ˈreːliʊs antoːˈniːnʊs]; English: aw-REE-lee-əs; 26 April 121 – 17 March 180) was Roman emperor from 161 to 180 and a Stoic philosopher. He was a member of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty, the last of the rulers later known as the Five Good Emperors and the last emperor of the Pax Romana, an age of relative peace, calm, and stability for the Roman Empire lasting from 27 BC to 180 AD. He served as Roman consul in 140, 145, and 161. Marcus Aurelius was the son of the praetor Marcus Annius Verus and his wife, Domitia Calvilla. He was related through marriage to the emperors Trajan and Hadrian. Marcus's father died when he was three, and he was raised by his mother and paternal grandfather. After Hadrian's adoptive son, Aelius Caesar, died in 138, Hadrian adopted Marcus's uncle Antoninus Pius as his new heir. In turn, Antoninus adopted Marcus and Lucius, the son of Aelius. Hadrian died that year, and Antoninus became emperor. Now heir to the throne, Marcus studied Greek and Latin under tutors such as Herodes Atticus and Marcus Cornelius Fronto. He married Antoninus's daughter Faustina in 145. After Antoninus died in 161, Marcus Aurelius acceded to the throne alongside his adoptive brother, who reigned under the name Lucius Verus. Under his rule the Roman Empire witnessed much military conflict. In the East, the Romans fought the Parthian war of Lucius Verus with a revitalized Parthian Empire and the rebel Kingdom of Armenia. Marcus defeated the Marcomanni, Quadi, and Sarmatian Iazyges in the Marcomannic Wars. These and other Germanic peoples began to represent a troubling reality for the Empire. He reduced the silver purity of the Roman currency, the denarius. The persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire appears to have increased during his reign, but his involvement in this is unlikely since there is no record of early Christians in the 2nd century calling him a persecutor, and Tertullian even called Marcus a "protector of Christians". The Antonine Plague broke out in 165 or 166 and devastated the population of the Roman Empire, causing the deaths of five to ten million people. Lucius Verus may have died from the plague in 169. Unlike some of his predecessors, Marcus chose not to adopt an heir. His children included Lucilla, who married Lucius, and Commodus, whose succession after Marcus has been a subject of debate among both contemporary and modern historians. The Column of Marcus Aurelius and Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius still stand in Rome, where they were erected in celebration of his military victories. Meditations, the writings of "the philosopher" – as contemporary biographers called Marcus – are a significant source of the modern understanding of ancient Stoic philosophy. These writings have been praised by fellow writers, philosophers, monarchs, and politicians centuries after his death. Sources The major sources depicting the life and rule of Marcus Aurelius are patchy and frequently unreliable. The most important group of sources, the biographies contained in the Historia Augusta, claimed to be written by a group of authors at the turn of the 4th century AD, but it is believed they were in fact written by a single author (referred to here as 'the biographer') from about 395. The later biographies and the biographies of subordinate emperors and usurpers are unreliable, but the earlier biographies, derived primarily from now-lost earlier sources (Marius Maximus or Ignotus), are considered to be more accurate. For Marcus's life and rule, the biographies of Hadrian, Antoninus, Marcus, and Lucius are largely reliable, but those of Aelius Verus and Avidius Cassius are not. A body of correspondence between Marcus's tutor Fronto and various Antonine officials survives in a series of patchy manuscripts, covering the period from c. 138 to 166. Marcus's own Meditations offer a window on his inner life, but are largely undateable and make few specific references to worldly affairs. The main narrative source for the period is Cassius Dio, a Greek senator from Bithynian Nicaea who wrote a history of Rome from its founding to 229 in eighty books. Dio is vital for the military history of the period, but his senatorial prejudices and strong opposition to imperial expansion obscure his perspective. Some other literary sources provide specific details: the writings of the physician Galen on the habits of the Antonine elite, the orations of Aelius Aristides on the temper of the times, and the constitutions preserved in the Digest and Codex Justinianeus on Marcus's legal work. Inscriptions and coin finds supplement the literary sources. Early life Name Marcus was born in Rome on 26 April 121. His birth name is sometimes given as Marcus Annius Verus, but sources assign this name to him upon his father's death and unofficial adoption by his grandfather, upon his coming of age. He may have been known as "Marcus Annius Catilius Severus", at birth or some point in his youth, or "Marcus Catilius Severus Annius Verus". Upon his adoption by Antoninus as heir to the throne, he was known as "Marcus Aelius Aurelius Verus Caesar" and, upon his ascension, he was "Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus" until his death; Epiphanius of Salamis, in his chronology of the Roman emperors included in his On Weights and Measures, calls him Marcus Aurelius Verus. Family origins The father of Marcus Aurelius was Marcus Annius Verus (III). The Anni Veri were a Roman family settled in the small colony of Ucubi (Colonia Claritas Iulia Ucubi) south-east of Córdoba in Iberian Baetica (modern Andalusia, Spain); they were of Italic origins, and had legendary claims of descendance from Numa Pompilius. The Anni Veri rose to prominence in Rome in the late 1st century AD. Marcus's great-grandfather Marcus Annius Verus (I) was a senator