Karl Marx · Romain Rolland Were Karl Marx and Romain Rolland alive at the same time? Yes. Karl Marx and Romain Rolland were alive at the same time for 17 years, from 1866 to 1883. Karl Marx was 47 when Romain Rolland was born.Romain Rolland was 17 when Karl Marx died, aged 64. Karl MarxGerman-born philosopherBorn 5 May 1818 · died 14 March 1883, aged 64Romain RollandFrench authorBorn 29 January 1866 · died 30 December 1944, aged 78 NapoleonAbraham LincolnKarl MarxRomain RollandMahatma GandhiVladimir LeninAlbert EinsteinAdolf HitlerRonald Reagan Karl Marx and Romain Rolland in bold, with some of their best-known contemporaries. Drag across to see the age each reached in any year. Faded ends mark uncertain dates.