New Delhi, May 23 -- Marcus Aurelius remains one of history's most admired rulers not only because he governed the Roman Empire, but because he tried to master himself while doing so. Born in Rome in 121 CE, he became Roman emperor in 161 CE and ruled until his death in 180 CE.

His reign was anything but peaceful. Wars, disease outbreaks, political strain and administrative pressures shaped much of his time as emperor. Yet amid these difficulties, Marcus Aurelius wrote Meditations, a collection of deeply personal reflections intended for self-discipline rather than publication. Today, the work is regarded as one of the defining texts of Stoic philosophy.

According to Britannica, he is described as a Roman emperor best known for his writ...