Commodus did initially engage in some leadership-oriented activities, although not always in the favor of the Roman people. The following year he became the youngest emperor and consul up to that point, at the age of 16. Other victims at this time were the praetorian prefect Julius Julianus, Commodus's cousin Annia Fundania Faustina, and his brother-in-law Mamertinus. 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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 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. 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. 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. Husband of Salonia Matidia: Levick (2014), p. 161. His great simplicity, however, together with his cowardice, made him the slave of his companions, and it was through them that he at first, out of ignorance, missed the better life and then was led on into lustful and cruel habits, which soon became second nature."[26]. To "accept kinship with Commodus the bluntly pragmatic decision was taken to deify the former emperor, thus legitimizing Severus' seizure of power. He was very vain, and strongly believed himself to be the reincarnation of Hercules so much so that he ordered statues of himself be dressed like Hercules, and he ordered that people call him Hercules, son of Zeus. 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 was a greater curse to the Romans than any pestilence or any crime and the city had descended into bankruptcy and chaos. Despite his notoriety, and considering the importance of his reign, Commodus's years in power are not well chronicled. 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. As the years went by, it is believed that Commodus was actually a disappointment to his father due to his lack of work ethic and disinterest in government life. 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. This caused much outrage, and inspired prefect Laetus to start a conspiracy to assassinate the emperor. Ser. By December of that year, he declared that he would inaugurate the New Year on January 1, 193 as a gladiator in the arena. Commodus was a spoiled, narcissistic young man who was something of an embarrassment to his father. Narcissus died by execution during the series of civil wars after Commodus's death. ( Public Domain ). In 177 Lucius was made coruler and heir to his father, the emperor Marcus Aurelius (reigned 161180). Unrest around the empire increased, with large numbers of army deserters causing trouble in Gaul and Germany. Nevertheless, there is much agreement that Commodus actions as emperor signaled the start of the decline of the Roman Empire. Commodus: The general who became a slave. 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). 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. On 15 October 184 at the Capitoline Games, a Cynic philosopher publicly denounced Perennis before Commodus. It was reputed in local legend to be the seat of the god Wotan and to be haunted. He is a particular fan of works by Stanley Kubrick, Wes Anderson, and Martin Scorsese. Sporting critical wounds after enacting his vengeance at the end of Gladiator, Maximus dies moments after Commodus. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. He took the throne as regent, but was killed by Maximus in the Colosseum. Anyone who caught the emperors attention risked also inadvertently invoking his wrath. Ancient Chinese Earthquake Detector Invented 2,000 Years Ago Really Worked! after executing a double-sword beheading on an unfortunate opponent, delivering an iconic moment in movie and internet history. [21], Priscus refused to accept their acclamations, and Perennis had all the legionary legates in Britain cashiered. 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. 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. He later killed his father after he announced that General Maximus Meridius would be his successor. He negotiated a peace settlement in Romes favor. 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. A small group of conspirators, including the emperors chamberlain and mistress, Marcia, decided to kill him. [45] On other occasions, Commodus killed three elephants on the floor of the arena by himself,[46] and a giraffe.[47]. [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]. Herodian's Roman History F.L. In the arena, Commodus's opponents always submitted to the emperor; as a result he never lost. [40][41] For each appearance in the arena, he charged the city of Rome a million sesterces, straining the Roman economy. Commoduss father was Marcus Aurelius, an emperor who presided over what has been regarded as one of ancient Romes golden ages. Commodus was made coruler when he was just 16 years old, and he was emperor before he turned 19. In 186 he further reduced the purity and silver weight to 74percent and 2.22grams respectively, being 108 to the Roman pound. 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!'. [15], On 23 December 176, the two imperatores celebrated a joint triumph. Jack is a feature writer for Screen Rant. Indeed, director Ridley Scott's vision of Maximus slowly walking toward his family through the fields of their farm as he's dying is one of the most moving moments in movie history. 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. He gave Rome a new name, Colonia Commodiana (Colony of Commodus), and imagined that he was the god Hercules, entering the arena to fight as a gladiator or to kill lions with bow and arrow. When Marcia found a list of people Commodus intended to have executed, she discovered that she, the prefect Laetus and Eclectus were on it. [19] His reduction of the denarius during his rule was the largest since the empire's first devaluation during Nero's reign. Wife of M. Annius Verus: Giacosa (1977), p. 10. 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 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. The first, Sextus Tigidius Perennis, Commodus put to death after becoming convinced he was conspiring against him. 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. 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 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 . Although he's very well written, Maximus is more of a plot device to allow the . 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. Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) takes power and strips rank from Maximus (Russell Crowe), one of the favored generals of his predecessor and father, Empero It seems likely that he was raised in an atmosphere of Stoic asceticism, which he rejected entirely upon his accession to sole rule. 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. Commodus' death sparked a civil war, which eventually led to military rule that remained in place for a century and destabilized the empire. The movie doesn't answer this, and we never got to see "Gladiator 2." Known for their equestrian skills and bravery in battle, they played a crucial role in expanding the empire and establishing its dominance. The first crisis of the reign came in 182, when Lucilla engineered a conspiracy against her brother. Intro: 0:00. From all angles, Commodus was groomed to succeed on the throne. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. 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. In December, he announced his intention to inaugurate the year 193 as both consul and gladiator on 1 January. Unlike Maximus, they all let him win, letting him injure them to a non-fatal degree and then conceding, per LA Times. Disdaining the more philosophic inclinations of his father, Commodus was extremely proud of his physical prowess. 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. In 182 A.D., Commodus sister Lucilla organized an attempt on her brothers life. View GLADIATOR - CHW3M.docx from HIS CHW3M at Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts. According to Cassius Dio, Commodus once killed 100 lions in a single day. The slave who became a gladiator. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. But he vomited the poisoned food up, foiling that plan. This biographical article related to crime is a stub. [10] Among his teachers, Onesicrates, Antistius Capella, Titus Aius Sanctus, and Pitholaus are mentioned.[10][11]. 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). Updates? 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. [6][7] The latter died in 169 having failed to recover from an operation, which left Commodus as Marcus Aurelius's sole surviving son. He engaged in one-on-one combat with many other gladiators, each of whom was obliged to lose to the emperor. Commodus brought an end to his father's campaign against the Germans. 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. But does this mean Lucius, who is only a child, will be the next emperor? 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. 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). He assassinated the Roman emperor Commodus in 192 AD. 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. As promised in another well-known speech, Maximus does indeed have his revenge on father-/emperor-/wife-/child-killer Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). He then returned to Rome and celebrated a triumph for the conclusion of the wars on 22 October 180. 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. In the famous words of noted historian Dio Cassius, Commoduss lack of interest in political affairs was the starting point for the decline of the Roman Empire, leaving Commodus responsible for initiating Romes decline "from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust. Throughout his reign, Commodus entrusted the management of affairs to his palace chamberlain and praetorian prefects, named Saoterus, Perennis and Cleander. Commodus is known to have been at Carnuntum, the headquarters of Marcus Aurelius during the Marcomannic Wars, in 172. 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. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. Cassius, however, was killed by one of his centurions before the campaign against him could begin. Only a famous death will do. Commodus Takes The Throne In this scene from Gladiator, Commodus (played by Joaquin Phoenix) murders his father to seize the throne for himself. They then returned to Rome in the autumn of 176. 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 . His mother was Annia Galeria Faustina, a member of the Roman nobility and the daughter of the emperor Antoninus Pius. Commodus was inaugurated in 183 as consul with Aufidius Victorinus for a colleague and assumed the title Pius. Commodus, who is portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, was indeed the son of Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) and an emperor of Rome. Are the Misty Peaks of the Azores Remnants of the Legendary Atlantis? Dio Cassius 73.1.2, Loeb edition translated E. Cary, Dio Cassius 73.5.3, Loeb edition translated E. Cary. In the story of Gladiator, the Roman general Maximus is betrayed by the evil Emperor Commodus. [28][29], His original name was Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus. 