Marcus Aurelius Life Story

The  episodes to follow are from the multimedia iBook, Harmony’s Secret (Interactive).  Marcus unfolds his life story in parallel with his lesson plans that guide Harmony into mastering the seven pillars of Stoicism. The iBook is dedicated to the brave, budding youths that will experience unimaginable change and challenges, like never seen before.

Topics include:Newborn rituals, bulla, and Dies Lustricus celebration. Father’s death. Preschool training, clothing, food, and daily life. Homeschool teachers and early learning.Emperor Hadrian’s early interest in Marcus and the nickname he gave him, Verissimus (Meaning most truthful). Priesthood college, tutors and Stoic philosophers. Toga Virilis ceremony.Third Jewish Roman war. The sacrifice of Antinous. What Marcus thought of Hadrian, the adoption of Antoninus, and his changing marriage arrangements. Marcus becomes the youngest Quaestor in history at seventeen years old.Hadrian’s death and succession plans.Chapter highlights of Harmony’s Secret (Interactive)An event calendar compares the Roman dating system to the one in use today. Information panels provide concise overviews of Ancient Rome, and each of the emperors that preceded Marcus.Marcus lesson assignments focus on Mindfulness. This includes how to distinguish what is within her control, and what is not. And how to build moment to moment non-judgmental awareness into her character.Harmony’s role play of a Stoic Scout helps her become more open, bold, and adventurous. Her story telling illustrates her ability to interpret patterns, movements, and relationships. She also develops skills on how to clear her mind to reveal the truth. As well as what is in her control. 

Topics include:Antoninus ruling approach and interests. Empress Faustina death. The many philosophers and teachers: Paltonist (Importance of Duty), Alexander of Cotineum (Grammarian). Lucius Volusius (Statesman), Sextus of Chaeronea (Conduct), Cinna Catulus (Respect and love), Apollonius of Chalcedon (Stoic doctrine).Counselor Rank appointment and political mentors. Claudius Severus Arabinianus (Resistance to tyranny), Claudius Maximus ( Dignity and grace), Herodes Atticus (Public speaking), Cornelius Fonto (Rhetoric and life long pen pal). Rusticus (Knowing how to live well - and what it means to be an Emperor).Head of the Equestrian Order (Presided over Senate). Imperial place living in the House of Tiberius. April 145 Marriage to Fastina (the minor). Honeymoon and living in Caieta. Dealing with many child loss. The 900th anniversary of Rome.Commodus is born December 31, 161. Antoninus death.Chapter highlights of Harmony’s Secret (Interactive)Map of the empire, and information panels on being Roman, economy, entertainment, religion, and family life.Marcus lesson assignments focus on Grit to improve resilience, inter-strength, creative problem solving skills, and instill passion for long term achievements.Harmony completes her “in the field” assignments by describing her experiences as journal entries in the magical book. Her Soldier role play comes in handy as she joins her dad at PorcFest, a summer Libertarian gathering in the New Hampshire White Mountains.

Topics include:Ascension to Emperor. Decision to promote Lucius to co-emperor and arrangements to marry his daughter.Autumn 161 flood of Rome. Massive earthquake in Cyzicus. Roman marketplace and expanding trade. Passion for silk. Roman delegation to the capital of Luoyang China.Parthia (Iran) unprovoked attack. Vologases IV reunits the Parthian empire. Kingdom of Cappadocia. Severianus and Alexander of Abonutichus, a self-proclaimed prophet. Parthian trap. Cicero's pro lege Manilia. Attidius Cornelianus defeated. Governor of Britain Statius Priscus, legions sent to middle east.Lucius parade to Syrian resorts. Marcus vacations at Alsium on the Etruscan coast. Great-aunt Matidia death. Life lessons from Fronto.Roman army Battle strategy, cavalry, and use of the square. The Alans, and nomadic tribes. General Cassius battle successes. Plague contracted in Seleucia spreads throughout the empire. October 166 Triumph celebration. Lucius marries daughter, and hailed as a warrior, despite not seeing any fighting.Spring of 168, war breaks out on the Danubian border. Lost access to the Dacian gold and silver mines - a financial catastrophe. Aquileia attack, visit, and Lucius death by the plague.Chapter highlights of Harmony’s Secret (Interactive)Marcus lesson assignments focus on Duty helps Harmony realize her primary occupation is to adjust and adapt to people.  Philosophy is in the works, not the words. Life is the training ground for reason.The Doctor of Society role play is applied as Harmony’s yearning for environmental justice becomes the fruit of her work with others. Her journaling craft and awareness of the world continues to advance. She travels with her mom to the Republican National Conventions in Cleveland to join protests at the event. Her and creative illustrations and story telling continues to advance, amuse, and entertain.

Topics include:Travel to the the northern frontier. Moors attack Baetica Spain. Major outbreak of civil violence in Egypt. Directed proconsul, Cassius to Egypt to stop revolt.Northern frontier base in Pannonia. Heavy losses from battle and plague. Strategic counter offense and war plans. Overview of enemy, fighting methods, and tribes. Divide and rule strategy. Costoboci. Vandal, Clemens Lacringi, tribes and the Marcomanni alliance. Early victories.Lighting miracle against the Iazyges. Life saving rain against the Quadi. Maximianus kills the Germanic chieftain Valao by his own hands. Financial deal with the most warlike branch, the Iazyges and agreement to fight in Britain.Illness, then proconsul Cassius, proclaimed emperor by his legions after the erroneous news of Marcus death. Abandons the Danubian and begins long journey to to challenge Cassius. Fastina’s role in the revolt and her death.Chapter highlights of Harmony’s Secret (Interactive)Marcus lesson assignments focus is on Fate. This helps Harmony realize every action is just one part of the causal web “the logos”. And how to avoid the stress of hardships and failures through fate permitting and negative visualization practices.The Stoic Archer role play helps Harmony increase engagement. She realizes a skillful hunter with a steady hand can become a powerful agent of destiny. Then a significant setback challenges her belief.

Topics include:Stopover in Halala, Cappadocia. Pacification and inspection tour of the Middle East. Hermogenes, a fifteen-year-old sophist. Jewish rabbi Judah the Prince, editor of the Mishnah.Winter of 175-6 in Alexandria (jewel of Roman Empire). Back north, Tarsus and through the Cilician Gates, long stopover at Smyrna. Aelius Aristides dream interpretation. Athens sponsor, and early in life teacher, Herodes Atticus. Commodus and Marcus initiated in the infamous, Eleusinian mysteries.Ionian Sea crossing to Italy. Ordered Aurelian Column. Commodus toga virilis and proclaimed the leader of the knights. At 16, becomes co-emperor. Concerns about Commodus.Galen’s treatment for fever. Operational and war management duties. Sent Valerius Maximianus and task force called Vexillationes, to deal with the upsurge in northern frontier.178 return to Norther frontier and made Commodus join, despite a complete lack of interest in fighting a war. Iazyges granted new benefits and rights. Blistering attacks on the Marcomanni, Quadi, and Hermunduri. Scorched-earth policy. Despite carnage, army in high spirits in its winter quarters at Trencin. The prevalent feeling, the final mopping-up campaign would be completed the following spring in 180.Chapter highlights of Harmony’s Secret (Interactive)Marcus lesson plan on Tranquility encourages Harmony to see things from a perspective not seen before. Nothing is pleasurable all the time but pursuit.Harmony breaks the spell of the powerful illusion of self and has a lot of fun doing it.  She constructs her journal with wit and charm from the voice of her daily changing ego. And in the format of a Stoic, with AM/PM entries. In addition to the final lesson review, Marcus also provides one page summaries of his twelve, famous Meditations

Topics include:How he died, the people who were with him in his final hours, final wishes, and last words . . . “Go to the rising sun. For I am already setting.”EpilogueMarcus was laid to rest in the Mausoleum of Hadrian. A epitaph was provided by Cassius Dio: ‘He always tolerated the faults of others, neither inquiring too closely into them nor chastising the perpetrators. His reign was remembered as a golden age.Marcus had the highest standards of integrity and responsibility. He had absolute power, but never used it for selfish, or corrupt purposes. He had elevated sense of duty. But as a Stoic emperor, he faced the dichotomy he had to love mankind, but on the other he often despised what they wanted and hated what they loved. His rule is perhaps the closest to that of a true philosopher king, the western world ever came to know.Despite his father’s dying wish to continue the war through to its completion (which should of not have taken more than another year) Commodus instead grabbed a quick peace with the Germanic adversaries to accelerate his return to Rome and enjoy the luxuries of imperial office. Commodus became one of the most vicious Roman emperors ever.The Roman rule began with he Roman Kingdom in 753 BC.  Its decline began with Commodus. It will take another 296 years to be finally conquered in the Battle of Ravenna on September 2, 476 by the German Barbarians. They destroyed Rome and effectively destroyed the empire and ended its twelve-hundred year reign.And back to the story . . .Harmony successfully completes the Virtue assignments and the Stoicism course. She then finds out Marcus was a AI Agent living on Amazon cloud. And the adventure was a Destiny Recruit character test conducted by a secret organization.Then contemporary knowledge ranging from Neuroscience to Quantum Computing, and powerful skills, from Instinctive Intuition to Unbending Intent are cultivated. Forewarnings and a Revolution Timeline prepare her for the future.Four years after the paranormal event, she finally finds out about the secret mission she has been preparing for. Will she be ready?Find out at the Apple Book Store

The previous episodes containing music backgrounds are how they are presented in the chapters of the Harmony’s Secret (Interactive) iBook. The multimedia experience is intended to make it more appealing to Young Adult readers. The following voice only narrative is likely to be more appealing to older readers. I hope you enjoy either version, as much as I did in making it. Thanks for listening.