How did Marcus Aurelius Die
In 177 AD, a Germanic Tribe called Quadi rebelled against the Roman Empire. This was followed by the rebellion of another neighboring Germanic tribe called Marcomanni.
Marcus Aurelius once again headed north toward Germania, to begin his second Germanic campaign against Quadi and Marcomanni tribe. He arrived at Carnuntum in southern Germania in August 178.
He launched a campaign first against Marcomanni and a year later against the Quadi Tribe.
The Roman Army fought and won a decisive battle against the Quadi at Laugaricio (Slovakia).
The Roman Army chased the defeated Quadi army westwards, deeper into Greater Germania. In 180 AD, the Roman army achieved another decisive victory against them.
Emperor Marcus Aurelius was controlling the movement of his army from his headquarters in Vindobona (modern Vienna).
If Emperor Marcus had lived longer, he would have subdued that entire region but by March 180AD he fell ill while he was camping near Vindobona.
Marcus Aurelius Cause of Death
It is rumored by some historians that Emperor Marcus Aurelius did not die from natural causes but by the act of his physicians, who wished to earn the favor of Marcus Aurelius’ son and future emperor Commodus.
Emperor Marcus Aurelius was aware of this rumour. So, after his death he did not wish anyone to blame his son for his death. Therefore he commanded his soldiers and bodyguards to protect his son after his death.
Marcus Aurelius Death
Just a night before his death, a military tribune asked dying Marcus Aurelius for the watchword to identify him. To this request Marcus Aurelius replied “Go to the rising sun; I am already setting..” He calls his son a rising sun implying that he will be the next emperor.
Marcus died at the age of 58 on 17 March 180AD in his military quarters near the city of Sirmium in Pannonia (modern Sremska Mitrovica).
After his death he received many marks of honor; among other things a gold statue of him was set up in the senate-house itself.
He was immediately deified and his ashes were returned to Rome, which was placed in Hadrian’s mausoleum (modern Castel Sant’Angelo) until the Visigoth sack of the city in 410.
His campaigns against Germans and Sarmatians were also commemorated by a column and a temple built in Rome.
Some scholars consider his death to be the end of the Pax Romana or Roman peace.