and (according to the Historia Augusta) ex-praetor; his grandfather Marcus Annius Verus (II) was made patrician in 73–74. Through his grandmother Rupilia Faustina, Marcus was related to the Nerva-Antonine dynasty; Rupilla was the step-daughter of Salonia Matidia, who was the niece of the emperor Trajan. Marcus's mother, Domitia Lucilla Minor (also known as Domitia Calvilla), was the daughter of the Roman patrician P. Calvisius Tullus and inherited a great fortune (described at length in one of Pliny's letters) from her parents and grandparents. Her inheritance included large brickworks on the outskirts of Rome – a profitable enterprise in an era when the city was experiencing a construction boom – and the Horti Domitia Calvillae (or Lucillae), a villa on the Caelian hill of Rome. Marcus himself was born and raised in the Horti and referred to the Caelian hill as 'My Caelian'. The adoptive family of Marcus was the gens Aurelia, an old Roman gens. His adoptive father Antoninus Pius came from the Aurelii Fulvi, a branch of the Aurelii settled in the colony of Nemausus in Roman Gaul. Childhood Marcus's sister, Annia Cornif.... Discover the Marcus Aurelius popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Marcus Aurelius books.
Best Seller Marcus Aurelius Books of 2024
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The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius AntoniusMarcus Aurelius was a Roman Emperor from 161 to 180. He ruled with Lucius Verus as coemperor from 161 until Verus' death in 169. He was the last of the Five Good Emperors, and is a...
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On the Shortness of Life
Seneca & C. D. N. CostaThroughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselvesand each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They ha...
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Stillness Is the Key
Ryan HolidayInstant #1 New York Times Bestseller & Wall Street Journal BestsellerIn The Obstacle Is the Way and Ego Is the Enemy, bestselling author Ryan Holiday made ancient wisdom wildly...
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The Republic
Plato & Desmond LeeThe classic translation of the cornerstone work of western philosophyPlato's Republic is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential works in the history of philosophy. Pres...
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Meditations
Marcus Aurelius & Gregory HaysNATIONAL BESTSELLER “Meditations offers a glimpse into [Marcus Aurelius’s] mind, his habits, and his approach to life. . . . I think any reader would find something useful to take...
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Delphi Complete Works of Marcus Aurelius
Marcus AureliusThe celebrated ‘Meditations’ of Marcus Aurelius have endured as a potent expression of Stoic belief and remain an intriguing insight into the mind of one of Rome’s greatest emperor...
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The Courage to Be Disliked
Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake KogaAn international bestseller and TikTok sensation with more than 10 million copies sold worldwide, The Courage to Be Disliked is a transformative and practical guide to personal hap...
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Meditations
Marcus Aurelius & Martin Hammond'Their icy blasts are refreshing and restorative. They tell you the worst. And having heard the worst, you feel less bad' Blake MorrisonWritten in Greek by the only Roman emperor w...
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Roman Society from Nero to Marcus Aurelius
Samuel DillTHE century which separates Nero from Marcus Aurelius is of exceptional interest. The monster or mountebank who ruled the world when it opened was the " Caesar " to whom St. Paul "...
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Marcus Aurelius
Donald J. RobertsonExperience the world of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius and the tremendous challenges he faced and overcame with the help of Stoic philosophy This novel biography brings Marcu...
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The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius
George LongThe spiritual wisdom of the Stoic Emperor of Ancient Rome. Perennial maxims point the way for achieving perfect peace of mind. They have inspired the best of humanity for over almo...
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Marcus Aurelius
Frank McLynnMarcus Aurelius (121180 AD) is one of the great figures of antiquity who still speaks to us today, more than two thousand years after his death. His Meditations has been compared b...
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Marcus Aurelius
Alan StedhallThis new work draws from Marcus Aureliusone of the last great preChristian voices of classical Western philosophy and spiritualitythe essential threads of his thinking in the Medit...
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The Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius
Marcus AureliusThe Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, commonly known as Meditations, are the writings of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. They are considered a classic of Stoic philosophy.
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Marcus Aurelius
John SellarsIn this new study, John Sellars offers a fresh examination of Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations as a work of philosophy by placing it against the background of the tradition of Stoic ph...
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The Obstacle Is the Way
Ryan Holiday#1 Wall Street Journal BestsellerThe Obstacle is the Way has become a cult classic, beloved by men and women around the world who apply its wisdom to become more successful at what...