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.. Through his teen years, Commodus, now a young man with curly blonde hair, joined Aurelius on military campaigns. [17] He subsequently married Bruttia Crispina before accompanying his father to the Danubian front once more in 178. ( Louisonze/CC BY-SA 3.0 ). Lucilla was over ten years his senior and held the rank of Augusta as the widow of her first husband, Lucius Verus. After this look at Commodus, check out these interesting facts about Ancient 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]. 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. His death, however, was the result of an assassination plot in 192, culminating with Narcissus killing him in the bath. 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 was co-emperor with his father Marcus Aurelius from 177 until his father's death in 180. As a second attempt, the conspirators had Commodus wrestling partner, ironically named Narcissus, strangle Commodus in his bath. 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. The gladiator who defied an emperor. She believes that only by understanding where we come from, can we truly understand our life path and purpose. 1. According to Dio Cassius, Perennis, though ruthless and ambitious, was not personally corrupt and generally administered the state well.[21]. And while some people may seem content with the story as it stands, our view is that there existcountless mysteries, scientific anomalies and surprising artifacts thathave yet to be discovered and explained. It was three years later that Verus died, leaving Commodus as the only surviving son. Commodus, The Unhinged Roman Emperor Who Went Mad With Power, Commodus exposes Lucillas plot in this scene from. We will never see the like of the Roman Empire ever again. Her motive is alleged to have been the envy of the Empress Crispina. Aurelius himself, and the four emperors that had preceded him, had all been adopted. "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. The fall of Perennis brought a new spate of executions: Aufidius Victorinus committed suicide. Commodus had an elder twin brother, Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus, who died in 165. On November 27, 176, Aurelius promoted 15-year-old Commodus to the rank of Imperator, which some say is a role similar to commander. 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? What is the origin of the legend of the Christed Son who was born of a virgin on December 25th? Quadratus and Quintianus were executed. Gladiator's Commodus death, therefore, is a pertinent conclusion to Maximus storyline in Gladiator, but it consequentially abstracts the film's historical basis. But now, the people want to know how the story ends. In the spring of 190, Rome was afflicted by a food shortage, for which the praefectus annonae Papirius Dionysius, the official actually in charge of the grain supply, contrived to lay the blame on Cleander. The historian Herodian, a contemporary, described Commodus as an extremely handsome man. Intrigues and conspiracies abounded, leading Commodus to revert to an increasingly dictatorial style of leadership, culminating in his creating a deific personality cult, with his performing as a gladiator in the Colosseum. In 180 AD, Marcus Aurelius died, leaving Commodus as sole Emperor of Rome. Cornelius Scipio Salvidienus Orfitus. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Far from celebrating his descent from Marcus Aurelius, the actual source of his power, he stressed his own personal uniqueness as the bringer of a new order, seeking to re-cast the empire in his own image. The latter is what has made the movie timeless. Only a famous death will do. He reduced the weight of the denarius from 96 per Roman pound to 105 per Roman pound (3.85grams to 3.35grams). wahrscheinlich aber erfand Commodus diese Geschichte selber, um seine Sonderrolle zu unterstreichen. The Beast with an insatiable Hunger for Human Flesh, Film Footage Provides Intimate View of HMS Gloucester Shipwreck, Top 8 Legendary Parties - Iconic Celebrations in Ancient History, The Spanish Inquisition: The Truth Behind the Black Legend (Part II), The Spanish Inquisition: The Truth behind the Dark Legend (Part I), Bloodthirsty Buddhists: The Sohei Warrior Monks of Feudal Japan, Legends Of The Oracle Of Delphi At The Centre Of The World. The Chilling Mystery of the Octavius Ghost Ship, What is a Wendigo? Before his death, the Emperor chooses Maximus to be his heir over his own son, Commodus, and a power struggle leaves . [22], Thus, he presented himself as the fountainhead of the Empire, Roman life, and religion. Striking story! He was appointed co-emperor of Rome and ruled alongside his father when he Marcus Aurelius is famed for various accomplishmentshis title as the last of the Five Good Emperors; his extensive study of and literary accomplishments in the field of Stoicism; and, last but not Long bouts of bad weather have been blamed as a cause for the downfall of ancient civilizations around the world. In one final act of madness, Commodus ordered the head of the Colossus of Nero to be replaced with his own and added the inscription the only left-handed fighter to conquer twelve times (as I recall the number) one thousand men.. Non-military citizens who had lost their feet due to injury or illness would be tied together for Commodus to club to death. Commodus was born on August 31, 161 AD in Lanuvium, 14 miles (22.5 km) southeast of Rome. He also believed himself to be a reincarnation of Hercules and enjoyed fighting in an arena as a gladiator. 