Marcus Aurelius

When Hadrian, one of Rome's most successful emperors, died in
138AD, he appointed as his successor Antoninus Pius, who in turn, on
Hadrian's instructions, adopted the 17-year-old Marcus Aurelius as his
successor. The young man's future was confirmed when he was married
to Faustina, a daughter of Antoninus Pius. As well as carrying out
courtly duties, he devoted himself to the study of law and philosophy.
Taking power at age 40, Aurelius voluntarily divided rule with his
brother Lucius Verus, who was to die eight years later.
Though peaceful by nature, Aurelius was forced continually to
defend the Empire's territories against the Germanic tribes, including
the Marcomanni and the Quadi. A single manuscript, now lost, is the
source of the Meditations. Marcus Aurelius had never intended that it
be published. The year 1559 saw its first printing, almost 14 centuries
after the emperor's death in 180. While Ridley Scott's film Gladiator
portrays the emperor being murdered by Commodus, there is no historical
evidence for this.