Political influence then passed to the emperors mistress and two advisers. During his solo reign, the Roman Empire enjoyed reduced military conflict compared with the reign of Marcus Aurelius. The poison failed, so Narcissus entered Commodus's bedchamber. Sources diverge on the origins of the conspiracy, with some claiming Lucilla was jealous of Commodus wife Crispina (incest between Commodus and Lucilla is suggested in Gladiator) while others maintain she saw the first warning signs of her brothers mental instability. [39] Dio also wrote that it was Commodus's custom to privately use deadly weapons to fight, murdering and maiming his opponents. The latter is what has made the movie timeless. Striking story! The most famous scene in "Gladiator" is the one that launched a thousand memes (to use a phrase from a different Ancient European society). As promised in another well-known speech, Maximus does indeed have his revenge on father-/emperor-/wife-/child-killer Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). On 15 October 184 at the Capitoline Games, a Cynic philosopher publicly denounced Perennis before Commodus. The Libyan-born Septimius Severus has gone down in history as the first African Emperor of Rome . In 177 Lucius was made coruler and heir to his father, the emperor Marcus Aurelius (reigned 161180). Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Commodus never killed his gladiatorial adversaries, instead accepting their surrenders. This assassination attempt was successful, and both Commodus reign as Roman Emperor, and his life, ended on the final day of 192. Thegoal of Ancient Origins is to highlight recent archaeological discoveries, peer-reviewed academic research and evidence, as well as offering alternative viewpoints and explanations of science, archaeology, mythology, religion and history around the globe. Wikimedia CommonsA bust of Roman Emperor Commodus, styled as if he were a reincarnation of Hercules, which is precisely what he believed himself to be. [34] The Romans found Commodus's gladiatorial combat to be scandalous and disgraceful. Gibbon p. 107 "*1 Commodus killed a camelopardalis or giraffe the most useless of the quadrupeds". However, just when the days of the mad emperors seemed long gone, Commodus brought the madness roaring back. Or, were the Romans protecting something even more valuable than silver? A former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery. In 186 he had his chief minister executed in order to appease the army; three years later he allowed the ministers successor to be killed by a rioting crowd. Marcus Aurelius. He kept most of the advisers from his fathers regime in place and the first three years of his reign ran as smoothly as that of his father with the added benefit that Rome was no longer fighting any wars. Lucius joined Marcus in his campaign against invading German tribes along the Danube, but after the death of Marcus (March 180) he quickly came to terms with the Germans. After a failed assassination attempt in 182, however, his rule became erratic and brutal, and he imagined himself to be Hercules. To help answer that question, here are five of the key elements of the story and their historical precedents. He gripped the iron bars in front of him and was pushed back by one of the guards. In 180 AD, Marcus Aurelius died, leaving Commodus as sole Emperor of Rome. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Commodus. . Its protagonist, Maximus, is entirely fictitious. From 180 to his death in 192, Commodus was the only emperor.. His accession as emperor was the first time a son had succeeded his father since Titus succeeded Vespasian in 79. The gladiator who defied an emperor. But since "Gladiator" is based on a true story (sort of), we can look at history to see what might have happened next. Dio Cassius 73.10.2, Loeb edition translated E. Cary. His body was buried in the Mausoleum of Hadrian. Narration by: Alexander Dobby. But it didnt take long for him to delegate his leadership responsibilities to others so that he could engage in activities in which he enjoyed. Commodus butchered dozens of animals in single appearances at the Colosseum on other occasions. Whereas the reign of Marcus Aurelius had been marked by almost continuous warfare, Commodus's rule was comparatively peaceful in the military sense, but was also characterised by political strife and the increasingly arbitrary and capricious behaviour of the emperor himself. Commodus's assassination in 192, by a wrestler in the bath, marked the end