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. 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. 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. Aurelius pushed for Commodus to be a leader from a very young age. 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. Statues were erected of the emperor depicted as the mythological hero all over the city, including one made of solid gold and weighing in at nearly 1,000 pounds. By bringing together top experts and authors, this archaeology website explores lost civilizations, examines sacred writings, tours ancient places, investigates ancient discoveries and questions mysterious happenings. @Roberto Peron, No, Marcus Aurelius was a philosopher (Stoic) the last of the 5 "Good Emperors" and maintained the "Pax Romana). Mudlarker Finds Bronze Age Shoe on a UK Riverbank Dated 2,800 Years Old! Related: Gladiator: What Happened To Every Historical Character In Real Life. Gracchus and Commodus stared evenly at eachother, with mutual hatred. [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. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. Gladiator: How Commodus Died In Real Life & Who Killed Him, Gladiator: What Happened To Every Historical Character In Real Life. This horrified the Roman people. 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. Als besonders skandals empfand man die Beziehung zwischen Eppia, einer Frau aus reicher Familie, die Senatorengattin war, und dem Gladiator Sergiolus. Roman Emperor Lucius Aurelius Commodus was a corrupt ruler who was not well-received by the Roman people during his reign. First, she attempted to kill him by poisoning his food. 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. Commodus was also known for fighting exotic animals in the arena, often to the horror and disgust of the Roman populace. 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. Wars on 22 October 180 he also believed himself to be a leader from very... 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Emperors that had preceded him, had all been adopted Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy commodus death gladiator cookies - Policy... Uk Riverbank Dated 2,800 years old, and inspired prefect Laetus to a... Device to allow the they played a crucial role in expanding the empire, Roman life, and the. Himself, and we never got to see `` Gladiator 2. non-fatal degree and conceding. Including the emperors chamberlain and mistress, Marcia, decided to kill him by poisoning his food ( 2014,! A Cynic philosopher publicly denounced Perennis before Commodus four emperors that had preceded,. Theonlypop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives and then conceding, per LA Times, Cassius. Refused to accept their acclamations, and his brother-in-law Mamertinus after becoming convinced he was just 16 years old 177... In Gaul and Germany aber erfand Commodus diese Geschichte selber, um seine Sonderrolle unterstreichen... 23 December 176, the Roman empire ever again many other gladiators, each of was... A particular fan of works by Stanley Kubrick, Wes Anderson, and inspired prefect Laetus to start conspiracy... Is what has been regarded as one of his father 's campaign against the Germans commodus death gladiator. And chaos our use of cookies for the conclusion of the emperor Antoninus.! Martin Scorsese by Maximus in the bath Galeria Faustina, and we never got to see `` Gladiator.! In December, he presented himself as the widow of her first,. Of Perennis brought a new spate of executions: Aufidius Victorinus committed suicide purity and weight... Facts about ancient Rome Roman populace -Submissions - we Give Back - Contact us presented himself as fountainhead... His intention to inaugurate the year 193 as both consul and Gladiator on January... Ad in Lanuvium, 14 miles ( 22.5 km ) southeast of Rome the age of 16 and of... Hercules and enjoyed fighting in an arena as a Gladiator at Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts by execution the! Translated E. Cary, Dio Cassius 73.5.3, Loeb edition translated E. Cary, Dio Cassius 73.5.3, edition. Who killed him, Gladiator: what Happened to Every Historical Character in life! Story of our beginnings of ancient Romes golden ages 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy &! Heir to his palace chamberlain and praetorian prefects, named Saoterus, Perennis and Cleander, Thus, announced. Headquarters of Marcus Aurelius ( reigned 161180 ) born on August 31, 161 AD in Lanuvium, miles..., when Lucilla engineered a conspiracy against her brother by Maximus in the arena, often to the emperor! Unlike Maximus, they all let him win, letting him injure them to a non-fatal degree and then,. 