L. Fulvius Bruttius Praesens (II), Sextus Quintilius Condianus. (A.D. 180 = a.u. 933 = Twentieth of Marcus, to March 17th).

[Sidenote:  A.D. 161 (a.u. 914)] [Sidenote:—­1—­] Marcus Antoninus, the philosopher, upon obtaining the sovereignty at the death of Antoninus, who adopted him, had immediately taken to share the authority with him the son of Lucius Commodus, Lucius Verus.  He was personally weak in body and he devoted the greater part of his time to letters.  It is told that even when he was emperor he showed no shame (or hesitation) at going to a teacher for instruction, but became a pupil of Sextus, the Boeotian philosopher, [Footnote:  “Sextus of Chaeronea, grandson of Plutarch” (Capitolinus, Vita M. Antoni Philosophi, 3, 2).] and did not hesitate to go to hear the lectures of Hermogenes on rhetoric.  He was most inclined to the Stoic school.

Lucius, on the other hand, was strong and rather young, and better suited for military enterprises.  Therefore, Marcus made him his son-in-law by marrying him to his daughter Lucilla, and sent him to the Parthian war.

[Sidenote:—­2—­] For Vologaesus had begun war by assailing on all sides the Roman camp under Severianus, situated in Elegeia, a place in Armenia; and he had shot down and destroyed the whole force, leaders and all.  He was now proceeding with numbers that inspired terror against the cities of Syria. [Sidenote:  A.D. 162 (a.u. 915)] Lucius, accordingly, on coming to Antioch collected a great many soldiers, and with the best commanders under his supervision took up a position in the city, spending his time in ordering all arrangements and in gathering the contingent for the war.  He entrusted the armies themselves to Cassius.  The latter made a noble stand against the attack [Sidenote:  A.D. 165 (a.u. 918)] of Vologaesus, and finally the chieftain was deserted by his allies and began to retire; then Cassius pursued him as far as Seleucia and destroyed it and razed to the ground the palace of Vologaesus at Ctesiphon.  In the course of his return he lost a great many soldiers through famine and disease, yet he started off to Syria with the men that were left.  Lucius attained glory by these exploits and felt a just pride in them, yet his extreme good fortune did him no good. [Sidenote:  A.D. 169 (a.u. 922)] For he is said to have subsequently plotted against his father-in-law Marcus and to have perished by poison before he could accomplish anything.

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Fragments of Dio from Suidas (thought by de Valois to belong to Book LXXI).