Marcus Aurelius Born: Rome's Philosopher-Emperor
Marcus Aurelius became emperor at 40 and spent almost all of his reign fighting wars he hadn't wanted and hadn't started. The Antonine Plague — probably smallpox, brought back by soldiers from the eastern campaign — killed an estimated five million people across the empire during his reign. He responded with practical measures: he sold imperial furniture to fund the army rather than raise taxes. He governed from the field, writing philosophy in his tent at night. His Meditations were never meant to be read by anyone else. They're practical, sometimes harsh on himself: reminders to be patient, to stop caring what people think, to do his job. He died in 180, on campaign, probably from the same plague that had followed him for 14 years.
April 26, 121
1905 years ago
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