Hello, and welcome to the history of Rome, episode 94, Revolt and Meditations.

As winter turned to spring in 175 AD, Marcus Aurelius was at the height of his power and

prestige.

When he became Emperor 14 years earlier, there were very reasonable doubts about his ability

to handle major crises.

While he never set foot outside of Italy or inside a legionary camp, there was no begrudging

those who saw the fragile, intellectual Marcus ascend to the throne in 161 and figured a stiff

breeze would blow his whole regime right over.

But since then, the Empire had been drowned, starved, plagued, and sucked into two major

wars, one in the east against Parthia, and one in the north against a forever shifting

host of German tribes.

Not only had frail Marcus not been blown over by this gale force wind, but he had risen

to meet each and every challenge with the perfect mix of steady confidence and genuine

ability.

With such a capable leader leading so capably, it is no wonder that in 175, just after

Marcus was putting the finishing touches on his brilliant northern campaigns, the Eastern

Empire rose up in revolt.

Wait, what?

Let's go over that again.

Good Emperor, Triumphant General, Effective Administrator, Revolt.

Something doesn't add up.

To escape from this apparent political non-sequitor, we need to take a look at the Empire situation

...