Italy: Icon of Marcus Aurelius (121-180), joint 16th Roman emperor, from the book Icones imperatorvm romanorvm (Icons of Roman Emperors), Antwerp, c. 1645

Marcus Aurelius was born in 121 to a prominent family in Iberian Baetica. Marcus Aurelius, along with future joint emperor Lucius Verus, was adopted by Antoninus Pius upon his own adoption as heir by Hadrian. Marcus Aurelius was a nephew of Antoninus' wife, and soon became his favoured son.

When Antoninus Pius passed away in 161, Marcus Aurelius became co-emperor with his adopted brother Lucius Verus, though he was resistant to becoming emperor at first. Marcus refused to take office unless Lucius was given equal powers, upsetting the senate's wishes to confirm Marcus alone. Together they co-ruled the Empire until Lucius' death from plague in 169, the first time Rome had ever been ruled by two emperors.

Marcus Aurelius defeated a resurgent Parthian Empire during his reign, also successfully waging the Marcomannic Wars in central Europe. Marcus was a stern follower of Stoicism, and his writings on it, commonly known as 'Meditations', are some of the more significant sources on ancient Stoic philosophy. He died in 180 at the age of 58, becoming the last of the 'Five Good Emperors'.

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