In the story of Gladiator, the Roman general Maximus is betrayed by the evil Emperor Commodus. He was co-emperor with his father Marcus Aurelius from 177 until his father's death in 180. She believes that only by understanding where we come from, can we truly understand our life path and purpose. Lucilla was over ten years his senior and held the rank of Augusta as the widow of her first husband, Lucius Verus. 1. Gracchus and Commodus stared evenly at eachother, with mutual hatred. The breaking point and Commodus' real death. After a failed assassination attempt in 182, however, his rule became erratic and brutal, and he imagined himself to be Hercules. 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. Maximus is given a very clear ending, but what about the rest of Rome? 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. Thrown into the spotlight as Rome . [39] Dio also wrote that it was Commodus's custom to privately use deadly weapons to fight, murdering and maiming his opponents. Speidel, "Commodus the God-Emperor and the Army,", This page was last edited on 6 February 2023, at 22:16. Russell Crowe's Maximus asks the crowd "Are you not entertained?" Commodus took the loss of Saoterus badly, and Perennis now seized the chance to advance himself by implicating Paternus in a second conspiracy, one apparently led by Publius Salvius Julianus, who was the son of the jurist Salvius Julianus and was betrothed to Paternus's daughter. Wikimedia CommonsEmperor Commodus lust for power is widely credited with bringing an end to the fabled Pax Romana. Narcissus (born 2nd century A.D.) was a Roman athlete,[1][2] likely a wrestler,[3] from the 2nd century AD. It's a great story of revenge but the character of Maximus is entirely made up. Commodus did initially engage in some leadership-oriented activities, although not always in the favor of the Roman people. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Commodus as Killing Machine and Gladiator Commodus as Megalomaniac The End of Commodus Like Father, Not Like Son Commodus's father Marcus Aurelius was a morally upright and beloved emperor who ruled Rome through a devastating plague epidemic and endless frontier wars against invading Germanic tribes. Available from: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/128108/Commodus, Lucius Aurelius Commodus Roman-Empire. This biographical article related to crime is a stub. As he was physically strong, his chief interest was in sport: he took part in horse racing, chariot racing, and combat with beasts and men, mostly in private but also on occasion in public. [5] He was the son of the reigning emperor, Marcus Aurelius, and Aurelius's first cousin, Faustina the Younger, the youngest daughter of Emperor Antoninus Pius, who had died only a few months before. From all angles, Commodus was groomed to succeed on the throne. Commodus, The Unhinged Roman Emperor Who Went Mad With Power, Commodus exposes Lucillas plot in this scene from. The Horsemen of Oyo were legendary warriors who served the Oyo Empire of West Africa. And what could be more glorious than to challenge the Emperor himself in the great arena? 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. 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. We will never see the like of the Roman Empire ever again. We'll explain. Before his death, the Emperor chooses Maximus to be his heir over his own son, Commodus, and a power struggle leaves . Nevertheless, there is much agreement that Commodus actions as emperor signaled the start of the decline of the Roman Empire. 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. Perhaps seeing this as an opportunity, early in 192 Commodus, declaring himself the new Romulus, ritually re-founded Rome, renaming the city Colonia Lucia Annia Commodiana. In hindsight, he should have kept the tradition of adopting his successor, which would have resulted in an appointment based on merit. 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. Under Commodus, Rome had descended from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust. Much like Nero had supposedly fiddled while Rome burned, Commodus enjoyed himself as the city decayed around him. Commodus mistress, Marcia, played an important role in his assassination. It seems likely that he was raised in an atmosphere of Stoic asceticism, which he rejected entirely upon his accession to sole rule. Despite his notoriety, and considering the importance of his reign, Commodus's years in power are not well chronicled. A former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery. fascinating facts from the entirety of ancient history. Commodus was a terrible ruler by virtually any standard. In 166, at the age of five, Commodus was made Caesar, along with his younger brother Marcus Annius Verus. Pompeianus retired from public life. And what could be more glorious than to challenge the Emperor himself in the great arena? Commodus' famous gesture, which he gives when deciding the fate of defeated gladiators [27] Another event, as recorded by the historian Aelius Lampridius, took place at the Roman baths at Terme Taurine, where the emperor had an attendant thrown into an oven after he had found his bathwater to be lukewarm. His body was buried in the Mausoleum of Hadrian. The emperor Titus Flavian completed the Colosseum and endeared himself to the public with his generosity only to have his good works undone by his brother Domitian, who was assassinated by his own court. After this look at Commodus, check out these interesting facts about Ancient Rome. Narcissus died by execution during the series of civil wars after Commodus's death. [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]. This caused much outrage, and inspired prefect Laetus to start a conspiracy to assassinate the emperor. 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. The most famous scene in "Gladiator" is the one that launched a thousand memes (to use a phrase from a different Ancient European society). While co-emperor, Commodus became the youngest consul up until that point in Roman history. 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. The poison failed, so Narcissus entered Commodus's bedchamber. The Emperor and his son then travelled to Athens, where they were initiated into the Eleusinian Mysteries. Non-military citizens who had lost their feet due to injury or illness would be tied together for Commodus to club to death. Well, kind of, but not really. 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. Gina Dimuro is a New York-based writer and translator. The emperor is dead, and it looks like Maximus' death might galvanize the already frustrated Senate to try to correct the damage Commodus inflicted during his rule. Every illness was treated to ensure he remained strong and healthy. When Marcia found a list of people Commodus intended to have executed, she discovered that she, the prefect Laetus and Eclectus were on it. The real Commodus was also a gladiator superfan, and he really did get in the arena and fight people. [32] As mentioned above, he ordered many statues to be made showing him dressed as Hercules with a lion's hide and a club. The slave who became a gladiator. While Lucilla did actually try to orchestrate Commodus' assassination, there's no historical evidence of his disturbing attraction to her or their highly tempestuous relationship as depicted in the movie. Or, were the Romans protecting something even more valuable than silver? Dio Cassius 73.1.2, Loeb edition translated E. Cary, Dio Cassius 73.5.3, Loeb edition translated E. Cary. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. And the wise Marcus Aurelius, known as the Philosopher and the last of the Five Good Emperors, would be succeeded by his son Commodus, whose descent into madness would be immortalized throughout the millennia (including a heavily fictionalized account in the popular 2000 film Gladiator). Commodus was spoilt and decadent and his decadence led to the decline of the empire. Its protagonist, Maximus, is entirely fictitious. so Romans had no choice but to obey Commodus. Ser. Cassius Dio declared that Commodus was not naturally wicked but that his cowardice, made him the slave of his companions.. Commodus was succeeded by Pertinax, whose reign was short-lived; he would become the first claimant to be usurped during the Year of the Five Emperors. Commodus was inaugurated in 183 as consul with Aufidius Victorinus for a colleague and assumed the title Pius. 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Innumerable statues around the empire were set up portraying him in the guise of Hercules, reinforcing the image of him as a demigod, a physical giant, a protector, and a warrior who fought against men and beasts (see "Commodus and Hercules" and "Commodus the Gladiator" below). Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) takes power and strips rank from Maximus (Russell Crowe), one of the favored generals of his predecessor and father, Empero 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. Commodus was born on August 31, 161 AD in Lanuvium, 14 miles (22.5 km) southeast of Rome. "Back!" he cried. 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. 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. His mother was Annia Galeria Faustina, a member of the Roman nobility and the daughter of the emperor Antoninus Pius. 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. 