Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was born in Rome in AD 121 and ruled as Roman emperor from 161 until his death in 180, first alongside Lucius Verus and then alone. Much of his reign was spent on the Danube frontier, campaigning against the Marcomanni and the Quadi, and he died on campaign, at Vindobona or Sirmium.

He was a student of Stoic philosophy, and wrote in Greek a private notebook of reflections, set down in twelve books during his campaigns and never meant for publication. It is known as the Meditations, or, in the title of George Long's translation given here, the Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus.