8.12

Marcus Aurelius' education. The Marcomannic Wars and the Plague (166-180 CE)

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations Book 1. Dio Cassius, Histories Book 72.

(1) Īnstitūtus est ad: "he was trained in" (LS instituo II.K)

Apollōnium Chalcēdōnium: called Apollonius Dyscolus. "He is the father of scientific Grammar, being the first to reduce it to a systematic form" (Hazzard). In Marcus' own words, he learned these things from Apollonius:

Chaerōnēnsem: see Sextus of Chaeronea. According to the Meditations, Marcus learned from him:

Frontō: Marcus Cornelius Fronto. He acquired great reputation as a rhetorician and grammarian at Rome in the reign of Hadrian. Some of his letters to his pupils, Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, were found in the 19th century (Hazzard). Marcus states that he learned from Fronto to "recognize the malice, cunning, and hypocrisy that power produces, and the peculiar ruthlessness often shown by people from 'good families'" (Med. 1.11, Trans. Gregory Hays).

Hīc cum omnibus Rōmae aequō iūre ēgit: "he treated all at Rome with equality" (Hazzard); ēgit here has the idiomatic definition of "treated" (LS ago II.D.8.a).

ēlātus est: "was puffed up" (LS effero II.C.2.b), lit. "raised up"

imperiī fastīgiō: ablative of means (AG 409)

līberālitātis prōmptissimae: genitive of quality (AG 345)

(2) Prōvinciās ingentī benīgnitāte et moderātiōne trāctāvit: he did not visit the provinces, but kept himself thoroughly informed of the details of their administration (Hazzard).

eō prīncipe: "during his reign" (Hazzard); ablative absolute with form of esse assumed (AG 419)

fēlīciter: "successfully" (LS felix II.B.2.b)

Bellum ipse ūnum gessit Marcomannicum: ūnum = "(only) one," looking forward to sed. The Marcomanni, 'Men of the marshes,' were a German tribe that threatened destruction to the Roman Empire. For thirteen years Marcus Aurelius with difficulty held them in check. He built many fortresses and a great wall to restrain them (Hazzard).

quantum nūllā memoriā fuit: "it was greater than any in the memory of man," i.e., there had been no war with the Germans equally formidable (Hazzard).

adeō ut Pūnicīs cōnferātur: "with the result that it should be compared to the Punic Wars." Result clause (AG 537). For the Punic Wars, see Brev. 2.18, 3.7, and 4.10.

Nam eō gravius est factum, quod: "it was made all the more serious because" (Bird). eō is ablative of degree of difference > is ea id, lit. "to that extent," "by that much."

ūniversī exercitūs: "whole armies," subject of perierant

Sub hōc: "under this (emperor)," i.e. in his reign

tantus cāsus pestilentiae: "such as disastrous plague." The plague broke out in 167 CE and lasted for several years, despite all efforts to check its ravages. It was probably brought to Rome by the soldiers returning from the expedition against the Parthians (Hazzard).

Rōmae: "at Rome," locative case (AG 427.3)

dēfēcerint: "died" (LS deficio III.B.β)