Marcus Aurelius Was a Stoic Philosopher-King Who Wrote Self-Help Books. Then His Son Ruined Everything.

Imagine the best, most respected leader in the world. Someone wise, just, and universally admired. Now imagine his son is a spoiled, narcissistic, wannabe-gladiator who single-handedly ruins everything his father built. 😬

That's the story of **Marcus Aurelius** and his son, **Commodus**. It's the ultimate historical tragedy of a great man and his failson. 🤦

Marcus Aurelius: The Philosopher-King 👑

Marcus Aurelius was the real deal. He was the last of the "Five Good Emperors" and ruled the Roman Empire at the absolute peak of its power, the Pax Romana. But he wasn't your typical emperor. He was a devoted student of **Stoicism**, a philosophy about mastering your emotions and living a virtuous life.

While commanding legions on the freezing northern frontier, he wrote a personal diary that would become one of the most influential self-help books of all time: **"Meditations."** 📖

This book is full of timeless advice that's still quoted on Instagram and by tech bros today:

• "You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength."
• "The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury."
• "Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one."

He was the living embodiment of Plato's ideal "philosopher-king." For nearly 20 years, he ruled with wisdom and integrity. And then... he died. And he made one huge mistake. He left the empire to his son. 💀

Commodus: The Son Who Ruined Everything 👎

Commodus was... not like his dad. At all. While Marcus was writing about self-control and virtue, Commodus was obsessed with himself. He had zero interest in governing and spent his time on:

• **Partying:** He threw lavish, non-stop parties and orgies. 🍾
• **Gladiator Cosplay:** He was obsessed with gladiators and even fought in the Colosseum himself. The problem? He was the emperor, so no one was allowed to actually beat him. It was the ancient equivalent of a billionaire renting out a basketball court to dunk on a bunch of kids. So cringe. 😬
• **Renaming Rome:** He renamed Rome "Colonia Commodiana" (the Colony of Commodus). He also renamed the months of the year after his own various titles.
• **Thinking He Was Hercules:** He would literally dress up as Hercules, complete with a lion-skin cloak and a club. He even had statues of himself made as the demigod.

His reign was a disaster. He bankrupted the treasury, ignored the military, and ruled through terror. The peace and stability his father had worked so hard to maintain? Gone. The Pax Romana died with Marcus Aurelius.

Commodus was eventually assassinated by his own wrestling partner, who was hired by his advisors to strangle him in the bath. A fittingly trashy end for a trashy emperor. 🤷

So while we remember Marcus Aurelius as the wise philosopher-king, his story is also a tragic reminder that a lifetime of good work can be undone in an instant by one terrible successor. Especially when that successor is your own son. Oof. 🏛️🔥

Sources & More Reading

1. Wikipedia - "Marcus Aurelius" & "Commodus"
The best starting points for the lives of the philosopher-king and his disastrous son.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aurelius

2. The Guardian - "The Guardian view on Marcus Aurelius: a philosopher for our times"
An article exploring why the Stoic emperor's writings are still so relevant today.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/20/the-guardian-view-on-marcus-aurelius-a-philosopher-for-our-times

3. History.com - "8 Things You May Not Know About Marcus Aurelius"
Fun facts and trivia about the last of the Five Good Emperors.
https://www.history.com/news/8-things-you-may-not-know-about-marcus-aurelius