( Public Domain ). An illustration of the murder of Commmodus. The gladiator who defied an emperor. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. He showed no interest in government or military matters and was consumed by self-indulgence. Thrown into the spotlight as Rome . In the view of Dio Cassius, his accession marked the descent "from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust".[20]. Commodus was inaugurated in 183 as consul with Aufidius Victorinus for a colleague and assumed the title Pius. Alternate titles: Caesar Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus Augustus, Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus. On 27 November 176, Marcus Aurelius bestowed the title of Imperator on Commodus and in summer 177 he made him a full joint emperor by giving him the title of Augustus. 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. His brutal misrule precipitated civil strife that ended 84 years of stability and prosperity within the empire. We will never see the like of the Roman Empire ever again. Clearly, choosing to play gladiator, mercilessly killing animals and people with disabilities, was not a strategy that served to promote Roman culture, no matter how brutal it was at the time. 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. Commodus would also slay exotic animals, such as lions, ostriches, hippos, elephants, and giraffes. Faustina was the daughter of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius and was Aurelius first cousin. They then sent in an athlete to strangle the 31-year old emperor in his bath. 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 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. Lucilla was over ten years his senior and held the rank of Augusta as the widow of her first husband, Lucius Verus. 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. Wikimedia CommonsEmperor Commodus lust for power is widely credited with bringing an end to the fabled Pax Romana. 1475); the hero wears his characteristic lionskin and wields a club. According to Dio Cassius, Perennis, though ruthless and ambitious, was not personally corrupt and generally administered the state well.[21]. wahrscheinlich aber erfand Commodus diese Geschichte selber, um seine Sonderrolle zu unterstreichen. 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. Are the Misty Peaks of the Azores Remnants of the Legendary Atlantis? Husband of Rupilia Faustina: Levick (2014), p. 163. In 177 Lucius was made coruler and heir to his father, the emperor Marcus Aurelius (reigned 161180). Joaquin Phoenix's character is bad news, but he doesn't quite have the same unhinged level of megalomania as his real-life counterpart. His death, however, was the result of an assassination plot in 192, culminating with Narcissus killing him in the bath. 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. Anyone who caught the emperors attention risked also inadvertently invoking his wrath. Nowadays Commodus is best remembered as the villain of Ridley Scott's movie "Gladiator", a sneering and arrogant portrayal by Joaquin Phoenix. In 166, at the age of five, Commodus was made Caesar, along with his younger brother Marcus Annius Verus. And what could be more glorious than to challenge the Emperor himself in the great arena? 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. 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. 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. 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]. A bust of Commodus as a youth. Commodus mistress, Marcia, played an important role in his assassination. 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. On 20 January 175, Commodus entered the College of Pontiffs, the starting point of a career in public life. This caused much outrage, and inspired prefect Laetus to start a conspiracy to assassinate the emperor. According to Aurelius, Commodus received his educational training with "an abundance of good masters.". 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). Commodus was spoilt and decadent and his decadence led to the decline of the empire. Russell Crowe's Maximus asks the crowd "Are you not entertained?" Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Soon after he became sole ruler, Lucius changed his name to Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. Then, discover the most fascinating facts from the entirety of ancient history. From all angles, Commodus was groomed to succeed on the throne. He also believed himself to be a reincarnation of Hercules and enjoyed fighting in an arena as a gladiator. Man in Peru Caught Out Drinking With an 800-year-old Mummy! Flamma. Reigning from 180 to 192 A.D., Commodus all but ignored his official duties. The ending of "Gladiator" makes it seem like. Only a famous death will do. A bust of Roman Emperor Commodus, styled as if he were a reincarnation of Hercules, which is precisely what he believed himself to be. [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. 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. [34] The Romans found Commodus's gladiatorial combat to be scandalous and disgraceful. 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 . 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. 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. [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. In 186 he further reduced the purity and silver weight to 74percent and 2.22grams respectively, being 108 to the Roman pound. "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. After this look at Commodus, check out these interesting facts about Ancient Rome. He also reduced the silver purity from 79percent to 76percent the silver weight dropping from 2.57grams to 2.34grams. Ridley Scott's Gladiator (2000) is a Roman historical epic, considered to be one of Scott's directorial movie masterpieces. Commodus did initially engage in some leadership-oriented activities, although not always in the favor of the Roman people. [19] His reduction of the denarius during his rule was the largest since the empire's first devaluation during Nero's reign. The real Commodus was also taken out by a Senate plot, although less publicly: After a few unsuccessful attempts, he was strangled to death in his bathroom by a professional wrestler moonlighting as an assassin. 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. The poison failed, so Narcissus entered Commodus's bedchamber. It's ironic that we watched the film Gladiator the other night. He negotiated a peace settlement in Romes favor. 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. But now, the people want to know how the story ends. A small group of conspirators, including the emperors chamberlain and mistress, Marcia, decided to kill him. Gracchus and Commodus stared evenly at eachother, with mutual hatred. The first attempt used poisoned meat, but Commodus vomited it up. 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. Husband of Ceionia Fabia: Levick (2014), p. 164. The Romans were outraged when Commodus would order wounded soldiers and amputees into the arena to be slayed. The gladiator who defied an emperor. The Eastern Tour - Chapter II: 4:01. Heinz, W. (1986). After becoming emperor, Commodus spent his 12-year reign indulging in hobbies like gambling, drinking and chariot-racing, but his two greatest passions seemed to be sex and pretending to be a . 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. A former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery. Gina Dimuro is a New York-based writer and translator. He then returned to Rome and celebrated a triumph for the conclusion of the wars on 22 October 180. Meanwhile, Commodus was lapsing into insanity. Husband of Salonia Matidia: Levick (2014), p. 161. [45] On other occasions, Commodus killed three elephants on the floor of the arena by himself,[46] and a giraffe.[47]. They then returned to Rome in the autumn of 176. Commodus brought an end to his father's campaign against the Germans. Papirius Dionysius was executed, too. Unlike Maximus, they all let him win, letting him injure them to a non-fatal degree and then conceding, per LA Times. Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. But he vomited the poisoned food up, foiling that plan. ( Louisonze/CC BY-SA 3.0 ). Ulpius Marcellus was replaced as governor of Britain by Pertinax; brought to Rome and tried for treason, Marcellus narrowly escaped death. Ein Gladiator (lateinisch gladiator zu gladius fr . Husband of Ulpia Marciana: Levick (2014), p. 161. 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. His father was the philosopher-king, Marcus Aurelius, who Commodus, The Unhinged Roman Emperor Who Went Mad With Power, Commodus exposes Lucillas plot in this scene from. Commodus had an elder twin brother, Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus, who died in 165. Salvius and Paternus were executed along with a number of other prominent consulars and senators. By December of that year, he declared that he would inaugurate the New Year on January 1, 193 as a gladiator in the arena. One of the things that the film followed fairly accurately was the . "Exsuperatorius" (the supreme) was a title given to Jupiter, and "Amazonius" identified him again with Hercules. Ivar the Boneless: Viking Warrior, Ruler and Raider, What is Shambhala? Commodus ruled with chaos and left chaos in his wake. Dio Cassius 73.10.2, Loeb edition translated E. Cary. Commodus' famous gesture, which he gives when deciding the fate of defeated gladiators 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. 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. Roman Emperor Lucius Aurelius Commodus was a corrupt ruler who was not well-received by the Roman people during his reign. These tendencies now increased to megalomaniacal proportions. 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. 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. However, just when the days of the mad emperors seemed long gone, Commodus brought the madness roaring back. It was reputed in local legend to be the seat of the god Wotan and to be haunted. 