The Emperor's Decision to Adopt Marcus Aurelius

Antoninus was likely looking forward to a career of distinction and responsibility, though it is unlikely he ever considered that he himself would be emperor one day. But there he was in January of 138, suddenly called to the imperial villa, and informed that he could now add Caesar to his long list of names. Long term of course, his association with this wildly unpopular reform was something of a black mark on his reputation, but for the time being, it was a signal of imperial favor.