Marcus Aurelius (161 - 180CE)

Marcus Aurelius (7 March 161 - 17 March 180CE). Born Marcus Annius Verus, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus was the last of the "Five Good Emperors." He became Caesar in 139, married Faustina Junior, Antoninus' daughter, in 145, was conferred Tribunician power in 147, and acceded smoothly to the throne upon Antoninus' death on March 7, 161. He ruled jointly with Lucius Verus until the latter's death of the Antonine Plague in 169. Aurelius succumbed to this plague 11 years later. He is best known as a stoic philosopher author of Meditations.