Shows / Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius is remembered as Rome's philosopher-king, but his reign (161–180 CE) was anything but serene. Lucas and Luna explore the life of the last of the 'Five Good Emperors,' a Stoic scholar forced to wage endless war on the Danube frontier. From the Parthian campaign that brought back plague to the Marcomannic Wars that strained the empire's resources, this show examines how Aurelius balanced governance, military crisis, and personal philosophy. They delve into his 'Meditations' — a…
Episodes
Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo HistoryMarcus Aurelius and the Stoic Emperor's Egyptian Uprising
In 172 CE, while Marcus Aurelius was struggling with the Marcomannic Wars on the Danube, a rebellion erupted in the Nile Delta. The so-called Bucolic War, or…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic Emperor's Cynic Encounter
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Marcus Aurelius's surprising relationship with the Cynic philosopher Demonax and his teacher Epictetus. They…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic Emperor's Ban on Blood Sacrifice
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore a lesser-known decree from the reign of Marcus Aurelius that outlawed human sacrifice across the Roman Empire. They…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic Emperor's Column of Relief
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Column of Marcus Aurelius in Rome, a massive spiral relief monument commemorating the emperor's Marcomannic…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Cost of Roman Citizenship
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the political and social impact of the Constitutio Antoniniana—Caracalla's 212 AD edict granting Roman citizenship…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic Letters Lost to Time
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore a little-known aspect of Marcus Aurelius's reign: his personal correspondence. While the…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic Emperor's Gladiator Decree
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore a lesser-known but revealing aspect of Marcus Aurelius's reign: his regulation of gladiatorial combat. In 176 CE…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic Emperor's Forgotten Philosopher Tutor
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the life and influence of Junius Rusticus, the Stoic philosopher who served as Marcus Aurelius's tutor and later…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic Emperor's German Bodyguard
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the personal bodyguard of Marcus Aurelius, the Germani corporis custodes. Unlike the Praetorian Guard, these Germanic…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic Emperor's Frontier Fort
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the forgotten frontier outpost of Laugaricio (modern Trenčín, Slovakia), the northernmost Roman military site ever…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic's River Crossing Disaster
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore one of the most dramatic episodes of the Marcomannic Wars: the Roman invasion of Quadi territory across the frozen…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic Emperor's Water Laws
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Marcus Aurelius's lesser-known but impactful water legislation. After a brief recap of the emperor's reign…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic Emperor's Legal Reforms
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Marcus Aurelius's often-overlooked legal reforms, which aimed to make Roman justice more equitable and accessible…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic Emperor's Meditations Manuscript
How did the private writings of a Roman emperor survive for almost two millennia? In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the textual transmission of Marcus…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Antonine Plague's True Toll
When a mysterious illness struck the Roman Empire in 165 CE, it didn't just kill millions — it reshaped the reign of Marcus Aurelius. In this episode…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic Emperor's Dream Interpretation
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore a little-known dimension of Marcus Aurelius's inner life: his relationship with dreams and…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic Emperor's Christian Persecutions
Was Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher-king who wrote the Stoic Meditations, personally responsible for persecuting Christians? The evidence is murkier than you…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic's Parthian Triumph
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Marcus Aurelius's role in the Parthian War of 161–166 AD, a conflict that his co-emperor Lucius Verus nominally…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic's Desert Column
In 165 CE, a legion from the Rhine frontier marched three thousand miles into the Syrian desert to besiege a city that had never fallen to Rome. This is the…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic Emperor's Fire in Rome
In 191 AD, a massive fire swept through Rome, destroying the Temple of Peace, the Temple of Vesta, and countless other landmarks. But how did Marcus Aurelius…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic Emperor's Succession Crisis
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the troubled succession of Marcus Aurelius, focusing on the emperor's decision to elevate his son Commodus to…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic Emperor's Egyptian Prefect
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the career of Marcus Aurelius's trusted Egyptian prefect, Tiberius Julius Alexander. A Roman knight of Jewish…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic Emperor's Egyptian Revolt
In 172 CE, while Marcus Aurelius was locked in the grinding Marcomannic Wars on the Danube, a dangerous revolt erupted in Egypt's Nile Delta. The…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic Emperor's Dacian Diplomacy
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore Marcus Aurelius's diplomatic and military strategies in Dacia during the Marcomannic Wars. They…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic Emperor's Grain Fleet
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Rome's vital grain supply from Egypt under Marcus Aurelius. They discuss the formidable grain fleet that crossed…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Sarmatian Cataphract's Legacy
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore an often-overlooked consequence of the Marcomannic Wars: the profound impact of Sarmatian heavy…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic's Lost Legion
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the mystery of Legio IX Hispana, the Ninth Legion that vanished from Roman records during Marcus Aurelius' reign…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Pantanello Aqueduct
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore a lesser-known but revealing chapter of Marcus Aurelius's reign: the construction of the…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic Emperor's Stoic Teacher
Before Marcus Aurelius was emperor, he was a student. And before he wrote the Meditations, he had a teacher who shaped his entire worldview: Junius Rusticus…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Emperor's Personal Physician
