In 162AD, Marcus Aurelius inherited the Roman Empire at its peak. Peace and prosperity had reigned for a hundred years and the imperial boundaries stretched from the Irish Sea to the sands of Syria.

There was one problem however, the greater the Empire grew, the larger the target it became. War broke out on two fronts, in the east and the north, just as plague took a terrible toll on the Empire’s population.

Marcus Aurelius had a propensity for writing about philosophy and would rather have stayed at home enjoying such pursuits than go to war. However, duty dictated that he save the Empire. His German wars were a prolonged, bloody quagmire that seemed to stretch on without end.

Aurelius’ long-held dream of conquering the German lands was lost when he died. His son, Commodus, preferred the luxurious life in Rome to the dangerous life of a soldier and failed to pursue his father’s mission.