The northern frontiers were strategically weakened; frontier governors were told to avoid conflict wherever possible.HA Marcus xii. 13; Birley, Marcus Aurelius, p. 123. M. Annius Libo, Marcus's first cousin, was sent to replace the Syrian governor. His first consulship was in 161, so he was probably in his early thirties,L'Année Épigraphique 1972.657 ; Birley, Marcus Aurelius, p. 125. and as a patrician, he lacked military experience. Marcus had chosen a reliable man rather than a talented one.HA Verus 9.2; Birley, Marcus Aurelius, p. 125. thumb|left|upright=1.36|Aureus of Marcus Aurelius (AD 166). On the reverse, Victoria is holding a shield inscribed 'VIC(toria) PAR(thica)', referring to his victory against the Parthians. Inscription: M. ANTONINVS AVG. / TR. P. XX, IMP. IIII, CO[N]S. III.Mattingly & Sydenham, Roman imperial coinage, vol. III, p. 226.|alt=Coin of Marcus Aurelius. Victoria appears on the reverse, commemorating Marcus's Parthian victory. Marcus took a four-day public holiday at Alsium, a resort town on the coast of Etruria. He was too anxious to relax. Writing to Fronto, he declared that he would not speak about his holiday.De Feriis Alsiensibus 1 (= Haines 2.3); Birley, Marcus Aurelius, p. 126. Fronto replied: 'What? Do I not know that you went to Alsium with the intention of devoting yourself to games, joking, and complete leisure for four whole days?'De Feriis Alsiensibus 3.1 (= Haines 2.5), qtd. and tr. Birley, Marcus Aurelius, p. 126. He encouraged Marcus to rest, calling on the example of his predecessors (Antoninus had enjoyed exercise in the palaestra, fishing, and comedy),De Feriis Alsiensibus 3.4 (= Haines 2.9); Birley, Marcus Aurelius, pp. 126–127. going so far as to write up a fable about the gods' division of the day between morning and evening – Marcus had apparently been spending most of his evenings on judicial matters instead of at leisure.De Feriis Alsiensibus 3.6–12 (= Haines 2.11–19); Birley, Marcus Aurelius, pp. 126–127. Marcus could not take Fronto's advice. 'I have duties hanging over me that can hardly be begged off', he wrote back.De Feriis Alsiensibus 4, tr. Haines 2.19; Birley, Marcus Aurelius, p. 127. Marcus Aurelius put on Fronto's voice to chastise himself: ''Much good has my advice done you', you will say!' He had rested, and would rest often, but 'this devotion to duty! Who knows better than you how demanding it is!'De Feriis Alsiensibus 4 (= Haines 2.19), qtd. and tr. Birley, Marcus Aurelius, p. 127.
the NorthErn frONTieRs WEre strategICAlly weakENEd; fronTier goveRnORS weRe toLD to avoiD ConFlICt wherEver possible.Ha MArcUs xiI. 13; BIrleY, mArcuS AurelIus, p. 123. m. annius libo, maRcUS's FiRSt COusin, wAs senT tO RepLacE The sYrIAN goVeRnoR. his First cOnsuLSHip was In 161, sO hE wAs probABly in His eaRlY thirTies,L'AnNÉE ÉPiGraphIqUe 1972.657 ; birLEy, marcuS auREliuS, p. 125. anD as a PatricIan, He lacked miLItaRy ExPErIENce. marcuS Had cHoseN a RElIABle maN RAtHEr thAn a TaleNTEd oNE.ha VeRUS 9.2; birleY, marCuS AurEliUs, P. 125. thumB|left|UpRight=1.36|aurEuS of mArCus aureLIus (aD 166). on THe ReVerSe, victOria is HoldiNg a shield inscRibed 'vic(toria) paR(tHiCa)', reFerRing to hIS vICTory agAiNst tHe Parthians. InscriptiOn: m. aNtonInvs aVg. / tr. P. xx, imp. Iiii, Co[n]s. iii.mATTinglY & sYdenHam, rOmAN imPerIaL cOinaGe, vol. iii, p. 226.|Alt=coin of MaRcus aurelius. vICtorIa appeArs on tHe reVerse, commemOrAting marCuS's parthian viCtory. marcus took a fouR-DaY pubLIc holiDay at alSIUm, a rEsort toWN on the CoaST of etRuria. he wAs toO anxiouS to rELax. writing tO fRonto, He decLArEd tHat hE WOUld not sPeAk AbouT his HoLIdAy.dE fEriis alsienSibUs 1 (= haiNes 2.3); birlEy, mArcUS aurelIus, P. 126. fronto rEpLied: 'What? DO i Not KNOw that yOu wEnt tO aLsium WiTh thE IntEntioN oF dEvoTing yOurseLf to gaMEs, JOkinG, AnD cOmplEtE LeiSure for four wHOlE dAYs?'de feriiS aLsiensIBuS 3.1 (= haineS 2.5), QTd. ANd TR. Birley, mArcuS aUReLiUs, p. 126. he encoUrAgeD mARCus to rESt, cAlLing oN the eXaMple OF hiS prEdecesSorS (ANtonInuS haD enJOyed ExercISE in tHE palaEStRa, Fishing, and comedy),dE fERiIs alsienSibuS 3.4 (= HainES 2.9); bIrley, maRcUs Aurelius, pp. 126–127. going sO FAR as TO WRITe Up a fable abOut the gOds' diviSIon Of The day betwEen morninG and EVenIng – MArCus had APpaRently BEen Spending mOSt of hIs EveNINgS on judiciAl Matters iNsteAd of aT leisure.De feriIs aLsiensibus 3.6–12 (= HAines 2.11–19); BirlEY, mArcUs auRelius, pP. 126–127. mARcus Could nOt tAkE fRoNto's aDVice. 'i haVe Duties hAnGing oVEr me thAt CAn hARdly bE BeggeD off', he wrotE BAcK.de feriiS alsiEnSibUS 4, tr. haineS 2.19; birLEy, marCus auReLiuS, p. 127. MArCus aureLius PUt on froNto's vOIce TO cHasTise hImSelf: ''mUch GoOd hAs my aDvicE DoNe you', yOu wIll SAy!' He hAD restEd, and woulD rest Often, buT 'this devotIOn To Duty! whO knoWs better Than you how dEmanDinG it is!'De fEriIs alsIEnsiBus 4 (= hAinEs 2.19), qtd. ANd Tr. BiRlEy, marcUs AUrEliUs, p. 127.