Birth of Marcus Aurelius
Birth of Marcus Aurelius in Rome.
Role range: 0161-0180
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Biography and Timeline
Follow Marcus Aurelius Antoninus through 37 dated historical records for Roman Empire.
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
37Distinct records
1 of 1Page
121–180Years on this page
121
128
Salian Priesthood
Marcus entered the ancient priestly college of the Salii while still a child.
Role range: 0161-0180
130
Education
Receives elite philosophical and rhetorical training.
Role range: 0161-0180
Hadrian Calls Him Verissimus
Hadrian reportedly nicknamed the young Marcus Verissimus in recognition of his reputation for truthfulness.
Role range: 0161-0180
136
Betrothal to Ceionia Fabia
Marcus was betrothed to Ceionia Fabia after Hadrian selected Lucius Aelius as imperial heir.
Role range: 0161-0180
138
Adoption by Antoninus
Is adopted by Antoninus Pius under Hadrian settlement.
Role range: 0161-0180
139
Quaestorship
Marcus served as quaestor after his adoption into the imperial family.
Role range: 0161-0180
Recognized as Caesar
Marcus was formally recognized as Caesar and designated as a future imperial successor.
Role range: 0161-0180
140
First Consulship
Marcus held the consulship for the first time while being prepared for imperial rule.
Role range: 0161-0180
145
Marriage
Marries Faustina, daughter of Antoninus Pius.
Role range: 0161-0180
Marriage
Marries Faustina the Younger.
Role range: 0161-0180
Second Consulship
Marcus served as consul for a second time in the year of his marriage to Faustina the Younger.
Role range: 0161-0180
146
Succession
Receives tribunician power, marking him as imperial heir.
Role range: 0161-0180
147
Imperium Granted
Marcus received imperium alongside tribunician power, strengthening his constitutional position as imperial heir.
Role range: 0161-0180
Tribunician Power
Receives tribunician power as designated heir.
Role range: 0161-0180
161
Succession
Succeeds Antoninus Pius and rules jointly with Lucius Verus.
Role range: 0161-0180
Succession
Succeeds Antoninus Pius and shares rule with Lucius Verus.
Role range: 0161-0180
Pontifex Maximus
Marcus assumed the office of pontifex maximus after becoming emperor.
Role range: 0161-0180
Third Consulship
Marcus held his third consulship in the year he became emperor.
Role range: 0161-0180
162
Lucius Verus Sent East
Marcus sent his co-emperor Lucius Verus east to direct the war against Parthia.
Role range: 0161-0180
164
Armeniacus Title
Marcus accepted the victory title Armeniacus after Roman forces recovered Armenia.
Role range: 0161-0180
166
Antonine Plague
Smallpox devastates the Roman Empire
Role range: 0161-0180
Antonine Plague
Faces a destructive epidemic after eastern campaigns.
Role range: 0161-0180
Parthian Triumph
Marcus and Lucius Verus celebrated a joint triumph at Rome following the Parthian War.
Role range: 0161-0180
Parthicus and Medicus Titles
Marcus accepted the titles Parthicus and Medicus after Roman victories in the eastern war.
Role range: 0161-0180
167
Marcomannic Wars
Confronts Germanic and Sarmatian pressure on the Danube.
Role range: 0161-0180
169
Sole Rule after Verus
Marcus became sole emperor after Lucius Verus died in 169.
Role range: 0161-0180
170
Danube Campaign
Commands operations from the Danube frontier.
Role range: 0161-0180
171
Meditations
Reflects on Stoic discipline during frontier campaigns.
Role range: 0161-0180
172
Germanicus Title
Marcus accepted the title Germanicus after Roman successes in the northern wars.
Role range: 0161-0180
174
Peace with Marcomanni
Marcus concluded a peace settlement with the Marcomanni during the northern campaigns.
Role range: 0161-0180
175
Sarmaticus Title
Marcus accepted the victory title Sarmaticus after Roman successes against Sarmatian forces.
Role range: 0161-0180
Suppression of Cassius
Restores order after the revolt of Avidius Cassius collapses.
Role range: 0161-0180
176
Eleusinian Initiation
Marcus was initiated into the Eleusinian Mysteries while travelling through Greece.
Role range: 0161-0180
177
Commodus Made Co-Emperor
Marcus elevated his son Commodus to co-emperor, making the succession explicitly dynastic.
Role range: 0161-0180
Persecution at Lyon
Christian communities at Lyon suffer persecution during his reign.
Role range: 0161-0180
180
Death of Marcus Aurelius
Dies on campaign and is succeeded by Commodus.
Role range: 0161-0180
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.