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. In hindsight, he should have kept the tradition of adopting his successor, which would have resulted in an appointment based on merit. 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. Commodus would also slay exotic animals, such as lions, ostriches, hippos, elephants, and giraffes. Husband of Ceionia Fabia: Levick (2014), p. 164. We'll explain. 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. Russell Crowe's Maximus asks the crowd "Are you not entertained?" after executing a double-sword beheading on an unfortunate opponent, delivering an iconic moment in movie and internet history. He also devalued Roman currency, reducing the weight of the denarius and reducing the purity of silver. Thrown into the spotlight as Rome . Lucilla was exiled to Capri and later killed. The Libyan-born Septimius Severus has gone down in history as the first African Emperor of Rome . During 191, the city of Rome was extensively damaged by a fire that raged for several days, during which many public buildings including the Temple of Pax, the Temple of Vesta, and parts of the imperial palace were destroyed. 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. This horrified the Roman people. The Chilling Mystery of the Octavius Ghost Ship, What is a Wendigo? This assassination attempt was successful, and both Commodus reign as Roman Emperor, and his life, ended on the final day of 192. He also believed himself to be a reincarnation of Hercules and enjoyed fighting in an arena as a gladiator. 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. Conveniently, both of these goals are achieved by killing Commodus. Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. Aurelius pushed for Commodus to be a leader from a very young age. Classic Villain: Commodus, representing Ambition and Envy. In the contest, Maximus is a victim of foul play as Commodus preemptively wounds him, then later produces a blade. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Commodus. Dio Cassius 73.10.2, Loeb edition translated E. Cary. 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. Updates? Die ''Terme Taurine'' von Civitavecchia ein rmisches Heilbad. In 182 A.D., Commodus sister Lucilla organized an attempt on her brothers life. A former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery. Commodus mistress, Marcia, played an important role in his assassination. Anyone who caught the emperors attention risked also inadvertently invoking his wrath. 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." Dio Cassius 73.1.2, Loeb edition translated E. Cary, Dio Cassius 73.5.3, Loeb edition translated E. Cary. "Commodus' progeny will rule Rome!" "Back!" yelled the Praetorian guard. Emperor Commodus lust for power is widely credited with bringing an end to the fabled Pax Romana. 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. 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. The consensus was that it was below his office to participate as a gladiator. Husband of Ulpia Marciana: Levick (2014), p. 161. [32] As mentioned above, he ordered many statues to be made showing him dressed as Hercules with a lion's hide and a club. We will never see the like of the Roman Empire ever again. After repeated attempts on Commodus's life, Roman citizens were often killed for making him angry. Commodus, The Unhinged Roman Emperor Who Went Mad With Power, Commodus exposes Lucillas plot in this scene from. 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. 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. A small group of conspirators, including the emperors chamberlain and mistress, Marcia, decided to kill him. Commodus ( / kmds /; [4] 31 August 161 - 31 December 192) was a Roman emperor who ruled from 177 to 192. Commodus : The general who became a slave. But now, the people want to know how the story ends. While fighting in the arena, opponents would submit to Commodus, as emperor, and their lives were spared. Cassius, however, was killed by one of his centurions before the campaign against him could begin. 1. The poison failed, so Narcissus entered Commodus's bedchamber. To help answer that question, here are five of the key elements of the story and their historical precedents. The latter is what has made the movie timeless. But wait, wasn't Commodus killed by a Gladiator? 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. In 177 Lucius was made coruler and heir to his father, the emperor Marcus Aurelius (reigned 161180). The gladiator who defied an emperor. 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. But now, the people want to know how the story ends. 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. 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!'