Meditations | Page 4

of the Factions, as they were called, in the circus. The racing
drivers used to adopt one of four colours--red, blue, white, or
green--and their partisans showed an eagerness in supporting them
which nothing could surpass. Riot and corruption went in the train of
the racing chariots; and from all these things Marcus held severely
aloof.
In 140 Marcus was raised to the consulship, and in 145 his betrothal
was consummated by marriage. Two years later Faustina brought him a
daughter; and soon after the tribunate and other imperial honours were
conferred upon him.
Antoninus Pius died in 161, and Marcus assumed the imperial state. He
at once associated with himself L. Ceionius Commodus, whom
Antoninus had adopted as a younger son at the same time with Marcus,
giving him the name of Lucius Aurelius Verus. Henceforth the two are
colleagues in the empire, the junior being trained as it were to succeed.

No sooner was Marcus settled upon the throne than wars broke out on
all sides. In the east, Vologeses III. of Parthia began a long-meditated
revolt by destroying a whole Roman Legion and invading Syria (162).
Verus was sent off in hot haste to quell this rising; and he fulfilled his
trust by plunging into drunkenness and debauchery, while the war was
left to his officers. Soon after Marcus had to face a more serious danger
at home in the coalition of several powerful tribes on the northern
frontier. Chief among those were the Marcomanni or Marchmen, the
Quadi (mentioned in this book), the Sarmatians, the Catti, the Jazyges.
In Rome itself there was pestilence and starvation, the one brought
from the east by Verus's legions, the other caused by floods which had
destroyed vast quantities of grain. After all had been done possible to
allay famine and to supply pressing needs--Marcus being forced even
to sell the imperial jewels to find money--both emperors set forth to a
struggle which was to continue more or less during the rest of Marcus's
reign. During these wars, in 169, Verus died. We have no means of
following the campaigns in detail; but thus much is certain, that in the
end the Romans succeeded in crushing the barbarian tribes, and
effecting a settlement which made the empire more secure. Marcus was
himself comanander-in-chief, and victory was due no less to his own
ability than to his wisdom in choice of lieutenants, shown
conspicuously in the case of Pertinax. There were several important
battles fought in these campaigns; and one of them has become
celebrated for the legend of the Thundering Legion. In a battle against
the Quadi in 174, the day seemed to he going in favour of the foe, when
on a sudden arose a great storm of thunder and rain the lightning struck
the barbarians with terror, and they turned to rout. In later days this
storm was said to have been sent in answer to the prayers of a legion
which contained many Christians, and the name Thundering Legion
should he given to it on this account. The title of Thundering Legion is
known at an earlier date, so this part of the story at least cannot be true;
but the aid of the storm is acknowledged by one of the scenes carved on
Antonine's Column at Rome, which commemorates these wars.
The settlement made after these troubles might have been more
satisfactory but for an unexpected rising in the east. Avidius Cassius,
an able captain who had won renown in the Parthian wars, was at this

time chief governor of the eastern provinces. By whatever means
induced, he had conceived the project of proclaiming himself emperor
as soon as Marcus, who was then in feeble health, should die; and a
report having been conveyed to him that Marcus was dead, Cassius did
as he had planned. Marcus, on hearing the news, immediately patched
up a peace and returned home to meet this new peril. The emperors
great grief was that he must needs engage in the horrors of civil strife.
He praised the qualities of Cassius, and expressed a heartfelt wish that
Cassius might not be driven to do himself a hurt before he should have
the opportunity to grant a free pardon. But before he could come to the
east news had come to Cassius that the emperor still lived; his
followers fell away from him, and he was assassinated. Marcus now
went to the east, and while there the murderers brought the head of
Cassius to him; but the emperor indignantly refused their gift, nor
would he admit the men to his presence.
On this journey his wife, Faustina, died. At his return the emperor
celebrated a triumph (176). Immediately afterwards he repaired to
Germany, and took up once more the burden of war. His operations