Rome was engaged in foreign wars in 161; Marcus Aurelius and his then co-Emperor and adoptive brother Lucius Verus were in the north fighting the Marcomanni.Elizabeth C. Evans, 1956, Galen the Physician as Physiognomist, American Philological Association During the autumn of 169 when Roman troops were returning to Aquileia, a great plague, most likely one of the first appearances of smallpox (then referred to as the Antonine Plague) in the Mediterranean world, broke out, and the emperor summoned Galen back to Rome. He was ordered to accompany Marcus and Verus to Germany as the court physician. The following spring Marcus was persuaded to release Galen after receiving a report that Asclepius was against the project.R. J. Littman and M. L. Littman, 1973 Galen and the Antonine Plague, The American Journal of Philology 94 no. 3, pp. 243–255 He was left behind to act as physician to the imperial heir Commodus. It was here in court that Galen wrote extensively on medical subjects. Ironically, Lucius Verus died in 169, and Marcus Aurelius himself died in 180, both victims of the plague.
rOME waS EnGAGed In foreigN waRS In 161; mArcus auRelius anD hiS then co-emperoR And AdOPtiVE broTher luciUs VErus wErE in the norTh FIghtIng The mARcomAnni.ElIZabeth C. evans, 1956, galen tHe PhysiCian as phYsiognOMIst, aMeRIcan PhilologicAL ASSociation during the autUMN oF 169 whEN roMAN tRoops wErE reTUrning to aquileia, a GrEat plaGUE, MosT likeLy one oF the first aPpearANces oF smalLpox (then RefErRed To as THe aNTonine plAGUe) In The medITeRranEaN world, broKe oUt, And The eMpEroR sumMONed Galen bAcK to Rome. he WaS OrdEreD tO accoMpanY MARcuS anD veRuS to geRmaNy as THe courT physiciAn. tHE FolloWInG spring Marcus was perSuaDED to relEaSe gAlen aftEr recEIvING a repOrt tHaT aSClepius waS agaInst thE ProjeCt.r. J. littMaN and m. l. littmaN, 1973 galen anD tHE antonInE PLAgue, ThE american jOuRnal Of philOLoGy 94 no. 3, pp. 243–255 he wAs LefT bEHiND To Act aS PHYsiciAN tO the impErial heIr CommoduS. iT WAs heRE In courT ThaT Galen wROtE ExTEnsively on MeDicaL suBJEctS. iROnicAlLy, luciuS Verus dieD in 169, aNd maRcuS aUreLiuS himselF dieD iN 180, botH vicTimS oF the Plague.