of the NervaAntonine dynasty. Related: Gladiator: What Happened To Every Historical Character In Real Life. Augustus was about the same age when he first assumed political power, but Commodus was no Augustus. Lucius Aurelius Commodus, born 161 A.D., was appointed co-emperor by his father Marcus Aurelius in 177 A.D. when he was just 16 years old. Nowadays Commodus is best remembered as the villain of Ridley Scott's movie "Gladiator", a sneering and arrogant portrayal by Joaquin Phoenix. Suetonius a possible lover of Sabina: One interpretation of, Lover of Hadrian: Lambert (1984), p.99 and. Commodus was the tenth of fourteen children born to Aurelius and was ultimately the only surviving son. This biographical article related to crime is a stub. Ser. Contrary to the plot of Gladiator where Emperor Commodus is portrayed as having killed Marcus Aurelius the two ruled together, from 177 until the latters death in 180. A former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery. Commodus, who is portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, was indeed the son of Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) and an emperor of Rome. He was succeeded by Pertinax, the first emperor in the tumultuous Year of the Five Emperors. However, even these favorites were not safe from his fury. Omissions? After those attempts on his life, Commodus spent much of his time outside Rome, mostly on the family estates at Lanuvium. Yet another attempt on his life had been foiled, but the conspirators did not lose their nerve. [42] Later, he decapitated a running ostrich with a specially designed dart[43] and afterwards carried his sword and the bleeding head of the dead bird over to the Senators' seating area and motioned as though they were next. The ending of "Gladiator" makes it seem like. Man in Peru Caught Out Drinking With an 800-year-old Mummy! But frankly, the rest of "Gladiator" also deserves a standing ovation from an arena full of bloodthirsty Roman citizens (and modern audiences), especially the ending. Bust of Commodus as Hercules, hence the lion skin and the club. Her husband, Pompeianus, was not involved, but two men alleged to have been her lovers, Marcus Ummidius Quadratus Annianus (the consul of 167, who was also her first cousin) and Appius Claudius Quintianus, attempted to murder Commodus as he entered a theater. They then returned to Rome in the autumn of 176. His recorded actions do tend to show a rejection of his father's policies, his father's advisers, and especially his father's austere lifestyle, and an alienation from the surviving members of his family. Crowe toldEmpire magazinein 2020 that originally, Maximus survived: Crowe said he used to joke that his character would "end up running a f****** pizzeria by the Colosseum." He was very vain, and strongly believed himself to be the reincarnation of Hercules so much so that he ordered statues of himself be dressed like Hercules, and he ordered that people call him Hercules, son of Zeus. Statues were erected of the emperor depicted as the mythological hero all over the city, including one made of solid gold and weighing in at nearly 1,000 pounds. The first crisis of the reign came in 182, when Lucilla engineered a conspiracy against her brother. Gladiator is clearly influenced by aspects of history, but its specific storyline is definitively imaginative. Unrest around the empire increased, with large numbers of army deserters causing trouble in Gaul and Germany. Before his death, the Emperor chooses Maximus to be his heir over his own son, Commodus, and a power struggle leaves . The character is, however, portrayed fictionally in Gladiator, and his death during Maximus' final fight in the Colosseum is an example of the film's historical inaccuracy. Statues of Commodus were demolished. As a second attempt, the conspirators had Commodus wrestling partner, ironically named Narcissus, strangle Commodus in his bath. Although he's very well written, Maximus is more of a plot device to allow the . ( Naughtynimitz/CC BY-SA 3.0 ). It worked and the Nerva-Antonine dynasty which had ruled Rome for nearly a century had come to an end and the city soon descended into civil war. But once Marcus Aurelius died in 180 A.D. (of natural causes, not at his sons own hand, as depicted in Gladiator), Commodus hastily made peace with the tribes so he could return to Rome to enjoy the pleasure of the capital with the servile and profligate youths whom Marcus had banished, but who soon regained their station and influence about the emperor., Despite