Issue No. 30

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Marcus Aurelius, the Roman Emperor from 161 to 180 AD, was not only a powerful leader but also a dedicated student of Stoicism, a philosophy that emphasized fate, reason, and self-restraint.

Born into a wealthy and politically prominent family, Marcus Aurelius was adopted by Emperor Hadrian after his biological father died when he was three years old. He grew up learning Latin and Greek, but his greatest intellectual interest was Stoicism. Despite the early loss of his father and the immense responsibility placed on him at a young age, Aurelius did not let these external events control his mind or his life. Instead, he found strength in his ability to control his reactions to these events. One profound example was when Avidius Cassius, a Syrian Roman general declared a rebellion against Marcus in 175 AD.

Avidius Cassius was misled by false reports claiming that Marcus Aurelius had succumbed to the Antonine plague, a disease allegedly brought back by Roman troops returning from the Parthian war. Upon hearing this news, Cassius declared himself emperor, asserting that he had been elected by the legionaries engaged in the Marcomannic War in Pannonia. Rumors circulated that Aurelius’s wife, Faustina the Younger, urged Cassius to seize power, fearing that if her husband died, rival claimants would vie for the throne due to their son Commodus's youth. Cassius aimed to ensure that someone trusted by her husband and family would ascend to power.

When news of Cassius's rebellion reached Aurelius in his military camp, he addressed the soldiers. Expressing his sorrow at his friend's rebellion, Aurelius declared that he had never felt such anguish before. He resolved that if the threat concerned only him, he would leave the choice of a new emperor to the legions and the Senate. Aurelius also expressed a desire that Cassius would not meet a violent end, as he wished to extend mercy to him. Despite these calm words, the Senate deemed Cassius a public enemy, and Marcus Aurelius had to confront his rival in open combat.

While Aurelius was amassing a force to defeat Cassius, a centurion of one of Cassius’ legions murdered Cassius, sending his head to Aurelius as proof. However, the emperor did not want to see the remains of his former companion and ordered to bury the deceased. On July 28, 175 CE, Egypt again recognized Aurelius as emperor.

Marcus, despite the opportunistic expressions of those around him, did not succumb to emotional turmoil and disappointment. He was calm, totally in control of his mind. If he had rushed into waging war against his friend, Cassius, there would have been a chance for bitterness and anger to cloud his judgment. However, Aurelius's Stoic philosophy guided him through this challenging period. He understood that emotions could cloud rational thinking, leading to impulsive decisions with unforeseen consequences. Instead, he chose a path of patience, introspection, and self-control. Even at the demise of his companion, he still felt sadness, instead of anger, for him and respected his death.

In the aftermath of Cassius's rebellion, Aurelius used this experience as a lesson in resilience and fortitude. He recognized the impermanence of power and the unpredictable nature of human relationships. Rather than harboring resentment, he focused on the responsibility he bore as the emperor of Rome. His ability to rise above personal betrayals and tragedies endeared him to his people and earned him a reputation as one of Rome's greatest emperors.

This wisdom is particularly relevant in today’s world. We live in an era of information overload where external events can easily overwhelm us. However, just as Aurelius did centuries ago, we can choose to exercise control over our minds rather than letting outside events dictate our thoughts and emotions.

The story of Marcus Aurelius serves as a reminder that we have the power to shape our own lives. We may not be able to control what happens around us, but we can control how we react to it. By focusing on what we can control - our thoughts and reactions - we can navigate through life’s challenges with resilience and strength.

Marcus Aurelius’ wisdom serves as a timeless guide for finding inner strength. His life story encourages us to focus on what we can control and to find peace amidst the chaos of the world. As Aurelius once said,