Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was born 121 ce to an aristocratic Roman family before becoming the adopted heir to Emperor Antoninus Pius in 139. Marcus Aurelius took over the throne in 161 AD and his reign lasted for about 19 years until his evil son commodus killed after finding out his fathers intentions of leaving the to a military general. It is often said that Marcus is the only true philosopher king in the history of the world. He was …showed first 75 words of 313 total…

…showed last 75 words of 313 total…the stress of supreme power, from the imminent fear of death in battle, to the trials of everyday life.With hindsight Marcus' greatest omission was that he did not impose Stoicism as the imperial religion, with as much rigour as Theodosius later imposed Christianity. Had he done so, the history of the world might have turned out very differently. But the fact that he was more tolerant might be regarded as another of his virtues.