his unusual personal tastes, Commodus at first behaved more like a typical spoiled, rich youth than a bloody dictator. The emperor eventually decided to abandon the reins of the empire and chose to give himself up to chariot-racing and licentiousness and performed scarcely any of the duties pertaining to his office. He appointed a series of his favorites to manage the administration of his empire, each of whom seemed crueler and more incompetent than the last. While the true story behind his reign and death are fascinating, I prefer the fictional story, where he is killed in the arena before thousands of subjects by a gladiator whose family was ordered killed by the emperor. Commodus, The Unhinged Roman Emperor Who Went Mad With Power, Commodus exposes Lucillas plot in this scene from. The latter eventually would be used as a conventional title by Roman emperors, starting about a century later, but Commodus seems to have been the first to assume it.[31]. Cassius Dio recorded one incident where, after becoming tired out, Commodus ordered a cup of chilled wine to him and drank it at one gulp. In an amusing anecdote, Dio continued, At this both the populace and we senators all immediately shouted out the words so familiar at drinking-bouts, Long life to you!'. At the outset of his reign, Commodus, aged 18, inherited many of his father's senior advisers, notably Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus (the second husband of Commodus's eldest sister Lucilla), his father-in-law Gaius Bruttius Praesens, Titus Fundanius Vitrasius Pollio, and Aufidius Victorinus the Prefect of the City of Rome. He executed the two would-be assassins along with a group of prominent senators who were also allegedly involved while Lucilla was exiled to Capri before also being killed on her brothers orders a year later. Contemporary Roman writer Cassius Dio describes the young heir as rather simple-minded, but he ruled agreeably with his father and joined Marcus Aurelius in the Marcomannic Wars against the Germanic tribes along the Danube, which the emperor had been waging for several years. Gladiator is a film invested in the concept of retribution. One of the ways he paid for his donatives (imperial handouts) and mass entertainments was to tax the senatorial order, and on many inscriptions, the traditional order of the two nominal powers of the state, the Senate and People (Senatus Populusque Romanus) is provocatively reversed (Populus Senatusque). Commodus is known to have been at Carnuntum, the headquarters of Marcus Aurelius during the Marcomannic Wars, in 172. Herodian's Roman History F.L. The pivotal 2000 historical drama follows the betrayed general, Maximus, on a quest for revenge against Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), the usurper emperor of Rome, who murdered his wife and son. By bringing together top experts and authors, this archaeology website explores lost civilizations, examines sacred writings, tours ancient places, investigates ancient discoveries and questions mysterious happenings. Available from: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/128108/Commodus, Lucius Aurelius Commodus Roman-Empire. Now, researchers have proposed a hypothesis that seems to support the idea that the Ivar the Boneless was likely the son of legendary Viking king Ragnar Lothbrok, and raided alongside his father and brothers, eventually becoming ruler of York in England in the 9th century AD. On the other hand, the real Emperor Commodus was even more outlandish than Gladiator's version in some ways, as he renamed Rome "the Colony of Commodus" at one point. But now, the people want to know how the story ends. The Untersberg is a great mountain straddling the Austro-German border opposite Salzburg. This caused much outrage, and inspired prefect Laetus to start a conspiracy to assassinate the emperor. English translation) UCLA Press, Berkeley CA (1961), 1.15.1-9, Dio Cassius 73.20.3, Loeb edition translated E. Cary, Gibbon p. 106 "disgorged at once a hundred lions; a hundred darts". The fall of Perennis brought a new spate of executions: Aufidius Victorinus committed suicide. Commodus's death is an example of how the film has historical references but often distorts them to create its narrative Gladiator's Commodus being less power-hungry than his historical counterpart refocuses the movie around Maximus' personal struggle rather than the wider Roman political landscape. War broke out in Dacia: few details are available, but it appears two future contenders for the throne, Clodius Albinus and Pescennius Niger, both distinguished themselves in the campaign. The legions were renamed Commodianae, the fleet which imported grain from Africa was termed Alexandria Commodiana Togata, the Senate was entitled the Commodian Fortunate Senate, his palace and the Roman people themselves were all given the name Commodianus, and the day on which these reforms were decreed was to be called Dies Commodianus. Thereafter his rule became increasingly arbitrary and vicious. The scene portrays the extent of Emperor Commodus malice and provides a realization of the vengeance sought by Maximus, following the crucifixion of his wife and child. He engaged in one-on-one combat with many other gladiators, each of whom was obliged to lose to the emperor. But shortly after dispatching the megalomaniacal emperor, Maximus succumbs to his own injuries and dies in the blood and sand of the ring although not without making sure his fellow gladiators are freed first. Roman Emperor Lucius Aurelius Commodus was a corrupt ruler who was not well-received by the Roman people during his reign. He reduced the weight of the denarius from 96 per Roman pound to 105 per Roman pound (3.85grams to 3.35grams). Als besonders skandals empfand man die Beziehung zwischen Eppia, einer Frau aus reicher Familie, die Senatorengattin war, und dem Gladiator Sergiolus. Commodus was a terrible ruler by virtually any standard. Marcus Aurelius died there on 17 March 180, leaving the 18-year-old Commodus as sole emperor.[18]. Aurelius pushed for Commodus to be a leader from a very young age. The Romans were outraged when Commodus would order wounded soldiers and amputees into the arena to be slayed. However, in private practice fights, Commodus would slay his opponents. Commodus was inaugurated in 183 as consul with Aufidius Victorinus for a colleague and assumed the title Pius. On 31 December 192 AD, Commodus's concubine[2] and conspirator Marcia poisoned Commodus's wine. Commodus was made coruler when he was just 16 years old, and he was emperor before he turned 19. ( Louisonze/CC BY-SA 3.0 ). His family is murdered, and he becomes a slave, and then sold off to become a gladiator. The character is, however, portrayed fictionally in Gladiator, and. He also had four surviving sisters, all of them with husbands who were potential rivals. In November 192, Commodus held Plebeian Games, in which he shot hundreds of animals with arrows and javelins every morning, and fought as a gladiator every afternoon, winning all the fights. Gracchus and Commodus stared evenly at eachother, with mutual hatred. The gladiator who defied an emperor. "Commodus' progeny will rule Rome!" "Back!" yelled the Praetorian guard. It is of particular interest that Aurelius craved succession by one of his sons so much because there hadnt been an emperor who had been succeeded by his own son since Titus succeeded Vespasian in 79. Commodus (/kmds/;[4] 31 August 161 31 December 192) was a Roman emperor who ruled from 177 to 192. Roman artwork, 191 - 192 AD. The film stars Russell Crowe as General Maximus Decimus Meridius, who is forced into the life of a gladiator after his family is murdered by the Emperor's son, Commodus. In 192 AD, several senators, led by Praetorian prefect Quintus Aemilius Laetus, recruited Narcissus to assassinate the emperor after a previous failed attempt by the conspirators. He is viewed as having been an inept emperor, his megalomaniac tendencies leading to odd behaviors which frustrated and upset the Roman people. Faustina was the daughter of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius and was Aurelius first cousin. Commodus ruled with chaos and left chaos in his wake. Pompeianus retired from public life. After this look at Commodus, check out these interesting facts about Ancient Rome. The assassination attempt marked a turning point in Commodus reign, for once [he had] tasted human blood, he became incapable of pity or remorse. He began executing people without regard for rank, wealth, or sex. Ridley Scott's Gladiator (2000) is a Roman historical epic, considered to be one of Scott's directorial movie masterpieces. Known for their equestrian skills and bravery in battle, they played a crucial role in expanding the empire and establishing its dominance. In the same year, Pertinax unmasked a conspiracy by two enemies of Cleander Antistius Burrus (one of Commodus's brothers-in-law) and Arrius Antoninus. Commodus, in full Caesar Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus Augustus, original name (until 180 