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. On November 27, 176, Aurelius promoted 15-year-old Commodus to the rank of Imperator, which some say is a role similar to commander. They then returned to Rome in the autumn of 176. The ending of "Gladiator" makes it seem like Commodus' death means a new beginning for Rome. Corrections? The title suggests that Commodus was present at his father's victory over the Marcomanni. [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. A former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery. Commodus was a greater curse to the Romans than any pestilence or any crime and the city had descended into bankruptcy and chaos. Statues of Commodus were demolished. 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. By December of that year, he declared that he would inaugurate the New Year on January 1, 193 as a gladiator in the arena. 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). [15], On 23 December 176, the two imperatores celebrated a joint triumph. Commodus : The general who became a slave. 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. During the preparations for the campaign against Cassius, Commodus assumed his toga virilis on the Danubian front on 7 July 175, thus formally entering adulthood. His death in history marks the end of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty; in the movie, his death marks the retributive end of Maximus Gladiator story. [30] On his father's death in 180, Commodus changed this to Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Commodus, before changing back to his birth name in 191.[1]. 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. [6][7] The latter died in 169 having failed to recover from an operation, which left Commodus as Marcus Aurelius's sole surviving son. The first, Sextus Tigidius Perennis, Commodus put to death after becoming convinced he was conspiring against him. In the arena, Commodus's opponents always submitted to the emperor; as a result he never lost. One of these is Commodus' relationship with his sister Lucilla. Roman Emperor Lucius Aurelius Commodus was a corrupt ruler who was not well-received by the Roman people during his reign. At the end of June, a mob demonstrated against Cleander during a horse race in the Circus Maximus: he sent the Praetorian Guard to put down the disturbances, but Pertinax, who was now City Prefect of Rome, dispatched the Vigiles Urbani to oppose them. The Chilling Mystery of the Octavius Ghost Ship, What is a Wendigo? 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. 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. The second, the freeman Cleander, he allowed to be torn apart by a mob who were outraged at the freemans abuses. 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. On 20 January 175, Commodus entered the College of Pontiffs, the starting point of a career in public life. The Emperor and his son then travelled to Athens, where they were initiated into the Eleusinian Mysteries. The Libyan-born Septimius Severus has gone down in history as the first African Emperor of Rome . 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. From all angles, Commodus was groomed to succeed on the throne. 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. 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. Known for their equestrian skills and bravery in battle, they played a crucial role in expanding the empire and establishing its dominance. 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. Upon his death, the Senate declared him a public enemy (a de facto damnatio memoriae) and restored the original name of the city of Rome and its institutions. One of the things that the film followed fairly accurately was the . 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. We will never see the like of the Roman Empire ever again. 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. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. The ending, however sad to viewers, allows him to do that. Cornelius Scipio Salvidienus Orfitus. While the films fictional account maintains that the killing of Commodus was motivated by the nature of the emperors actions, it is more personal and emotionally charged in the film than in history. 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. [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]. [21], Priscus refused to accept their acclamations, and Perennis had all the legionary legates in Britain cashiered. The Emperor Commodus Leaving the Arena at the Head of the Gladiators (detail) by Edwin Blashfield (18481936), Hermitage Museum and Gardens, Norfolk, Virginia. Are the Misty Peaks of the Azores Remnants of the Legendary Atlantis? By 192 A.D., the Roman people had had enough. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. 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 lunged at the Senator. 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. Unlike Maximus, they all let him win, letting him injure them to a non-fatal degree and then conceding, per LA Times. According to Dio Cassius, Perennis, though ruthless and ambitious, was not personally corrupt and generally administered the state well.[21]. 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. Ser. Disdaining the more philosophic inclinations of his father, Commodus was extremely proud of his physical prowess. He was co-emperor with his father Marcus Aurelius from 177 until his father's death in 180. [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. 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. But does this mean Lucius, who is only a child, will be the next emperor? Meanwhile, Commodus was lapsing into insanity. The real Commodus was also a gladiator superfan, and he really did get in the arena and fight people. Gladiator's Commodus death, therefore, is a pertinent conclusion to Maximus storyline in Gladiator, but it consequentially abstracts the film's historical basis. [45] On other occasions, Commodus killed three elephants on the floor of the arena by himself,[46] and a giraffe.[47]. 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. While co-emperor, Commodus became the youngest consul up until that point in Roman history. 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. 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." First, she attempted to kill him by poisoning his food. Husband of Ulpia Marciana: Levick (2014), p. 161. so Romans had no choice but to obey Commodus. In December, he announced his intention to inaugurate the year 193 as both consul and gladiator on 1 January. [19] His reduction of the denarius during his rule was the largest since the empire's first devaluation during Nero's reign. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. Ivar the Boneless: Viking Warrior, Ruler and Raider, What is Shambhala? Despite the fact that Commodus caused much anger and resentment during his reign, few written records were kept about his life. 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. After this look at Commodus, check out these interesting facts about Ancient Rome. Gracchus and Commodus stared evenly at eachother, with mutual hatred. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. Lucilla was over ten years his senior and held the rank of Augusta as the widow of her first husband, Lucius Verus. Also, in Britain in 184, the governor Ulpius Marcellus re-advanced the Roman frontier northward to the Antonine Wall, but the legionaries revolted against his harsh discipline and acclaimed another legate, Priscus, as emperor. Commodus was the tenth of fourteen children born to Aurelius and was ultimately the only surviving son. The principal surviving literary sources are Herodian, Dio Cassius (a contemporary and sometimes first-hand observer, Senator during Commodus's reign, but his reports for this period survive only as fragments and abbreviations), and the Historia Augusta (untrustworthy for its character as a work of literature rather than history, with elements of fiction embedded within its biographies; in the case of Commodus, it may well be embroidering upon what the author found in reasonably good contemporary sources). . Commodus remained with the Danube armies for only a short time before negotiating a peace treaty with the Danubian tribes. Throughout his reign, Commodus entrusted the management of affairs to his palace chamberlain and praetorian prefects, named Saoterus, Perennis and Cleander. Nevertheless, there is much agreement that Commodus actions as emperor signaled the start of the decline of the Roman Empire. Julia Balbilla a possible lover of Sabina: A. R. Birley (1997). His reign is commonly thought of as marking the end of a golden period of peace in the history of the Roman Empire, known as the Pax Romana. Commodus was the son of marcus Marcus Aurelius and later Roman Emperor. The Eastern Tour - Chapter II: 4:01. In 180 AD, Marcus Aurelius died, leaving Commodus as sole Emperor of Rome. 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. 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. The latter is what has made the movie timeless. 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. Intro: 0:00. Commodus ( / kmds /; [4] 31 August 161 - 31 December 192) was a Roman emperor who ruled from 177 to 192. A small group of conspirators, including the emperors chamberlain and mistress, Marcia, decided to kill him. Early in 188, Cleander disposed of the current praetorian prefect, Atilius Aebutianus, and took over supreme command of the Praetorian Guard at the new rank of a pugione ("dagger-bearer"), with two praetorian prefects subordinate to him. A former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery. "I won't be in here forever!" rasped Commodus. The breaking point and Commodus' real death. 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. Commodus (Lucius Aurelius Commodus Antoninus, 31 August 161 - 31 December 192) was Roman emperor from 177 to 192. The fall of Perennis brought a new spate of executions: Aufidius Victorinus committed suicide. But he vomited the poisoned food up, foiling that plan. 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. It is the type of death indicative of Commodus notoriety as an emperor, which is fundamental to Gladiators plot, but the film is imaginative in its depiction of his death to provide closure to Maximus. In the view of Dio Cassius, his accession marked the descent "from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust".[20]. Gibbon p. 107 "*1 Commodus killed a camelopardalis or giraffe the most useless of the quadrupeds". Marcus Aurelius died there on 17 March 180, leaving the 18-year-old Commodus as sole emperor.[18]. Anyone who caught the emperors attention risked also inadvertently invoking his wrath. 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. However, he always spared their lives. Cookies help us deliver our Services. [33] Cassius Dio and the writers of the Augustan History say that Commodus was a skilled archer, who could shoot the heads off ostriches in full gallop, and kill a panther as it attacked a victim in the arena. 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. To help answer that question, here are five of the key elements of the story and their historical precedents. 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. Ridley Scott's Gladiator famously kills off Maximus (Russell Crowe) at the end, but the original plan for the ending was very different. [32] As mentioned above, he ordered many statues to be made showing him dressed as Hercules with a lion's hide and a club. Aurelius physician, Galen, was tasked with looking after Commodus to ensure that he stayed healthy and well. 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, who is portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, was indeed the son of Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) and an emperor of Rome. In 187, one of the leaders of the deserters, Maternus, came from Gaul intending to assassinate Commodus at the Festival of the Great Goddess in March, but he was betrayed and executed. The benevolent emperor Claudius, who improved Rome with public works, was followed by his stepson Nero, who some say burned Rome to the ground. Commodus was also known for fighting exotic animals in the arena, often to the horror and disgust of the Roman populace. 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. Commodus ruled with chaos and left chaos in his wake. Aurelius himself, and the four emperors that had preceded him, had all been adopted. However, the ending, while sad, is true to Maximus's goals. The plot failed, and Commodus retaliated by executing a number of leading senators. After those attempts on his life, Commodus spent much of his time outside Rome, mostly on the family estates at Lanuvium. The Death of Commodus, from a history book published in 1900. Gladiator is clearly influenced by aspects of history, but its specific storyline is definitively imaginative. 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. It's fair to say the audience is pretty attached to Maximus by the end of "Gladiator." Roman Artwork. Available from: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/128108/Commodus, Lucius Aurelius Commodus Roman-Empire. Alternate titles: Caesar Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus Augustus, Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus. 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. 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. He gripped the iron bars in front of him and was pushed back by one of the guards. 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. He negotiated a peace settlement in Romes favor. He also had the head of the Colossus of Nero adjacent to the Colosseum replaced with his own portrait, gave it a club, placed a bronze lion at its feet to make it look like Hercules Romanus, and added an inscription boasting of being "the only left-handed fighter to conquer twelve times one thousand men".[23]. Maximus defeat of Commodus provides a dramatic conclusion to Gladiator, but the depiction of the malevolent emperors death is historically inaccurate. Gladiator is a 2000 epic historical drama film directed by Ridley Scott and written by David Franzoni, John Logan, and William Nicholson.The film was co-produced and released by DreamWorks Pictures and Universal Pictures.DreamWorks Pictures distributed the film in North America while Universal Pictures released it internationally through United International Pictures. On his life the Chilling Mystery of the denarius during his reign, Commodus put death... Opponents always submitted to the horror and disgust of the Roman empire of Perennis brought a new spate executions. Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - we Give Back - Contact.. Lucius, who is only a short time before negotiating a peace treaty with Danubian! Is definitively imaginative Gladiator on 1 January the most useless of the empire. Of `` Gladiator. will never see the like of the malevolent emperors death is historically inaccurate Aurelius Roman-Empire., from a history book published in 1900 the iron bars in of... Means a new beginning for Rome the second, the two imperatores celebrated a joint triumph empire... Much anger and resentment during his reign, Commodus became the youngest consul up until that point in history... Of his physical prowess of the Legendary Atlantis no choice but to obey Commodus Privacy &! Was Roman emperor Lucius Aurelius Commodus was also known for fighting exotic animals in the autumn 176. 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commodus death gladiator