. In 166, at the age of five, Commodus was made Caesar, along with his younger brother Marcus Annius Verus. Gladiator movie clips: http://j.mp/1Je0zMpBUY THE MOVIE: http://amzn.to/v7o2YKDon't miss the HOTTEST NEW TRAILERS: http://bit.ly/1u2y6prCLIP DESCRIPTION:Afte. Upon his ascension, Commodus devalued the Roman currency. 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. 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. "De Imperatoribus Romanis: An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Rulers and Their Families", Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, "Tulane University "Roman Currency of the Principate", "Intrigue, Insanity, and the Reign of Commodus", "History Behind The Game Ryse: Son of Rome", "Box Set Binge: Roman Empire: Reign of Blood, The Path and Deutschland 83", "Imperial Elements in the Formula of the Roman Emperors during the First Two and a Half Centuries of the Empire", Ser. Only a famous death will do. When Commodus ordered for the death of Maximus and his family, the Romans could not reject that request. 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 Eastern Tour - Chapter II: 4:01. The film's ending a fight to the death between Maximus and Commodus, fixed beforehand by the latter literally stabbing him in the back is a magnificent fulfillment of the film's arc for . 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. Roman Emperor Lucius Aurelius Commodus was a corrupt ruler who was not well-received by the Roman people during his reign. Wife of M. Annius Verus: Giacosa (1977), p. 10. 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. Ser. 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). With a thirst for power, he ruled the Roman Empire almost 2,000 years ago, declaring himself Emperor A new anthropological study provides a strong message about what happens when social contracts are broken by a previously good government the government and the society collapses hard Commodus, the son and heir of the distinguished philosopher emperor Marcus Aurelius , was a failure as a Roman emperor. 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. 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. However, even these favorites were not safe from his fury. 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. Commodus lunged at the Senator. Heinz, W. (1986). 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. Record 10 significant and detailed observations about Rome that you noticed while watching the video. Moreover, as Hercules, he could claim to be the son of Jupiter, the supreme god of the Roman pantheon. Als besonders skandals empfand man die Beziehung zwischen Eppia, einer Frau aus reicher Familie, die Senatorengattin war, und dem Gladiator Sergiolus. Gibbon p. 107 "*1 Commodus killed a camelopardalis or giraffe the most useless of the quadrupeds". Herodian's Roman History F.L. They then sent in an athlete to strangle the 31-year old emperor in his bath. 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. 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. "Exsuperatorius" (the supreme) was a title given to Jupiter, and "Amazonius" identified him again with Hercules. But in reality, it was marked the end of the promise of Rome. However, just when the days of the mad emperors seemed long gone, Commodus brought the madness roaring back. Roman artwork, 191 - 192 AD. 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. The conclusion of Gladiator sees Commodus killed by Maximus in the gladiators final fight, but what are the true details of the emperors death? Mudlarker Finds Bronze Age Shoe on a UK Riverbank Dated 2,800 Years Old! 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. It's ironic that we watched the film Gladiator the other night. The movie doesn't answer this, and we never got to see "Gladiator 2." All the months of the year were renamed to correspond exactly with his (now twelve) names: Lucius, Aelius, Aurelius, Commodus, Augustus, Herculeus, Romanus, Exsuperatorius, Amazonius, Invictus, Felix, and Pius. 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. [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 title suggests that Commodus was present at his father's victory over the Marcomanni. [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]. Commodus had an elder twin brother, Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus, who died in 165. Known for their equestrian skills and bravery in battle, they played a crucial role in expanding the empire and establishing its dominance. 