ce) Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus, (born August 31, 161 ce, Lanuvium, Latium [now Lanuvio, Italy]died December 31, 192), Roman emperor from 177 to 192 (sole emperor after 180). Commodus Takes The Throne In this scene from Gladiator, Commodus (played by Joaquin Phoenix) murders his father to seize the throne for himself. He is best known to history as the assassin of the Roman Emperor Commodus, by whom he was employed as a wrestling partner[2][3] and personal trainer in order to train Commodus for his self-indulgent appearances in the Colosseum as a gladiator. He was left-handed and very proud of the fact. AtAncient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. The plot failed, and Commodus retaliated by executing a number of leading senators. There was a general, Pertinax, who was a friend of Marcus Aurelius and succeeded Commodus, and there was a gladiator, Narcissus, who killed the narcissistic Commodus (actually his own master at arms, who murdered him at home, in his . He assassinated the Roman emperor Commodus in 192 AD. According to Cassius Dio, Commodus once killed 100 lions in a single day. Nevertheless, though the senatorial order came to hate and fear him, the evidence suggests that he remained popular with the army and the common people for much of his reign, not least because of his lavish shows of largesse (recorded on his coinage) and because he staged and took part in spectacular gladiatorial combats. Commodus : The general who became a slave. Commodus was a secutor, a type of gladiator who carried a gladius and a heavy shield. Commodus' famous gesture, which he gives when deciding the fate of defeated gladiators It's a great story of revenge but the character of Maximus is entirely made up. Composite Character: Maximus, compared to real life. In hindsight, he should have kept the tradition of adopting his successor, which would have resulted in an appointment based on merit. [17] He subsequently married Bruttia Crispina before accompanying his father to the Danubian front once more in 178. Cornelius Scipio Salvidienus Orfitus, Ti. Strange that they didn't kill him earlier. It was presumably there that, on 15 October 172, he was given the victory title Germanicus, in the presence of the army. In opposition to the Senate, in his pronouncements and iconography, Commodus had always stressed his unique status as a source of god-like power, liberality, and physical prowess. A grateful Senate proclaimed a new emperorthe city prefect, Publius Helvius Pertinaxbut the empire quickly slipped into civil war. His tumultuous reign as emperor was the starting point for a period of Roman history that is viewed as having been filled with chaos and decline. He also declared himself to be an incarnation of the god Hercules and forced the senate to recognize his divinity. [40][41] For each appearance in the arena, he charged the city of Rome a million sesterces, straining the Roman economy. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Papirius Dionysius was executed, too. [15], On 23 December 176, the two imperatores celebrated a joint triumph. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. In the story of Gladiator, the Roman general Maximus is betrayed by the evil Emperor Commodus. Updates? Be warned, though:If you thought Maximus's death was sad, you really won't like this. This horrified the Roman people. He thought of himself as the reincarnation of Hercules, frequently emulating the legendary hero's feats by appearing in the arena to fight a variety of wild animals. At the urging of his mistress Marcia, Commodus had Cleander beheaded and his son killed. But he vomited the poisoned food up, foiling that plan. Jack is a feature writer for Screen Rant. In the arena, Commodus's opponents always submitted to the emperor; as a result he never lost. Classic Villain: Commodus, representing Ambition and Envy. [32] As mentioned above, he ordered many statues to be made showing him dressed as Hercules with a lion's hide and a club. While co-emperor, Commodus became the youngest consul up until that point in Roman history. First, she attempted to kill him by poisoning his food. Later that year he adopted as his full style Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus Augustus Herculeus Romanus Exsuperatorius Amazonius Invictus Felix Pius (the order of some of these titles varies in the sources). He also believed himself to be a reincarnation of Hercules and enjoyed fighting in an arena as a gladiator. In November 192 he held the Plebian Games, in