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. As a second attempt, the conspirators had Commodus wrestling partner, ironically named Narcissus, strangle Commodus in his bath. The Eastern Tour - Chapter II: 4:01. The ending of "Gladiator" makes it seem like. Despite Maximus being a fictional character, the athlete Narcissus is one of the multiple historical figures serving as the likely inspiration for Gladiator's protagonist. Maximus defeat of Commodus provides a dramatic conclusion to Gladiator, but the depiction of the malevolent emperors death is historically inaccurate. Julia Balbilla a possible lover of Sabina: A. R. Birley (1997). Didius Julianus, the future emperor and a relative of Salvius Julianus, was dismissed from the governorship of Germania Inferior. after executing a double-sword beheading on an unfortunate opponent, delivering an iconic moment in movie and internet history. Other victims at this time were the praetorian prefect Julius Julianus, Commodus's cousin Annia Fundania Faustina, and his brother-in-law Mamertinus. Commodus accompanied his father during the Marcomannic Wars in 172, and on a tour of the Eastern provinces in 176. AtAncient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. Did you realise that "Gladiator" was a revamp of the 1960's movie "THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE" starring Sir Alec Guiness, Sophia Loren, Christopher Plummer, Steven Boyd and Omar Sharif? He assassinated the Roman emperor Commodus in 192 AD. A former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery. The powerful ending of "Gladiator" makes it one of those movies guaranteed to make anyone cry, but it's also oddly satisfying. Commodus is commonly regarded as being an inadequate and megalomaniacal emperor, but Gladiators distortion of history portrays him as exclusively and resolutely evil. Commodus was made coruler when he was just 16 years old, and he was emperor before he turned 19. They then sent in an athlete to strangle the 31-year old emperor in his bath. [15], On 23 December 176, the two imperatores celebrated a joint triumph. [40][41] For each appearance in the arena, he charged the city of Rome a million sesterces, straining the Roman economy. On 27 November 176, Marcus Aurelius bestowed the title of Imperator on Commodus and in summer 177 he made him a full joint emperor by giving him the title of Augustus. Mudlarker Finds Bronze Age Shoe on a UK Riverbank Dated 2,800 Years Old! Despite the unfair circumstances, Maximus is victorious, killing Commodus with the very blade the emperor had concealed. To some, this was a sign that Commodus was not actually the biological child of Aurelius, and that his mother had conceived him while engaging in an affair. In 180 AD, Marcus Aurelius died, leaving Commodus as sole Emperor of Rome. [36] Popular rumors spread alleging he was not actually the son of Marcus Aurelius, but of a gladiator his mother Faustina had taken as a lover at the coastal resort of Caieta.[37]. He showed no interest in government or military matters and was consumed by self-indulgence. The benevolent emperor Claudius, who improved Rome with public works, was followed by his stepson Nero, who some say burned Rome to the ground. 1. It appears that Aurelius was desperate to have a son of his own bloodline succeed him. On 12 October 166, Commodus was made Caesar together with his younger brother, Marcus Annius Verus. In addition to Galens medical attention and treatment, Commodus was also highly educated, with little focus on military training. In AD 191, he took over more of the reins of power, though he continued to rule through a cabal consisting of Marcia, his new chamberlain Eclectus, and the new praetorian prefect Quintus Aemilius Laetus. It was presumably there that, on 15 October 172, he was given the victory title Germanicus, in the presence of the army. Corrections? It appeared that he had no interest in being a leader, and only wanted to take advantage of his leadership powers to fulfill his own desires. Husband of Salonia Matidia: Levick (2014), p. 161. The plot failed, and Commodus retaliated by executing a number of leading senators. This assassination attempt was successful, and both Commodus reign as Roman Emperor, and his life, ended on the final day of 192. Classic Villain: Commodus, representing Ambition and Envy. Cornelius Scipio Salvidienus Orfitus, Ti. But in reality, it was marked the end of the promise of Rome. They bungled the job and were seized by the emperor's bodyguard. The character is, however, portrayed fictionally in Gladiator, and his death during Maximus final fight in the Colosseum is an example of the films historical inaccuracy. [12][13][14] Commodus was the first (and until 337, the only) emperor "born in the purple," meaning during his father's reign. By 192 A.D., the Roman people had had enough. While fighting in the arena, opponents would submit to Commodus, as emperor, and their lives were spared. On December 31, 192, his advisers had him strangled by a champion wrestler, following his announcement the day before that he would assume the consulship, dressed as a gladiator. Roman artwork, 191 - 192 AD. 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. Cleander fled to Commodus, who was at Laurentum in the house of the Quinctilii, for protection, but the mob followed him calling for his head. 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. Cleander proceeded to concentrate power in his own hands and to enrich himself by becoming responsible for all public offices: he sold and bestowed entry to the Senate, army commands, governorships, and increasingly, even the suffect consulships to the highest bidder. 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. Reigning from 180 to 192 A.D., Commodus all but ignored his official duties. Instead, he devoted himself to his harem of 300 females and a like number of males, played gladiator at Rome's. 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. Unlike the preceding emperors Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius, he seems to have had little interest in the business of administration and tended throughout his reign to leave the practical running of the state to a succession of favourites, beginning with Saoterus, a freedman from Nicomedia who had become his chamberlain. He also believed himself to be a reincarnation of Hercules and enjoyed fighting in an arena as a gladiator. On this channel we focus on Roman History and right now we're doing a video on every Roman Emperor, if you're interested in that subscribe or watch the playlist here: https://bit.ly/32CUA2g. Wikimedia CommonsAn illustration of the murder of Commmodus. The ancient Greek city of Delphi, located on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, was home to the main Temple of Apollo and the renowned Oracle of Delphi. Intro: 0:00. The film portrays a fictionalized account of historical events, and it illuminates aspects of the culture of ancient Rome. 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!'. 1475); the hero wears his characteristic lionskin and wields a club. Yet another attempt on his life had been foiled, but the conspirators did not lose their nerve. 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. The three of them plotted to assassinate the emperor. In 182 A.D., Commodus sister Lucilla organized an attempt on her brothers life. The Untersberg is a great mountain straddling the Austro-German border opposite Salzburg. The conclusion of Gladiator sees Commodus killed by Maximus in the gladiators final fight, but what are the true details of the emperors death? Roman Emperor Lucius Aurelius Commodus was a corrupt ruler who was not well-received by the Roman people during his reign. Commodus received extensive tutoring by a multitude of teachers with a focus on intellectual education. 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. As disgusted as the senators were by the sight of their emperor running around half-naked in the sands of the amphitheater, they were too terrified to do anything but play along. Throughout his reign, Commodus entrusted the management of affairs to his palace chamberlain and praetorian prefects, named Saoterus, Perennis and Cleander. He reduced the weight of the denarius from 96 per Roman pound to 105 per Roman pound (3.85grams to 3.35grams). Commodus (/kmds/;[4] 31 August 161 31 December 192) was a Roman emperor who ruled from 177 to 192. Lucilla was exiled to Capri and later killed. In 177 Lucius was made coruler and heir to his father, the emperor Marcus Aurelius (reigned 161180). Narration by: Alexander Dobby. After repeated attempts on Commodus's life, Roman citizens were often killed for making him angry. As promised in another well-known speech, Maximus does indeed have his revenge on father-/emperor-/wife-/child-killer Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). The historian Herodian, a contemporary, described Commodus as an extremely handsome man. He also believed himself to be a reincarnation of Hercules and enjoyed fighting in an arena as a gladiator. 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. One of the two praetorian prefects, Publius Tarrutenius Paternus, had actually been involved in the conspiracy but his involvement was not discovered until later on, and in the aftermath, he and his colleague, Sextus Tigidius Perennis, were able to arrange for the murder of Saoterus, the hated chamberlain. On 31 December 192 AD, Commodus's concubine [2] and conspirator Marcia poisoned Commodus's wine. @Roberto Peron, No, Marcus Aurelius was a philosopher (Stoic) the last of the 5 "Good Emperors" and maintained the "Pax Romana). The movie is far from historically accurate. But now, the people want to know how the story ends. And what could be more glorious than to challenge the Emperor himself in the great arena? When Commodus ordered for the death of Maximus and his family, the Romans could not reject that request. He is viewed as having been an inept emperor, his megalomaniac tendencies leading to odd behaviors which frustrated and upset the Roman people. Hercules and the Hydra (ca. Omissions? But he vomited the poisoned food up, foiling that plan. The slave who became a gladiator. Watching him collapse and die after restoring his own freedom and ridding Rome of its Tyrant in Chief seems like, well, a downer. With each breathtaking scene, the complex culture of world that created and adored these bloody games between man and beast comes into clear focus. Moreover, as Hercules, he could claim to be the son of Jupiter, the supreme god of the Roman pantheon. [28][29], His original name was Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus. 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