Marcus Aurelius

"Look well into thyself; there is a source of strength which will always spring up if thou wilt always look there."

Marcus Aurelius was born in 121 AD, to a very prominent Roman family.  He was adopted at age 17 by Antoninus Pius, and was marked from that time as a future Roman emperor.  He did not come to power, however, until 161 AD, when he was 40 years old.  Aurelius ruled jointly with his adopted brother Lucius Veras until Veras' death in 169 AD.

The reign of Marcus Aurelius was dominated by military campaigns.  Roman troops attempted to cross the Danube river, which did not please the native Germans.  Aurelius also had to crush rebellions in such Roman holdings as present day Egypt, Spain, and Great Britain.  Nevertheless, Aurelius is considered the last of the Five Good Emperors of Rome, who ruled in succession from 90-180 AD.  In 177 AD, Aurelius named his son, and only surviving child, Commodus, the next Roman Emperor.  Aurelius died in 180 AD at the age of 58.  Commodus' reign was a disaster, and inherently corrupt.

Today, Aurelius is mostly remembered as a student of Stoicism:  A true Philosopher King.  His famous "Meditations" records his day-to-day thoughts and reflections, and is still considered a great work.

"The perfection of moral character consists in this:  in passing each day as the last..."