Editing Marcus Aurelius (section)

===War with Germanic tribes (166–180)===
{{main|Marcomannic Wars}}
{{multiple image|header = Scenes from the [[Marcomannic Wars]], 176–180 (bas reliefs from the Arch of Marcus Aurelius, now in the [[Capitoline Museums]])
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|image1=0 Relief - Monument honoraire de Marc Aurèle - La soumission des germains (1).JPG
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|caption1=Marcus Aurelius receiving the submission of the vanquished, with raised ''[[vexillum]]'' standards
|alt1 =Scene from the Arch of Marcus Aurelius
|image2=Rilievo da monumento onorario di Marco Aurelio trionfo, 176-180.JPG
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|caption2=Marcus Aurelius celebrating [[Roman triumph|his triumph]] over Rome's enemies in 176, riding in a ''[[quadriga]]'' chariot
|alt2=Scene from the Arch of Marcus Aurelius
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During the early 160s, Fronto's son-in-law Victorinus was stationed as a legate in Germany. He was there with his wife and children (another child had stayed with Fronto and his wife in Rome).<ref>Dio 72.11.3–4; ''Ad amicos'' 1.12 (= Haines 2.173); Birley, ''Marcus Aurelius'', p. 132.</ref> The condition on the northern frontier looked grave. A frontier post had been destroyed, and it looked like all the peoples of central and northern Europe were in turmoil. There was corruption among the officers: Victorinus had to ask for the resignation of a [[legionary]] legate who was taking bribes.<ref>Dio, lxxii. 11.3–4; Birley, ''Marcus Aurelius'', p. 132, citing ''De nepote amisso'' ii (= Haines 2.222); ''Ad Verum Imperatorem'' ii. 9–10 (= Haines 2.232ff.).</ref>

Experienced governors had been replaced by friends and relatives of the imperial family. [[Lucius Dasumius Tullius Tuscus]], a distant relative of Hadrian, was in Upper Pannonia, succeeding the experienced [[Marcus Nonius Macrinus]]. Lower Pannonia was under the obscure [[Tiberius Haterius Saturnius]]. [[Marcus Servilius Fabianus Maximus]] was shuffled from Lower Moesia to Upper Moesia when [[Marcus Iallius Bassus]] had joined Lucius in Antioch. Lower Moesia was filled by Pontius Laelianus' son. The Dacias were still divided in three, governed by a praetorian senator and two procurators. The peace could not hold long; Lower Pannonia did not even have a legion.<ref>Birley, ''Marcus Aurelius'', p. 133, citing Geza Alföldy, ''Konsulat und Senatorenstand'' (1977), Moesia Inferior: pp. 232ff.; Moesia Superior: pp. 234ff.; Pannonia Superior: pp. 236ff.; Dacia: pp. 245ff.; Pannonia Inferior: p. 251.</ref>

Starting in the 160s, [[Germanic tribes]], and other nomadic people launched raids along the [[limes Germanicus|northern border]], particularly into [[Gaul]] and across the [[Danube#History|Danube]]. This new impetus westwards was probably due to attacks from tribes further east. A first invasion by the Chatti in the province of Germania Superior was repulsed in 162.<ref name='McLynn2010'>McLynn, ''Marcus Aurelius: A Life'', pp. 323–324.</ref>
[[File:Marcus Aurelius, AE medallion, AD 168, Gnecchi II 52.jpg|thumb|upright=1.36|alt=Bust of Marcus Aurelius.|Bronze medallion of Marcus Aurelius (AD 168). The reverse depicts [[Jupiter (mythology)|Jupiter]], flanked by Marcus and [[Lucius Verus]]. Inscription: M. ANTONINVS AVG. ARM. PARTH. MAX. / TR. P. XXII, IMP. IIII, COS III.<ref>Gnecchi, ''Medaglioni Romani'', p. 33.</ref>]]
[[File:Marcus Aurelius, aureus, AD 161-180, RIC III 362.jpg|thumb|upright=1.36|[[Aureus]] of Marcus (176–177). The pile of trophies on the reverse celebrates the end of the Marcomannic Wars. Inscription: M. ANTONINVS AVG. GERM. SARM. / TR. P. XXXI, IMP. VIII, CO[N]S. III, P. P.<ref>Mattingly & Sydenham, ''Roman imperial coinage'', vol. III, p. 241.</ref>|alt=Aureus of Marcus Aurelius.]]

Far more dangerous was the invasion of 166, when the [[Marcomanni]] of Bohemia, clients of the Roman Empire since AD 19, crossed the Danube together with the [[Lombards]] and other Germanic tribes.<ref name='Bohec2013'>Le Bohec, p. 56.</ref> Soon thereafter, the Iranian [[Sarmatians|Sarmatian]] [[Iazyges]] attacked between the Danube and the [[Tisza|Theiss]] rivers.<ref name='Grant2016'>Grant, ''The Antonines: The Roman Empire in Transition'', p. 29.</ref>

The [[Costoboci]], coming from the [[Carpathian Mountains|Carpathian]] area, invaded [[Moesia]], [[Macedonia (Roman province)|Macedonia]], and Greece. After a long struggle, Marcus managed to push back the invaders. Numerous members of Germanic tribes settled in frontier regions like [[Dacia]], Pannonia, Germany, and Italy itself. This was not a new thing, but this time the numbers of settlers required the creation of two new frontier provinces on the left shore of the Danube, Sarmatia and [[Marcomannia]], including today's [[Czech Republic]], [[Slovakia]], and [[Hungary]]. Some Germanic tribes who settled in [[Ravenna]] revolted and managed to seize possession of the city. For this reason, Marcus decided not only against bringing more barbarians into Italy, but even banished those who had previously been brought there.<ref>Dio, lxxii.11.4–5; Birley, ''Marcus Aurelius'', p. 253.</ref> In 168, the two emperors embarked on a new military campaign, expelling the invading Marcomanni and [[Quadi]] from [[Aquileia]]. Lucius Verus fell ill and died on his way back to Rome, probably due to the plague, in January or February 169.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bishop |first=M. C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZDdjDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT149 |title=Lucius Verus and the Roman Defence of the East |date=2018 |publisher=Pen and Sword |isbn=978-1-4738-4945-7 |pages=120–122 |quote=The [[terminus post quem]] is 10 December 168, when Lucius' tribunician power was renewed, while a [[terminus ante quem]] is provided by the first record of Marcus as sole ruler on May 29. |access-date=31 May 2024 |archive-date=31 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240531223958/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZDdjDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT149 |url-status=live }}</ref>