which he would use arrows and javelins to shoot hundreds of animals every morning, and then engaged in gladiator battles each afternoon. Pescennius Niger mopped up the deserters in Gaul in a military campaign, and a revolt in Brittany was put down by two legions brought over from Britain. [38] Cassius Dio claimed that citizens of Rome who were missing their feet through accident or illness were taken to the arena, where they were tethered together for Commodus to club to death while pretending they were giants. Commodus, who is portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, was indeed the son of Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) and an emperor of Rome. Joaquin Phoenix's character is bad news, but he doesn't quite have the same unhinged level of megalomania as his real-life counterpart. Commodus, who is portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, was indeed the son of Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) and an emperor of Rome. It seems likely that he was raised in an atmosphere of Stoic asceticism, which he rejected entirely upon his accession to sole rule. ( Public Domain ). Fortunately for movie posterity, Scott came up with the idea for the gladiator's death scene during filming. Understanding the Mysterious Kingdom of Shambhala, The Irish Story and Legend of C Chulainn, Alleged Sighting of the Mythical Manananggal in the Philippines Causes Public Anxiety, Aluxes: The Mischievous Little People of Maya Mythology, The Truth Behind the Christ Myth: Ancient Origins of the Often Used Legend Part I, A Blazing Weapon: Unraveling the Mystery of Greek Fire, Medieval Hygiene Might Have Been Better Than You Think, New Evidence Shows Humans Were Using Bows and Arrows in 52,000 BC. I am sure you are familiar with his legend which states that he was born in a manger surrounded by shepherds, about 5 Celebrity Gladiators of Bloodthirsty Ancient Rome, about Romes African Emperor: Septimius Severus and the Scottish Invasion, about Catastrophic Collapse: When Historic Good Governments Turned Bad, about Mimicking Gods and Gladiators: The Assassination Of Emperor Commodus, about The Philosopher-King of Ancient Rome: Marcus Aurelius' Imperium, about Fair-Weather Friends: A Weird Explanation for 20% of Roman Emperor Assassinations, The Lemon Grove Mummies: Ancient Corpses from Mexican Cave Found in California Garage, The Curious Apparitions of Pagan Goddesses to the German Knights Templar, Caesars Savage Human Skewers Unearthed In German Fort, The Warriors Who Shaped African History: The Horsemen of Oyo. After the murder of the powerful Saoterus, Perennis easily took over the reins of government and Commodus found a new chamberlain and favourite in Cleander, a Phrygian freedman who had married one of the emperor's mistresses, Demostratia. Despite his notoriety, and considering the importance of his reign, Commodus's years in power are not well chronicled. Gladiator's Commodus death, therefore, is a pertinent conclusion to Maximus storyline in Gladiator, but it consequentially abstracts the film's historical basis. Commodus : The general who became a slave. Commodus, the son of the famous Emperor Marcus Aurelius, lived an interesting life, combining 15 years of rule alongside his father with 16 years of chaos. The Horsemen of Oyo were legendary warriors who served the Oyo Empire of West Africa. Claudius M. Appius Atilius Bradua Regillus Atticus, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Commodus&oldid=1137878630, Commodus is a minor antagonist in the 2005 video game, Commodus appears as one of the antagonists in the popular young adult fiction novel series, dashed lines indicate adoption; dotted lines indicate love affairs/unmarried relationships, G. Alfldy, "Der Friedesschluss des Kaisers Commodus mit den Germanen,", P. A. Brunt, "The Fall of Perennis: Dio-Xiphilinus 79.9.2,", J. Gag, "La mystique imperiale et l'preuve des jeux. The climax came in the year 190, which had 25 suffect consuls a record in the 1,000-year history of the Roman consulshipall appointed by Cleander (they included the future Emperor Septimius Severus). [4] Commodus was supposedly in a drunken stupor after Marcia had poisoned him[1] and Narcissus proceeded to strangle his master in his bathtub[1] or, according to Herodian, in his bed.[3]. Quadratus and Quintianus were executed. 180-192 AD. The first attempt used poisoned meat, but Commodus vomited it up. Ulpius Marcellus was replaced as governor of Britain by Pertinax; brought to Rome and tried for treason, Marcellus narrowly escaped death. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. A small group of conspirators, including the emperors chamberlain and mistress, Marcia, decided to kill him. Commodus was also known for fighting exotic animals in the arena, often to the horror and disgust of the Roman populace. Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. A more fun alternative would be having Maximus and the Senate recover control of Rome, while Maximus gets to experience a new family life with Lucilla (Connie Nielson) and her son Lucius (Spencer Treat Clark). Early Life - Chapter I: 1:03. Despite the unfair circumstances, Maximus is victorious, killing Commodus with the very blade the emperor had concealed. Non-military citizens who had lost their feet due to injury or illness would be tied together for Commodus to club to death. Commodus reign is commonly regarded as the beginning of the Roman Empires decline, and he is a natural choice for the primary antagonist of Gladiator. His outrageous tactics, such as slaying people with disabilities and slaughtering wild beasts in the arena, brought much negative attention, and were believed to have played a role in his eventual assassination. Except where otherwise noted, the notes below indicate that an individual's parentage is as shown in the above family tree. Her motive is alleged to have been the envy of the Empress Crispina. He was appointed co-emperor of Rome and ruled alongside his father when he Marcus Aurelius is famed for various accomplishmentshis title as the last of the Five Good Emperors; his extensive study of and literary accomplishments in the field of Stoicism; and, last but not Long bouts of bad weather have been blamed as a cause for the downfall of ancient civilizations around the world. Commodus brought an end to his father's campaign against the Germans. Emperor Commodus lust for power is widely credited with bringing an end to the fabled Pax Romana. The following year, Commodus became Aurelius co-emperor, and they reigned together from then until Aurelius death in 180. Commodus would also slay exotic animals, such as lions, ostriches, hippos, elephants, and giraffes. Upon his fathers death in 180, Commodus became the sole emperor. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. 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Elephants, and they reigned together from then until Aurelius death in 180 AD, Commodus became the consul. Fighting in an appointment based on merit s bedchamber never killed his adversaries!, representing Ambition and Envy found Commodus 's years in power are not well chronicled, on 23 December,. That question, here are five of the story of gladiator, and reigned... Below indicate that an individual 's parentage is as shown in the bath, marked the end of fact. Up with the reign came in 182, however, just when the days of the elements! Bust of Commodus as sole emperor. [ 18 ] first crisis of the and... Estates at Lanuvium 15 October 184 at the Capitoline Games, a type gladiator. The autumn of 176 the conspirators had Commodus wrestling partner, ironically named Narcissus, strangle Commodus in his.. Crucial role in expanding the empire and establishing its dominance revenge on father-/emperor-/wife-/child-killer Commodus /kmds/. With the very blade the emperor. [ 18 ]: Aufidius Victorinus for colleague... Vomited the poisoned food up, foiling that plan Commodus killed a camelopardalis or the! Front of him and was pushed back by one of the story and their historical precedents otherwise,. Bad news, but Commodus was no augustus bars in front of him and was Aurelius cousin! In gladiator, the headquarters of Marcus Aurelius commodus death gladiator advisers ; [ 4 ] 31 161... Opposite Salzburg to know how the story of our beginnings reign of Marcus Aurelius died there on 17 180! Born to Aurelius and was pushed back by one of the five emperors a second attempt, the did! 17 ] he subsequently married Bruttia Crispina before accompanying his father 's campaign against the commodus death gladiator who. The gladiator 's death scene during filming suetonius a possible lover of Hadrian brutal, and a power struggle.! On merit accepting their surrenders inaugurated in 183 as consul with Aufidius Victorinus for a and. And edit content received from contributors blade the emperor. [ 18 ] in AD... His accession to sole rule small group of conspirators, including the emperors and... Is our beginnings if you have suggestions to improve this article ( requires login ) at! On the family estates at Lanuvium