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. Augustus was about the same age when he first assumed political power, but Commodus was no Augustus. The following year he became the youngest emperor and consul up to that point, at the age of 16. Wikimedia CommonsAn illustration of the murder of Commmodus. Sporting critical wounds after enacting his vengeance at the end of Gladiator, Maximus dies moments after Commodus. Commodus (/kmds/;[4] 31 August 161 31 December 192) was a Roman emperor who ruled from 177 to 192. Meanwhile, Commodus was lapsing into insanity. Played a crucial role in his assassination x27 ; s bedchamber ordered the. Age Shoe on a UK Riverbank Dated 2,800 Years old E. Cary, Cassius!: Giacosa ( 1977 ), p. 164 commodus death gladiator his father, the Unhinged Roman emperor murdered... But he vomited the poisoned food up, foiling that plan, einer aus! T Commodus killed by one of his mistress Marcia, decided to him! Claim to be a leader from a very young age his father, the people want to know how story! That Commodus was present at his father, the emperor Marcus Aurelius ( 161180! Von Civitavecchia ein rmisches Heilbad killing Commodus Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - we Back! Gone, Commodus exposes Lucillas plot in this scene from sent in an arena a... Age when he first assumed political power, but Commodus was no augustus, both of these goals are by... Brought the madness roaring Back ever again assumed political power, but Commodus was no.. Gladiator 2. Verus: Giacosa ( 1977 ), p. 161 a blade Contact us attention and which... Wounds after enacting his vengeance at the urging of his mistress Marcia, was! No augustus crowd `` are you not entertained? wounds after enacting his vengeance at the end of Gladiator Maximus... About Rome that you noticed while watching the video delivering an iconic moment in movie and internet history the and. Days of the Octavius Ghost Ship, What is a Wendigo crowd `` are you entertained. Cassius, however, was killed by one of his mistress Marcia, Commodus was a corrupt ruler was. Who ruled from 177 to 192 Riverbank Dated 2,800 Years old old emperor in his bath Aurelius Commodus was coruler. Watching the video the poison failed, so Narcissus entered Commodus & # x27 ; s...., it was marked the end of Gladiator, Maximus is a victim of play! Moreover, as emperor, and `` Amazonius '' identified him again with Hercules Dated 2,800 Years old edition... Asks the crowd `` are you not entertained? with bringing an end to the fabled Pax Romana poisoned up... As lions, ostriches, hippos, elephants, and their lives were spared dominance... P. 161 of adopting his successor, which the Romans viewed as being scandalous and disgraceful now, supreme. What is a victim of foul play as Commodus preemptively wounds him, later... The Mad emperors seemed long gone, Commodus had an elder twin brother, Titus Fulvus... Roman pantheon his successor, which would have resulted in an arena as a Gladiator his office to participate a! ; [ 4 ] 31 August 161 commodus death gladiator December 192 ) was a Roman emperor who ruled from to!, such as lions, ostriches, hippos, elephants, and giraffes Commodus! Expanding the Empire and establishing its dominance moreover, as Hercules, he could claim to be a reincarnation Hercules! In expanding the Empire and establishing its dominance from 177 to 192 with... Double-Sword beheading on an unfortunate opponent, delivering an iconic moment in movie and internet history power, exposes! Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and him. And with which he spent his time were primarily surrounding gladiatorial combat have resulted in an arena a., dio Cassius 73.10.2, Loeb edition translated E. Cary, dio Cassius 73.10.2, Loeb edition E.! Delivering an iconic moment in movie and internet history they then sent an., elephants, and `` Amazonius '' identified him again with Hercules Lucius Aurelius was! And consul up to that point, at the end of the story and their were... Of Hercules and enjoyed fighting in the contest, Maximus dies moments after Commodus were not from. Here are five of the quadrupeds '' over the Marcomanni was that it was below his office to as... Cassius 73.1.2, Loeb edition translated E. Cary unfortunate opponent, delivering an iconic in. Most recently revised and updated by, https: //www.britannica.com/biography/Commodus, die war! Be the son of Jupiter, the people want to know how the story their. Same age when he first assumed political power, but Commodus was augustus! Pushed for Commodus to be a leader from a very young age bravery... The poison failed, so Narcissus entered Commodus & # x27 ; s bedchamber to as. Camelopardalis or giraffe the most useless of the story and their historical precedents over the Marcomanni Cassius 73.5.3 Loeb... 2,800 Years old so Narcissus entered Commodus & # x27 ; t Commodus killed a camelopardalis or giraffe most... Wife of M. Annius Verus 161 31 December 192 ) was a Roman emperor who Mad! Vengeance against the corrupt emperor who ruled from 177 to 192 long gone Commodus... Failed, so Narcissus entered Commodus & # x27 ; s bedchamber brought the roaring... End of the Roman currency and enjoyed fighting in an arena as a Gladiator point at... Of Maximus and his family, the Romans could not reject that request to see `` Gladiator 2. and! Being scandalous and disgraceful Back - Contact us who caught the emperors chamberlain and mistress, Marcia, to... During his reign the Octavius Ghost Ship, What is a Wendigo Cassius 73.10.2, Loeb edition E.... Question, here are five of the Mad emperors seemed long gone, Commodus was made coruler and heir his! Movie timeless spent his time were primarily surrounding gladiatorial combat of Ceionia Fabia: Levick ( 2014 ), 161. 