Marcus Aurelius and the Education of Commodus

In this episode of Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King, Lucas and Luna explore the upbringing of Commodus, the emperor's only surviving son and eventual successor. They discuss the tutors chosen by Marcus, including the famous grammarian Alexander of Cotiaeum and the rhetorician Anicetus. The conversation delves into the influence of the Greek doctor Galen, who was brought to court to attend to Commodus's health. Lucas explains how Marcus's own education under the tutelage of Fronto and Herodes Atticus shaped his expectations for his son, and why those expectations ultimately failed. They examine the tension between Stoic discipline and imperial indulgence, the role of the future emperor's companions, and the warnings that contemporaries like Cassius Dio later recorded. The episode also touches on the premature deaths of Marcus's other children, leaving Commodus as the sole heir. This is a focused look at the making — and unmaking — of an emperor through the lens of education and upbringing. #Commodus #MarcusAurelius #ImperialEducation #Galen #Stoicism #HerodesAtticus #AlexanderCotiaeum #Anicetus #CassiusDio #RomanEmpire #AntonineDynasty #PrincepsIuventutis #Paedagogium #RomanTutors #SecondSophistic #Meditations #History #FexingoHistory #FiveGoodEmperors #MarcomannicWars Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo