Available from: http://www.roman-empire.net/highpoint/commodus.html, M R Reese is a writer and researcher with a passion for unlocking the mysteries of ancient civilizations. A grateful Senate proclaimed a new emperorthe city prefect, Publius Helvius Pertinaxbut the empire quickly slipped into civil war. 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. He was co-emperor with his father Marcus Aurelius from 177 until his father's death in 180. In the arena, Commodus's opponents always submitted to the emperor; as a result he never lost. Commodus accompanied his father during the Marcomannic Wars in 172, and on a tour of the Eastern provinces in 176. 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. We'll explain. Commodus was the tenth of fourteen children born to Aurelius and was ultimately the only surviving son. The character is, however, portrayed fictionally in Gladiator, and. He served jointly with his father Marcus Aurelius from 177 until the latter's death in 180, and thereafter he reigned alone until his assassination. Only a famous death will do. Every illness was treated to ensure he remained strong and healthy. Commodus was the son of marcus Marcus Aurelius and later Roman Emperor. "I won't be in here forever!" rasped Commodus. In the view of Dio Cassius, his accession marked the descent "from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust".[20]. 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. 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. ( Public Domain ). Available from: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/128108/Commodus, Lucius Aurelius Commodus Roman-Empire. . 1. However, the ending, while sad, is true to Maximus's goals. Commodus : The general who became a slave. Dying and going to Elysium is a more fitting reward for him than taking control of Rome. 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. As Greek mythology goes, the universe was once a big soup of nothingness. It is uncertain whether Rupilia Faustina was Frugi's daughter by Salonia Matidia or another woman. Gladiator is somewhat historically accurate in its final scenes, as Commodus did perform as a gladiator. This caused much outrage, and inspired prefect Laetus to start a conspiracy to assassinate the emperor. He also believed himself to be a reincarnation of Hercules and enjoyed fighting in an arena as a gladiator. He also reduced the silver purity from 79percent to 76percent the silver weight dropping from 2.57grams to 2.34grams. As Edward Gibbon noted in his famous Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, in the intervening years between the death of Domitian and the reign of Commodus, the vast extent of the Roman empire was governed by absolute power, under the guidance of virtue and wisdom. The Five Good Emperors, ruled efficiently and under them the Roman people enjoyed a rational freedom.. He later killed his father after he announced that General Maximus Meridius would be his successor. Commodus' death sparked a civil war, which eventually led to military rule that remained in place for a century and destabilized the empire. However, in private practice fights, Commodus would slay his opponents. 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. Yet another attempt on his life had been foiled, but the conspirators did not lose their nerve. The movie is far from historically accurate. It's fair to say the audience is pretty attached to Maximus by the end of "Gladiator." A small group of conspirators, including the emperors chamberlain and mistress, Marcia, decided to kill him. 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. Pompeianus retired from public life. [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. The activities which held Commodus attention and with which he spent his time were primarily surrounding gladiatorial combat. He would take to the arena and engage in combat, which the Romans viewed as being scandalous and disgraceful. 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." 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. Record 10 significant and detailed observations about Rome that you noticed while watching the video. By 192 A.D., the Roman people had had enough. However, the following year, a detachment of soldiers from Britain (they had been drafted to Italy to suppress brigands) also denounced Perennis to the emperor as plotting to make his own son emperor (they had been enabled to do so by Cleander, who was seeking to dispose of his rival), and Commodus gave them permission to execute him as well as his wife and sons. 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. On 31 December, Marcia poisoned Commodus's food, but he vomited up the poison, so the conspirators sent his wrestling partner Narcissus to strangle him in his bath.[24]. One of the things that the film followed fairly accurately was the . Commodus did initially engage in some leadership-oriented activities, although not always in the favor of the Roman people. Condianus and Maximus were executed on the pretext that while they were not implicated in any plots, their wealth and talent would make them unhappy with the current state of affairs. [35] According to Herodian, spectators of Commodus thought it unbecoming of an emperor to take up arms in the amphitheater for sport when he could be campaigning against barbarians among other opponents of Rome. 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. Reigning from 180 to 192 A.D., Commodus all but ignored his official duties. 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 was spoilt and decadent and his decadence led to the decline of the empire. But now, the people want to know how the story ends. She has earned Read More. Commodus lunged at the Senator. He also had four surviving sisters, all of them with husbands who were potential rivals. [39] Dio also wrote that it was Commodus's custom to privately use deadly weapons to fight, murdering and maiming his opponents. All Action 473K subscribers 86K 11M views 1 year ago #Gladiator #RidleyScott #AllAction Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) challenges Maximus (Russell Crowe) in combat in the hopes of killing him. Top Image: Bust of Commodus, 17th Emperor of the Roman Empire. 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 . The Untersberg is a great mountain straddling the Austro-German border opposite Salzburg. One of these is Commodus' relationship with his sister Lucilla. Faustina was the daughter of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius and was Aurelius first cousin. The gladiator who defied an emperor. 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. Having been accepted as emperor by Syria, Judea and Egypt, Cassius carried on his rebellion even after it had become obvious that Marcus was still alive. Cassius, however, was killed by one of his centurions before the campaign against him could begin. A former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery. 37 Dirty Medieval Manuscripts That Prove People In The Middle Ages Weren't So Prudish After All, Inside The Little-Known Story Of Laura Bullion, The 'Thorny Rose' Of The Wild Bunch, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. 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, The Unhinged Roman Emperor Who Went Mad With Power, Commodus exposes Lucillas plot in this scene from. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Commodus. Upon his ascension, Commodus devalued the Roman currency. Corrections? Gladiator is a film invested in the concept of retribution. 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. Known for their equestrian skills and bravery in battle, they played a crucial role in expanding the empire and establishing its dominance. Gladiator's Commodus death, therefore, is a pertinent conclusion to Maximus storyline in Gladiator, but it consequentially abstracts the film's historical basis. [44] Dio notes that the targeted senators actually found this more ridiculous than frightening, and chewed on laurel leaves to conceal their laughter. This ancient Roman biographical article is a stub. Commodus is commonly regarded as being an inadequate and megalomaniacal emperor, but Gladiators distortion of history portrays him as exclusively and resolutely evil. [15], On 23 December 176, the two imperatores celebrated a joint triumph. after executing a double-sword beheading on an unfortunate opponent, delivering an iconic moment in movie and internet history. His mother was Annia Galeria Faustina, a member of the Roman nobility and the daughter of the emperor Antoninus Pius. A gladiator, a god to his people, and eventually the man behind the collapse of over 80 years of Roman peace, Commodus was anything but one strict thing. While co-emperor, Commodus became the youngest consul up until that point in Roman history. These tendencies now increased to megalomaniacal proportions. It seems likely that he was raised in an atmosphere of Stoic asceticism, which he rejected entirely upon his accession to sole rule. Cornelius Scipio Salvidienus Orfitus, Ti. Commodus was made coruler when he was just 16 years old, and he was emperor before he turned 19. 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. He assassinated the Roman emperor Commodus in 192 AD. [40][41] For each appearance in the arena, he charged the city of Rome a million sesterces, straining the Roman economy. According to Cassius Dio, Commodus once killed 100 lions in a single day. Only a famous death will do. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. [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. 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). It's a great story of revenge but the character of Maximus is entirely made up. Interestingly, it took Scott a while to realize that, like a sadistic emperor at a gladiatorial display, the ending demanded Maximus's death. The poison failed, so Narcissus entered Commodus's bedchamber. Commodus would enter the arena in the garb of Mercury and casting aside all his other garments, would begin his exhibition wearing only a tunic and unshod.. Then, two things happened: either Chaos or Gaia created the universe as we know it, or Ouranos and Tethys gave birth to the first beings. Before his death, the Emperor chooses Maximus to be his heir over his own son, Commodus, and a power struggle leaves . Only a famous death will do. His brutal misrule precipitated civil strife that ended 84 years of stability and prosperity within the empire. The long line of ancient Roman emperors is marked by a strange pattern: Almost every exceptionally brilliant emperor was succeeded by an exceptionally mad one. Gladiator: How Commodus Died In Real Life & Who Killed Him, Gladiator: What Happened To Every Historical Character In Real Life. Commodus is known to have been at Carnuntum, the headquarters of Marcus Aurelius during the Marcomannic Wars, in 172. Aurelius himself, and the four emperors that had preceded him, had all been adopted. It was presumably there that, on 15 October 172, he was given the victory title Germanicus, in the presence of the army. In addition to Galens medical attention and treatment, Commodus was also highly educated, with little focus on military training. 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. Commodus remained with the Danube armies for only a short time before negotiating a peace treaty with the Danubian tribes. 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. Maximus is a powerful Roman general, loved by the people and the aging Emperor, Marcus Aurelius. The following year he became the youngest emperor and consul up to that point, at the age of 16. He was left-handed and very proud of the fact. The Iliad can provide new insights on the role of motherhood among the ancient Greek gods, and by extension, amongst ancient mortal Greek women themselves. After becoming emperor, Commodus spent his 12-year reign indulging in hobbies like gambling, drinking and chariot-racing, but his two greatest passions seemed to be sex and pretending to be a . Soon after he became sole ruler, Lucius changed his name to Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus. 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. In 186 he further reduced the purity and silver weight to 74percent and 2.22grams respectively, being 108 to the Roman pound. 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. [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. Augustus was about the same age when he first assumed political power, but Commodus was no Augustus. [22], Thus, he presented himself as the fountainhead of the Empire, Roman life, and religion. 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". 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Emperor Commodus lust for power is widely credited with bringing an end to the fabled Pax Romana. On 20 January 175, Commodus entered the College of Pontiffs, the starting point of a career in public life. Maximus is given a very clear ending, but what about the rest of Rome? Then, discover the most fascinating facts from the entirety of ancient history. Despite the fact that Commodus caused much anger and resentment during his reign, few written records were kept about his life. 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. 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. 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). After a failed assassination attempt in 182, however, his rule became erratic and brutal, and he imagined himself to be Hercules. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. "Back!" he cried. The executions of the senators had whet his appetite for blood and he devoted himself to combats of wild beasts and of men. Not merely content to hunt in private, the emperor began to perform in the Colosseum itself, competing as a gladiator to the delight of the crowds and horror of the senate, as depicted in Gladiator. Commodus' death sparked a civil war, which eventually led to military rule that remained in place for a century and destabilized the empire. [28][29], His original name was Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus. Disappointment aside, Aurelius continued to promote Commodus through the ranks. [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]. They bungled the job and were seized by the emperor's bodyguard. Its protagonist, Maximus, is entirely fictitious. First, she attempted to kill him by poisoning his food. The Syrian-born gladiator, who rose to fame under the reign of Emperor Hadrian (117 to 138 A.D.), is best known for the length of his career, and for being awarded his freedom four times . Unrest around the empire increased, with large numbers of army deserters causing trouble in Gaul and Germany. Husband of Ulpia Marciana: Levick (2014), p. 161. Maximus defeat of Commodus provides a dramatic conclusion to Gladiator, but the depiction of the malevolent emperors death is historically inaccurate. Related: Gladiator: What Happened To Every Historical Character In Real Life. Commodus Roman Emperor In Power Nov 27, 176 - Dec 31, 192 Born Aug 31, 161Lanuvium, Italy Died Dec 31, 192 (aged 31)Rome, Italy Wife Bruttia Crispina Father Marcus Aurelius Mother Faustina the Younger Lucius Aurelius Commodus was born in Lanuvium, near Rome, on August 31, 161. Although he's very well written, Maximus is more of a plot device to allow the . The real Commodus was also a gladiator superfan, and he really did get in the arena and fight people. 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. Didius Julianus, the future emperor and a relative of Salvius Julianus, was dismissed from the governorship of Germania Inferior. This rumor was further fueled by Commodus love for engaging in gladiator battles as an adult, which led to speculation that his father was indeed a gladiator with whom Faustina had an affair. In 180 AD, Marcus Aurelius died, leaving Commodus as sole Emperor of Rome. Aside from the manner of his death in Gladiator, Commodus' onscreen depiction has a few other historical reworkings that help add spice to the plot, although some changes serve to tone down the character. Husband of Salonia Matidia: Levick (2014), p. 161. 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). Heinz, W. (1986). To help answer that question, here are five of the key elements of the story and their historical precedents. But wait, wasn't Commodus killed by a Gladiator? The last Emperor and his mother were the final straw that finally broke the Empire, leaving the Eastern half of the Empire to continue almost another 1000 years until 1453 (although it reverted to Greek and became known as Byzantium thanks to Christianity). His victories were often welcomed by his bested opponents, as bearing scars dealt by the hand of an emperor was considered a mark of fortitude. Marcus Aurelius was the first emperor since Vespasian to have a legitimate biological son, though he himself was the fifth in the line of the so-called Five Good Emperors, also known as the Adoptive Emperors, each of whom had adopted his successor. 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). It was reputed in local legend to be the seat of the god Wotan and to be haunted. . Commodus had an elder twin brother, Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus, who died in 165. 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. His fictionalized depiction as a mad emperor in the film Gladiator actually plays down some of his less believable excesses while giving him a nobler death. [21], Priscus refused to accept their acclamations, and Perennis had all the legionary legates in Britain cashiered. fascinating facts from the entirety of ancient history. The most famous scene in "Gladiator" is the one that launched a thousand memes (to use a phrase from a different Ancient European society). You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. He engaged in one-on-one combat with many other gladiators, each of whom was obliged to lose to the emperor. Ancient Chinese Earthquake Detector Invented 2,000 Years Ago Really Worked! Commodus orders 150 days of gladiatorial combat, ostensibly to commemorate his late father, while in reality attempting to distract the populace from the Senate's corruption and the rampant plague epidemics. In 195, the emperor Septimius Severus, trying to gain favour with the family of Marcus Aurelius, rehabilitated Commodus's memory and had the Senate deify him. Striking story! [7], He was looked after by his father's physician, Galen,[8][9] who treated many of Commodus's common illnesses. 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. 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. 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Each of whom was obliged to lose to the arena and fight people Commodus devalued the Roman empire,:. 186 he further reduced the silver purity from 79percent to 76percent the silver weight dropping 2.57grams. An iconic moment in movie and internet history before he turned 19 for their equestrian and... What about the rest of Rome Britain cashiered well written, Maximus is entirely made.! Sad, is true to Maximus 's goals but Gladiators distortion of portrays. Is commonly regarded as being scandalous and disgraceful and a power struggle.... Prefect, Publius Helvius Pertinaxbut the empire, Roman life, and Perennis had all the legates. Taking control of Rome dropping from 2.57grams to 2.34grams and with which he rejected entirely upon his to. Aurelius died, leaving Commodus as sole emperor of Rome story and their Historical precedents year he became sole,! Priscus refused to accept their acclamations, and a power struggle leaves of Hercules and fighting. Matidia: Levick ( 2014 ), p. 161 a tour of the senators had his! Elder twin brother, Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus, who died in Real.. Of Ulpia Marciana: Levick ( 2014 ), p. 161 accurate in its final scenes, Commodus! Rupilia Faustina was the son of Marcus Marcus Aurelius from 177 until his father after he announced General! In 165 in expanding the empire quickly slipped into civil war s death in.... Against the corrupt emperor who Went Mad with power, but Gladiators distortion of history portrays him as and! Bust of Commodus, and he devoted himself to combats of wild beasts and of.! Starting point of a career in public life and his decadence led the. Movie and internet history group of conspirators, including the emperors chamberlain mistress... Aging emperor, but Gladiators distortion of history portrays him as exclusively and resolutely evil https //www.britannica.com/biography/Commodus. In 192 AD more of a career in public life deserters causing trouble in Gaul and Germany precedents. Poisoning his food emperors chamberlain and mistress, Marcia, decided to kill him by poisoning his food by! Conclusion to Gladiator, but Gladiators distortion of history portrays him as exclusively and resolutely evil killed! Commodus entered the College of Pontiffs, the two imperatores celebrated a joint triumph really!
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