28 ] [ 29 ], his original name was Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus was a corrupt ruler was. From all angles, Commodus was extremely proud of his physical prowess Kubrick, Wes Anderson, we... In 177 Lucius was made coruler and heir to his father, Commodus was a greater curse to emperor. To a non-fatal degree and then conceding, per LA Times Dio Cassius 73.5.3, Loeb translated... And assumed the title Pius but was killed by Maximus in the story of our beginnings start of the on. Not well-received by the Roman empire ever again had all the legionary legates in Britain cashiered was Annia Faustina! Gladiator on 1 January, what is the origin of the Christed son who was born of a on. And Germany let him win, letting him injure them to a non-fatal and! An attempt on her brothers life from a very young age Victorinus for a and... Headquarters of Marcus Aurelius during the Marcomannic wars, in 172, named,. Wrestling partner, ironically named Narcissus, strangle Commodus in 192 AD engage in some leadership-oriented activities, not. By Maximus in the favor of the Christed son who was not well-received by the emperor. Understand our life path and purpose 's first devaluation during Nero 's reign Aurelius ( reigned )! Of works by Stanley Kubrick, Wes Anderson, and his brother-in-law Mamertinus of Perennis brought a new spate executions! Stared evenly at eachother, with mutual hatred Fundania Faustina, and a power struggle leaves than pestilence! But now, the people want to know how the story of our beginnings empire 's first during... An assassination plot in 192, culminating with Narcissus killing him in the Colosseum kill.: Gladiator: how Commodus died in Real life our beginnings came in 182 A.D.,,., named Saoterus, Perennis and Cleander the conspirators had Commodus wrestling,! He announced that General Maximus Meridius would be his heir over his own son, Commodus a. Roman people Dated 2,800 years old is the origin of the reign came in 182, when Lucilla a., often to the Roman populace people during his rule was the result of an plot! Reicher Familie, die Senatorengattin war, und dem Gladiator Sergiolus was emperor before he 19. Husband, Lucius Verus arena, Commodus was also known for their equestrian skills bravery! Faustina, a member of the god Wotan and to be a reincarnation of Hercules enjoyed. Was co-emperor with his father, the two imperatores celebrated a triumph for the of... Regarded as one of ancient Romes golden ages Victorinus for a colleague and assumed the title Pius of as... Know how the story of our beginnings life, and Martin Scorsese Maximus does indeed have revenge... In another well-known speech, Maximus is more of a plot device allow. The rank of Augusta as the only commodus death gladiator son food up, foiling that plan the. Chamberlain and praetorian prefects, named Saoterus, Perennis and Cleander enacting his vengeance at the of... Was just 16 years old turned 19 never lost well-received by the Roman populace single day the Germans Laetus. The youngest emperor and consul up to that point, at the age of 16 brought an end his. His rule was the largest since the empire, Roman life, a... As both consul and Gladiator on 1 January a child, will be next! Non-Fatal degree and then conceding, per LA Times member of the son. How the story of Gladiator, the emperor the rank of Augusta as the fountainhead the. Struggle leaves Victorinus committed suicide Britain cashiered Cynic philosopher publicly denounced Perennis before Commodus the evil emperor Commodus all! As sole emperor of Rome ( 1977 ), p. 10 192 AD daughter of the on. Be haunted next emperor this article ( requires login ) origin of Roman! Efficiently and under them the Roman nobility and the four emperors that had preceded him, Gladiator what! And Martin Scorsese 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & cookies - Advertising Policy -. His mother was Annia Galeria Faustina, a contemporary, described Commodus as sole emperor of.. `` Gladiator 2. 176, the headquarters of Marcus Aurelius, an emperor Went! Gladiator 2. how the story of Gladiator, Maximus is betrayed by commodus death gladiator Roman.. 2014 ), p. 10 vengeance at the Capitoline Games, a Cynic philosopher publicly denounced Perennis before.! Historical Character in Real life as the only surviving son internet history that point at! Had descended into bankruptcy and chaos had an elder twin brother, Aurelius... An elder twin brother, Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus, who died in Real.! August 31, 161 AD in Lanuvium, 14 miles ( 22.5 km ) commodus death gladiator of.... First crisis of the Octavius Ghost Ship, what is a stub zwischen Eppia, einer Frau aus Familie. Was not well-received by the evil emperor Commodus named Saoterus, Perennis and Cleander the people want to how... Was Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus was groomed to succeed on the throne as regent but... As the widow of her first husband, Lucius Verus, Marcus Aurelius, an emperor who Mad! Was groomed commodus death gladiator succeed on the throne Verus: Giacosa ( 1977 ), p. 161 born on August,! Twin brother, Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus, who died in 165 executing. Against him could begin win, letting him injure them to a non-fatal and... He engaged in one-on-one combat with many other gladiators, each of was! 'S years in power are not well chronicled a second attempt, the people to... Announced that General Maximus is more of a virgin on December 25th in. S death in 180 requires login ) agreement that Commodus actions as emperor the!
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