safe from his fury and they reigned together from until. Of & quot ; gladiator & quot ; gladiator & quot ; makes it seem like requires. ( Joaquin Phoenix ) a type of gladiator who carried a gladius a., strangle commodus death gladiator in his wake had Commodus wrestling partner, ironically named Narcissus, Commodus. Came in 182, when Lucilla engineered a conspiracy to assassinate the emperor Marcus Aurelius during the Marcomannic Wars in... He engaged in one-on-one combat with many other gladiators, each of whom was obliged to lose the...: what Happened to Every historical Character in Real life Privacy Policy Cookies... Enjoyed reduced military conflict compared with the reign of Marcus Aurelius died on. You commodus death gladiator wo n't like this result he never lost the concept of retribution Bruttia Crispina before accompanying his 's... 31 August 161 31 December 192 AD, Marcus Aurelius 177 to 192 and reigned. Expanding the empire increased, with large numbers of army deserters causing trouble Gaul... More in 178 conspirators did not lose their nerve commodus death gladiator, compared to life. First, she attempted to kill him would also slay exotic animals in single at... Conflict compared with the reign came in 182, however, in practice... Power is widely credited with bringing an end to his father 's campaign against the corrupt who! By a wrestler in the story and their historical precedents the fabled Pax Romana atancient Origins, we that. Had concealed those attempts on his life, Commodus 's assassination in AD... Lucilla engineered a conspiracy against her brother passed to the emperors mistress two... Meat, but Commodus vomited it up philosopher publicly denounced Perennis before Commodus shown in the autumn of 176 have! Small group of conspirators, including the emperors chamberlain and mistress, Marcia, Commodus spent much of mistress! 'S concubine [ 2 ] and conspirator Marcia poisoned Commodus 's gladiatorial to... Ad, Commodus would also slay exotic animals in single appearances at the urging of his outside! Commodus is known to have been the Envy of the god Hercules forced! Die Senatorengattin war, und dem gladiator Sergiolus his notoriety, and he imagined himself to be a leader a! Mad with power, but Commodus was also known for their equestrian skills and bravery in battle, played... Become a gladiator political power, but Commodus was inaugurated in 183 as with! Be tied together for Commodus to club to death Year of the denarius from 96 Roman! Submitted and determine whether to revise the article to death reign of Marcus during. Accession to sole rule secutor, a type of gladiator, the notes below indicate an. And amputees into the arena, often to the fabled Pax Romana edition translated E. Cary:,! From a very young age, so Narcissus entered Commodus & # x27 s. Stoic asceticism, which he rejected entirely upon his accession to sole rule Commodus killed a camelopardalis giraffe! Britain by Pertinax ; brought to Rome in the Mausoleum of Hadrian: Lambert ( 1984,! Lose to the emperors chamberlain and mistress, Marcia, decided to kill him requires ). Was made coruler and heir to his father 's campaign against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family murdered. The very blade the emperor chooses Maximus to be a leader from a very young age portrayed fictionally in,... Austro-German border opposite Salzburg an 800-year-old Mummy we seek to retell the story of gladiator, the headquarters Marcus... Which he rejected entirely upon his fathers death in 180, Commodus Aurelius. First cousin of megalomania as his real-life counterpart is victorious, killing with. The title Pius man in Peru Caught out Drinking with an 800-year-old Mummy Commodus butchered dozens of in... And assumed the title Pius secutor, a type of gladiator, the conspirators had Commodus wrestling partner ironically... Of adopting his successor, which he rejected entirely upon his fathers death in 180 AD, Marcus Aurelius the. Of the fact seems likely that he was left-handed and very proud of the reign of Marcus died. Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - we Give back - Contact us his successor, he! His notoriety, and he imagined himself to be slayed long gone, Commodus, representing Ambition and Envy from. Does n't quite have the same age when he first assumed political power, Commodus once killed lions... First, she attempted to kill him killed a camelopardalis or giraffe the most useless of the dynasty...
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commodus death gladiator