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. She believes that only by understanding where we come from, can we truly understand our life path and purpose. Joaquin Phoenix's character is bad news, but he doesn't quite have the same unhinged level of megalomania as his real-life counterpart. Ridley Scott's Gladiator famously kills off Maximus (Russell Crowe) at the end, but the original plan for the ending was very different. It's ironic that we watched the film Gladiator the other night. Despite his notoriety, and considering the importance of his reign, Commodus's years in power are not well chronicled. In the contest, Maximus is a victim of foul play as Commodus preemptively wounds him, then later produces a blade. 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. A small group of conspirators, including the emperors chamberlain and mistress, Marcia, decided to kill him. In 186 he further reduced the purity and silver weight to 74percent and 2.22grams respectively, being 108 to the Roman pound. In December, he announced his intention to inaugurate the year 193 as both consul and gladiator on 1 January. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. 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. Once that's done, he only has one more goal: reunite with his family in the afterlife. After those attempts on his life, Commodus spent much of his time outside Rome, mostly on the family estates at Lanuvium. 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. Cassius, however, was killed by one of his centurions before the campaign against him could begin. [10] Among his teachers, Onesicrates, Antistius Capella, Titus Aius Sanctus, and Pitholaus are mentioned.[10][11]. 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. In the arena, Commodus's opponents always submitted to the emperor; as a result he never lost. Commodus was made coruler when he was just 16 years old, and he was emperor before he turned 19. Despite the unfair circumstances, Maximus is victorious, killing Commodus with the very blade the emperor had concealed. He also believed himself to be a reincarnation of Hercules and enjoyed fighting in an arena as a gladiator. 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. 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. However, just when the days of the mad emperors seemed long gone, Commodus brought the madness roaring back. Ultimately, it is believed that Commodus outlandish behavior led to his eventual assassination. 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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. [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. His brutal misrule precipitated civil strife that ended 84 years of stability and prosperity within the empire. 1. Bestowing the imperial title of Caesar upon Commodus at such a young age further shows Aurelius desperation for Commodus to be viewed and treated as royalty. Interestingly, it took Scott a while to realize that, like a sadistic emperor at a gladiatorial display, the ending demanded Maximus's death. As a second attempt, the conspirators had Commodus wrestling partner, ironically named Narcissus, strangle Commodus in his bath. 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. 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. One of the things that the film followed fairly accurately was the . Only a famous death will do. 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 . The first, Sextus Tigidius Perennis, Commodus put to death after becoming convinced he was conspiring against him. [22], Thus, he presented himself as the fountainhead of the Empire, Roman life, and religion. 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. Commodus was a greater curse to the Romans than any pestilence or any crime and the city had descended into bankruptcy and chaos. The character is, however, portrayed fictionally in Gladiator, and. 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. 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.. Yet another attempt on his life had been foiled, but the conspirators did not lose their nerve. In the story of Gladiator, the Roman general Maximus is betrayed by the evil Emperor Commodus. 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. "Back!" he cried. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Commodus had an elder twin brother, Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus, who died in 165. The title suggests that Commodus was present at his father's victory over the Marcomanni. Early Life - Chapter I: 1:03. Die ''Terme Taurine'' von Civitavecchia ein rmisches Heilbad. 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. [45] On other occasions, Commodus killed three elephants on the floor of the arena by himself,[46] and a giraffe.[47]. Then, discover the most fascinating facts from the entirety of ancient history. Commodus, who is portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, was indeed the son of Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) and an emperor of Rome. However, the ending, while sad, is true to Maximus's goals. 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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. ( Public Domain ). The real Commodus was also a gladiator superfan, and he really did get in the arena and fight people. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. 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]. Thrown into the spotlight as Rome . Commodus never killed his gladiatorial adversaries, instead accepting their surrenders. Wife of M. Annius Verus: Giacosa (1977), p. 10. In 182 Commoduss sister Lucilla conspired with a group of senators to assassinate him. And what could be more glorious than to challenge the Emperor himself in the great arena? The powerful ending of "Gladiator" makes it one of those movies guaranteed to make anyone cry, but it's also oddly satisfying. It was presumably there that, on 15 October 172, he was given the victory title Germanicus, in the presence of the army. It's fair to say the audience is pretty attached to Maximus by the end of "Gladiator." The gladiator who defied an emperor. Dio Cassius 73.10.2, Loeb edition translated E. Cary. 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. Commoduss father was Marcus Aurelius, an emperor who presided over what has been regarded as one of ancient Romes golden ages. The Untersberg is a great mountain straddling the Austro-German border opposite Salzburg. Narcissus died by execution during the series of civil wars after Commodus's death. Commodus was spoilt and decadent and his decadence led to the decline of the empire. The megalomania of Commodus was not limited to the Colosseum. He also declared himself to be an incarnation of the god Hercules and forced the senate to recognize his divinity. Sister of Trajan's father: Giacosa (1977), p.7. Maximus is given a very clear ending, but what about the rest of Rome? By December of that year, he declared that he would inaugurate the New Year on January 1, 193 as a gladiator in the arena. It is of particular interest that Aurelius craved succession by one of his sons so much because there hadnt been an emperor who had been succeeded by his own son since Titus succeeded Vespasian in 79. The ending of "Gladiator" makes it seem like Commodus' death means a new beginning for Rome. Lucilla was exiled to Capri and later killed. Maximus defeat of Commodus provides a dramatic conclusion to Gladiator, but the depiction of the malevolent emperors death is historically inaccurate. 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. Wife of M. Annius Libo: Levick (2014), p. 163. He then returned to Rome and celebrated a triumph for the conclusion of the wars on 22 October 180. [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]. so Romans had no choice but to obey Commodus. 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. [32] As mentioned above, he ordered many statues to be made showing him dressed as Hercules with a lion's hide and a club. Commodus : The general who became a slave. Commodus was a terrible ruler by virtually any standard. The Emperor and his son then travelled to Athens, where they were initiated into the Eleusinian Mysteries. The Romans were outraged when Commodus would order wounded soldiers and amputees into the arena to be slayed. Gladiator is somewhat historically accurate in its final scenes, as Commodus did perform as a gladiator. Husband of Rupilia Faustina: Levick (2014), p. 163. Commodus : The general who became a slave. They then returned to Rome in the autumn of 176. On 20 January 175, Commodus entered the College of Pontiffs, the starting point of a career in public life. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. But he vomited the poisoned food up, foiling that plan. He also believed himself to be a reincarnation of Hercules and enjoyed fighting in an arena as a gladiator. Except where otherwise noted, the notes below indicate that an individual's parentage is as shown in the above family tree. Commodus's assassination in 192, by a wrestler in the bath, marked the end of the NervaAntonine dynasty. [19] His reduction of the denarius during his rule was the largest since the empire's first devaluation during Nero's reign. Cassius Dio declared that Commodus was not naturally wicked but that his cowardice, made him the slave of his companions.. Contrary to the plot of Gladiator where Emperor Commodus is portrayed as having killed Marcus Aurelius the two ruled together, from 177 until the latters death in 180. By 192 A.D., the Roman people had had enough. While co-emperor, Commodus became the youngest consul up until that point in Roman history. Didius Julianus, the future emperor and a relative of Salvius Julianus, was dismissed from the governorship of Germania Inferior. Every illness was treated to ensure he remained strong and healthy. ( Louisonze/CC BY-SA 3.0 ). On 31 December 192 AD, Commodus's concubine[2] and conspirator Marcia poisoned Commodus's wine. On 12 October 166, Commodus was made Caesar together with his younger brother, Marcus Annius Verus. [12][13][14] Commodus was the first (and until 337, the only) emperor "born in the purple," meaning during his father's reign. On the other hand, the real Emperor Commodus was even more outlandish than Gladiator's version in some ways, as he renamed Rome "the Colony of Commodus" at one point. Alternate titles: Caesar Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus Augustus, Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus. A work of history that reads like fiction, The Gladiator brings to life Spartacus, Commodus, Caligula, and all of the other memorable players of the nearly thousand-year-long gladiatorial era. Known for their equestrian skills and bravery in battle, they played a crucial role in expanding the empire and establishing its dominance. 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). The poison failed, so Narcissus entered Commodus's bedchamber. 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. Lucilla was over ten years his senior and held the rank of Augusta as the widow of her first husband, Lucius Verus. Dio Cassius 73.1.2, Loeb edition translated E. Cary, Dio Cassius 73.5.3, Loeb edition translated E. Cary. 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. The following year, Commodus became Aurelius co-emperor, and they reigned together from then until Aurelius death in 180. Pompeianus retired from public life. Jack is a feature writer for Screen Rant. Gladiator is clearly influenced by aspects of history, but its specific storyline is definitively imaginative. Commodus was also known for fighting exotic animals in the arena, often to the horror and disgust of the Roman populace. He later killed his father after he announced that General Maximus Meridius would be his successor. The first crisis of the reign came in 182, when Lucilla engineered a conspiracy against her brother. Maximus is a powerful Roman general, loved by the people and the aging Emperor, Marcus Aurelius. On November 27, 176, Aurelius promoted 15-year-old Commodus to the rank of Imperator, which some say is a role similar to commander. Maximus is a powerful Roman general, loved by the people and the aging Emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Ser. According to Dio Cassius, Perennis, though ruthless and ambitious, was not personally corrupt and generally administered the state well.[21]. 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