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the life and work of Galen, the personal physician of Marcus Aurelius, whose writings provide an intimate window into…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic's Frontier Fortifications
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Marcus Aurelius' extensive fortification projects along the Roman frontier, focusing on the construction of the…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic Emperor's Jewish Rebels
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore a lesser-known conflict of Marcus Aurelius's reign: the Jewish revolt of 115-117 CE under Trajan, which continued…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Mysterious Death of Lucius Verus
In 169 AD, Lucius Verus, co-emperor with Marcus Aurelius, died suddenly while traveling from the Danubian front to Rome. Rumors swirled: was it murder? The…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Banishment of Philosophers
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore a lesser-known chapter of Marcus Aurelius's reign: the banishment of philosophers from Rome in 176 CE. While the…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic's Forgotten Daughter Lucilla
In this episode of Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King, Lucas and Luna explore the life of Annia Aurelia Galeria Lucilla, the emperor's eldest…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Antonine Plague's Lost Generations
The Antonine Plague swept through the Roman Empire between 165 and 180 CE, killing millions and reshaping the Mediterranean world. In this episode, Lucas and…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Sarmatian Cavalry
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Marcus Aurelius's war with the Iazyges, a Sarmatian tribe on the Danube frontier. They discuss the elite Sarmatian…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Quadi Peace Treaty
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore a pivotal yet often overlooked moment in Marcus Aurelius's reign: the peace treaty with the…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
The Stoic Emperor and the Gladiator's Oath
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore a little-known aspect of Marcus Aurelius's reign: his relationship with gladiators and the arena. Despite his…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic's Road to the Rhine
Long before he was emperor, Marcus Aurelius served as a young consul on the Rhine frontier. This episode traces his early military career in Germania Superior…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic Emperor's Glass Economy
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore a surprising corner of Marcus Aurelius's reign: the imperial glass industry. They uncover how the emperor's…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic Emperor's Parthian Captives
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the fate of the Parthian captives taken during Lucius Verus's campaign of 165 CE. Tens of thousands of prisoners…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic Emperor's Egyptian Oasis
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Marcus Aurelius's relationship with Egypt beyond the familiar stories of plague and rebellion. They uncover the…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic's Lost Scrolls from Herculaneum
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the tantalizing possibility that Marcus Aurelius's personal writings survived in the library of the Villa of the…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
The Stoic Emperor and the Mystery of the Scythian Embassy
In this episode of Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King, Lucas and Luna delve into a fascinating but often overlooked episode of the reign: the…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
The Stoic Emperor's Lonely Gods: Marcus Aurelius and Roman Religion
Marcus Aurelius is remembered as the philosopher emperor, but he was also Rome's chief priest — pontifex maximus — during a time of plague, war, and…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
The Stoic Emperor's Syrian Rebellion: Avidius Cassius
In 175 AD, the Roman Empire faced one of its most bizarre crises: a full-scale rebellion led by Avidius Cassius, Marcus Aurelius's most trusted eastern…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
The Stoic Emperor's Forgotten General: Avidius Cassius
In 175 AD, the Roman Empire faced its gravest internal crisis since the Year of the Four Emperors — a civil war initiated by Avidius Cassius, the empire's…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic's Rain Miracle: Divine Intervention or Roman Propaganda
In the thick of the Marcomannic Wars, a desperate Roman legion surrounded by Quadi warriors was saved by a sudden storm — or was it a miracle? Episode 107 of…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
The Stoic Emperor's Column: Marcus Aurelius and the Spiral of War
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Column of Marcus Aurelius, the massive spiral monument in Rome that commemorates his Marcomannic Wars. They discuss…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic's Dream of a Golden Age: The Indian Embassy
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore a fascinating but often overlooked event of Marcus Aurelius's reign: the arrival of an Indian embassy at the court…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
The Stoic Emperor's Epidemic Laws: Marcus Aurelius and Social Reform
When the Antonine Plague ravaged the Roman Empire, Marcus Aurelius did more than philosophize. He enacted sweeping legal reforms to stabilize a collapsing…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
The Philosopher King and the Parthian War
When Marcus Aurelius became emperor in 161 AD, he inherited not only the throne but also a simmering conflict with the Parthian Empire that would erupt into a…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
The Stoic Emperor and the Lost Province of Dacia
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Marcus Aurelius's relationship with Dacia, the Roman province lost under Aurelian decades after Marcus's…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic Emperor's Greek Tutor Herodes Atticus
When Marcus Aurelius became emperor, he brought to power one of the wealthiest and most eccentric figures of the ancient world: his Greek tutor Herodes…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic's Forgotten Daughter: Annia Cornificia Faustina
In this 100th episode, Lucas and Luna explore the life of Annia Cornificia Faustina, the younger sister of Marcus Aurelius who chose to die by her own hand…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
The Stoic Emperor and the Antonine Plague's True Death Toll
Episode 99 of Fexingo History's Marcus Aurelius series examines the Antonine Plague, the mysterious epidemic that ravaged the Roman Empire during the…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
The Stoic Emperor's Tax Revolt in Egypt
When the philosopher-emperor Marcus Aurelius faced a war on the Danube and a plague at home, the last thing he needed was a revolt in the empire's…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic's Nightmare: The Marcomannic Peace
In this episode of Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King, hosts Lucas and Luna explore the treaty that ended the First Marcomannic War in 175 CE — a…
- Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic's Plague Doctors
In this episode of Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King, Lucas and Luna explore the Antonine Plague and the Stoic response to the pandemic that…