Marcus Aurelius reigned as Roman emperor from 161 to 180 CE and is best known as the last of the Five Good Emperors of Rome. He has long been respected as embodying the Platonic concept of the Philosopher King as articulated in Plato’s Republic: “A ruler who does not seek power for his own sake but to help his people.” He lived his philosophy in both his private and public life in that he consistently placed the needs of the people before his own desires or visions of glory and worked for the common good. He successfully conducted campaigns in Germania and managed the affairs of the empire efficiently.