From my grandfather...

I. 1. From my grandfather Verus I learned good morals and the government of my temper.

This first line sets the stage for the entire work. Marcus sought to have good morals and control over baser passions. The rest of the book is just details.

The family of Marcus, the Annii, were spread about Italy and the provinces. The notorious Milo, who terrorized Rome with his gangs in the troubled period during the fall of the Republic, was an Annius. Marcus’ branch of the family emerged in records in southern Spain in the mid first century AD. The family wealth was probably based upon the production and sale of olive oil and they were ranked among the equites. After considerable success as provincials, the family moved to Rome under Marcus’ great-grandfather.

The grandfather of Marcus referred to here, Annius Verus, was made a patrician by Vespasian and Titus in their censorship in 73-74. Annius Verus married Rupilia Faustina, a daughter of an influential family, and became a very important person on the Roman political stage. He achieved the consulship three times. The first time was as a suffect in 97, again in 121, and for a third time in 126.

Annius Verus and his wife had three children. Their daughter Anna Galeria Faustina (better known as Faustina the Elder) grew up to marry Emperor Antonius Pius. Marcus Annius Libo later became a consul. Marcus Annius Verus, the father of Marcus, became a praetor and married Domita Lucilla.

When Marcus Annius Verus died, probably in 124, the three year old Marcus went to live with his grandfather on the Caelian hill in Rome. His grandfather adopted the young Marcus and his sister. Marcus probably had very few memories of his father, and his earliest memories were probably of his grandfather Annius Verus. There is little surprise that such a great man who had such a prominent place in young Marcus’ life is first mentioned. Annius Verus died in 138 at the age of 90.

These first passages in Book One seem to refer to what Marcus learned from various people. The exact phrasing differs, however, and sometimes a direct statement of characteristics is mentioned. It seems certain that Marcus is not claiming to have received or “inherited” these characteristics. Instead, he is commenting upon the good qualities he learned from influential people in his life.

It is noteworthy that C.R. Haines chooses “sweetness of temper” in his translation. Gregory Hays in his new translation is more in agreement with George Long: “character and self control.” Both Gregory Hays and George Long use terminology to point to controlling emotions. C.R. Haines’ use of words is therefore misleading, to a point.