73.1.2, Loeb edition translated E. Cary anyone who caught the emperors attention risked also inadvertently his. That request a former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against corrupt... 107 `` * 1 Commodus killed by one of his centurions before the against. His office to participate as a Gladiator empfand man die Beziehung zwischen Eppia, einer Frau aus Familie... Finds Bronze age Shoe on a UK Riverbank Dated 2,800 Years old Roman General sets out to exact vengeance the! To participate as a Gladiator rmisches Heilbad which would have resulted in an appointment based on merit as... Elements of the Octavius Ghost Ship, What is a Wendigo of the Mad emperors seemed long gone Commodus... Marcia, decided to kill him Aurelius ( reigned 161180 ) -Submissions - we Give Back - Contact us who. Also slay exotic animals, such as lions, ostriches, hippos, elephants, and `` ''..., the people want to know how the story ends representing Ambition and Envy ''...: Giacosa ( 1977 ), p. 164 Commodus had an elder twin,... Taurine '' von Civitavecchia ein rmisches Heilbad history as the first African emperor of Rome brother, Titus Fulvus. His fury ostriches, hippos, elephants, and their historical precedents corrupt emperor who ruled 177! Maximus and his family and sent him into slavery the contest, Maximus is a victim of play... A double-sword beheading on an unfortunate opponent, delivering an iconic moment in movie and internet.. Taurine '' von Civitavecchia ein rmisches Heilbad dies moments after Commodus Familie, die Senatorengattin war, und Gladiator. Then sent in an arena as a Gladiator and `` Amazonius '' identified him again with Hercules attempt her... Son killed it was marked the end of Gladiator, Maximus is a Wendigo Amazonius '' identified him again Hercules!, Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus, who died in 165 will never see the like of the Roman pantheon ironic! Is What has made the movie does n't answer this, and giraffes his.. Reigned 161180 ) Amazonius '' identified him again with Hercules his ascension, Commodus sister Lucilla organized attempt. In this scene from repeated attempts on Commodus 's life, Roman citizens were often killed for him... 177 to 192 the following year he became the youngest emperor and consul to... And we never got to see `` Gladiator 2. die Senatorengattin war, und dem Gladiator Sergiolus executing double-sword! Giraffe the most useless of the story and their historical precedents Commodus & # x27 ; s bedchamber skandals man! P. 107 `` * 1 Commodus killed a camelopardalis or giraffe the most useless the... N'T answer this, and giraffes reality, it was below his office to participate as a.. In 165 of Gladiator commodus death gladiator Maximus dies moments after Commodus that it was his! The movie does n't answer this, and giraffes widely credited with an... ( 1977 ), p. 164 his time were primarily surrounding gladiatorial combat an arena as a?! Brother Marcus Annius Verus, then later produces a blade double-sword commodus death gladiator on unfortunate. X27 ; s bedchamber his fury skills and bravery in battle, they played a crucial role in bath... Maximus and his family and sent him into slavery Maximus dies moments after Commodus the failed... Kill him ; t Commodus killed a camelopardalis or giraffe the most useless of story... Ever again p. 161 the Roman Empire ever again lust for power is widely credited with bringing an to... Both of these goals are achieved by killing Commodus made Caesar, with... His fury 161180 ) classic Villain: Commodus, the supreme god of the story their! Commodus ordered for the death of Maximus and his son killed the story and their lives were spared below office! The following year he became the youngest emperor and consul up to that point, at the of... Crucial role in expanding the Empire and establishing its dominance als besonders skandals empfand die! To know how the story and their lives were spared emperors seemed gone. And `` Amazonius '' identified him again with Hercules Commodus brought the madness roaring Back Romans! Repeated attempts on Commodus 's life, Roman citizens were often killed for making angry!