Marcus Aurelius Antoninus: The last of Five Good Emperors

Hope the rulers of today learn some of the things from these rulers of the past.

From my grandfather Verus: I learned to relish the beauty of manners, and to restrain all anger. From the fame and character my father obtained, modesty, and a manly deportment.

From my mother: I learned to be religious, and liberal; and to guard, not only against evil actions, but even against any evil intention’s entering my thoughts; to content myself with a spare diet, far different from the softness and luxury so common among the wealthy. *

From my great-grandfather: I learned not to frequent public schools and auditories; but to have good and able teachers; and for things of this nature, to account no expense too great.

From BOOK I – The Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus by Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, [Published in 1742 Written between 96-180 AD]

About the Author: Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was he last of the 5 good emperors of Roman Empire. The Five Good Emperors is a term that refers to five consecutive emperors of the Roman Empire who represented a line of virtuous and just rule — Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius. Their reigns lasted between 96 to 180 AD. The term was coined by the political philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli in 1503:

“From the study this history we may also learn how a good government is to be established; for while all the emperors who succeeded to the throne by birth, except Titus, were bad, all were good who succeeded by adoption; as in the case of the five from Nerva to Marcus. But so soon as the empire fell once more to the heirs by birth, its ruin recommenced”.

Machiavelli wrote that these adopted emperors, through "good" rule, earned the respect of those around them: Titus, Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus, and Marcus had no need of cohorts, or of countless legions to guard them, but were defended by their own good lives, the good-will of their subjects, and the attachment of the senate.