Marcus Annius Aurelius Verus (also Marcus Aurelius Antoninus) (April 26, 121 - March 17, 180) was Roman emperor from A.D. 161 to his death in 180.
As a boy he was adopted by his uncle Antoninus Pius on February 25, AD 138.
During his reign Marcus Aurelius was virtually constantly at war with various peoples trying to invade the empire. Main foes of the empire that days, were germanic tribes and Parths.
Marcus Aurelius is well-known as a Stoic philosopher; his Meditations, written in Greek, survive and continue to inspire. However, his son and successor Commodus was a particularly vicious example of imperial excess.
He died during the expedition against the Marcomanni in the city of Vindobona (today Vienna).
See also: Roman Empire, Byzantine Emperors
Emperor Marcus Aurelius appears as a character in the 2000 film Gladiator, played by Richard Harris.