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Lives of the Stoics
Ryan Holiday & Stephen HanselmanInstant New York Times Advice & Business Bestseller, USA Today Bestseller, and Wall Street Journal #1 Bestseller!A New York Times Noteworthy Pick and a "stellar work" by Publis...
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Ego Is the Enemy
Ryan HolidayThe instant Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and international bestseller“While the history books are filled with tales of obsessive visionary geniuses who remade the world in their...
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Marcus Aurelius
Sedgwick, Henry DwightThis extensive volume is a biography of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, from his youth through his military exploits and philosophical studies. An appendix with context of the Stoic philo...
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Stoic Six Pack
Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius & Lucius Annaeus Seneca“You have power over your mind not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength. The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” Marcus Aurelius...
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The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius
Marcus AureliusMarcus Annius Verus was born in Rome, A. D. 121, and assumed the name of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, by which he is known to history, on his adoption by the Emperor T. Aurelius Anto...
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The Daily Stoic
Ryan Holiday & Stephen HanselmanFrom the team that brought you The Obstacle Is the Way and Ego Is the Enemy, a daily devotional of Stoic meditationsan instant Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestseller.Why have...
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The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius
Marcus AureliusStoicism is often portrayed as a cheerless, stiffupperlip philosophy of suffering and doom. Yet as experienced through the thoughtful and penetrating writings of Roman emperor, Mar...
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The Art of War
Tzu Sun & Ralph D. SawyerThe definitive translation of Suntzu's timeless classic of military strategy, Art of WarSuntzu's Art of War is almost certainly the most famous study of strategy ever written. This...
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Ten Caesars
Barry StraussBestselling classical historian Barry Strauss delivers “an exceptionally accessible history of the Roman Empire…much of Ten Caesars reads like a script for Game of Thrones” (The Wa...
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Meditations of Marcus Aurelius
Marcus AureliusMeditations is former US President Bill Clinton's favorite book. This audio consists of a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor AD 161180, setting fort...
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Thoughts and Meditations of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus
Marcus AureliusMeditations is a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor 161–180 CE, setting forth his ideas on Stoic philosophy.Marcus Aurelius wrote the 12 books of the Med...
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The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius
Marcus AureliusThis classic book contains the personal musings and reflections of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. Written for himself with no intention of publishing his writing, Meditations o...
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Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
Emperor of Rome Marcus AureliusThe Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius wrote his 'Thoughts' between 170 and 180.He writes about solidarity, physical adversity, good and evil, inner freedom and more. 'Thoughts of Marcu...
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Discourses and Selected Writings
Epictetus & Robert DobbinContains The Discourses/Fragments/Enchiridion'I must die. But must I die bawling?'Epictetus, a Greek Stoic and freed slave, ran a thriving philosophy school in Nicopolis in the ear...
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Marcus Aurelius
Anthony R BirleyMarcus Aurelius, the philosopheremperor who ruled the Roman Empire between AD 161 and 180, is one of the best recorded individuals from antiquity. Even his face became more than us...
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Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
Emperor of Rome Marcus AureliusThe Thoughts is a series of personal reflections by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor 161–180 CE, written over a series of years in farflung places as he led the Romans in military ca...
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Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius
Emperor of Rome Marcus AureliusM. Antoninus was born at Rome, A. D. 121, on the 26th of April. His father, Annius Verus, died while he was praetor. His mother was Domitia Calvilla, also named Lucilla. The Empero...
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How to Think Like a Roman Emperor
Donald J. Robertson"This book is a wonderful introduction to one of history's greatest figures: Marcus Aurelius. His life and this book are a clear guide for those facing adversity, seeking tranquili...
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Meditations of Marcus Aurelius
Marcus AureliusThis eBook edition of "Meditations of Marcus Aurelius" has been formatted to the highest digital standards and adjusted for readability on all devices."Meditations"...
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The Socrates Express
Eric WeinerThe New York Times bestselling author of The Geography of Bliss embarks on a rollicking intellectual journey, following in the footsteps of history’s greatest thinkers and showing ...
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Meditations - Marcus Aurelius
Charles ThompsonMeditations remains one of the most impactful books ever written. If you are looking to learn more about the Stoic Philosophy, or just life in general, Meditations is a fantastic p...
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Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
Marcus AureliusMeditations is One of the world's most famous and influential books and remains one of the greatest works of spiritual and ethical reflection ever written. Written by the Roman em...
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The Essential Marcus Aurelius
Jacob Needleman & John PiazzaThis inauguraland all newTarcher Cornerstone Edition presents a stunningly relevant and reliable translation of the thoughts and aphorisms of the Stoic philosopher and Roman empero...
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Meditations of Marcus Aurelius Study Guide
Ira CleeseThis unique study guide provides readers with unprecedented access to the complete and unabridged text of The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius in both English and the original Greek....