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). Yet another attempt on his life had been foiled, but the conspirators did not lose their nerve. Gladiator follows Roman general Maximus (Russell Crowe), who is chosen by the ailing Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) to succeed him as the new Caesar.This doesn't sit well with Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), the son of Marcus, who murders his . Hercules and the Hydra (ca. [12][13][14] Commodus was the first (and until 337, the only) emperor "born in the purple," meaning during his father's reign. After those attempts on his life, Commodus spent much of his time outside Rome, mostly on the family estates at Lanuvium. 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. 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. It's a great story of revenge but the character of Maximus is entirely made up. Narcissus (born 2nd century A.D.) was a Roman athlete,[1][2] likely a wrestler,[3] from the 2nd century AD. [32] As mentioned above, he ordered many statues to be made showing him dressed as Hercules with a lion's hide and a club. However, in private practice fights, Commodus would slay his opponents. Condianus and Maximus were executed on the pretext that while they were not implicated in any plots, their wealth and talent would make them unhappy with the current state of affairs. Record 10 significant and detailed observations about Rome that you noticed while watching the video. fascinating facts from the entirety of ancient history. This assassination attempt was successful, and both Commodus reign as Roman Emperor, and his life, ended on the final day of 192. Striking story! She believes that only by understanding where we come from, can we truly understand our life path and purpose. Disappointment aside, Aurelius continued to promote Commodus through the ranks. 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. View GLADIATOR - CHW3M.docx from HIS CHW3M at Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts. Other victims at this time were the praetorian prefect Julius Julianus, Commodus's cousin Annia Fundania Faustina, and his brother-in-law Mamertinus. Composite Character: Maximus, compared to real life. Gladiator's Commodus death, therefore, is a pertinent conclusion to Maximus storyline in Gladiator, but it consequentially abstracts the film's historical basis. This horrified the Roman people. Marcus Aurelius died there on 17 March 180, leaving the 18-year-old Commodus as sole emperor.[18]. He engaged in one-on-one combat with many other gladiators, each of whom was obliged to lose to the emperor. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Mudlarker Finds Bronze Age Shoe on a UK Riverbank Dated 2,800 Years Old! 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? The megalomania of Commodus was not limited to the Colosseum. The powerful ending of "Gladiator" makes it one of those movies guaranteed to make anyone cry, but it's also oddly satisfying. He was the brother of Princess Lucilla, and uncle of Lucius. The plot failed, and Commodus retaliated by executing a number of leading senators. . The Chilling Mystery of the Octavius Ghost Ship, What is a Wendigo? During his solo reign, the Roman Empire enjoyed reduced military conflict compared with the reign of Marcus Aurelius. In 182 Commoduss sister Lucilla conspired with a group of senators to assassinate him. 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 article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Commodus. [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. When Marcia found a list of people Commodus intended to have executed, she discovered that she, the prefect Laetus and Eclectus were on it. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 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. Quadratus and Quintianus were executed. Wife of M. Annius Libo: Levick (2014), p. 163. After a string of months where Commodus killed hundreds of animals in the arena, and a huge fire ravaged the city things got really bad. Gladiator: How Commodus Died In Real Life & Who Killed Him, Gladiator: What Happened To Every Historical Character In Real Life. Commode-Hercule et l'anthropologie hercalenne,", M.P. 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]. Although he's very well written, Maximus is more of a plot device to allow the . The Untersberg is a great mountain straddling the Austro-German border opposite Salzburg. Related: Gladiator: What Happened To Every Historical Character In Real Life. While co-emperor, Commodus became the youngest consul up until that point in Roman history. [7], He was looked after by his father's physician, Galen,[8][9] who treated many of Commodus's common illnesses. 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. 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. Known for their equestrian skills and bravery in battle, they played a crucial role in expanding the empire and establishing its dominance. 6.7M views 8 years ago #Gladiator #Oscars #RussellCrowe After Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) lands a lethal blow on Maximus (Russell Crowe) he is finally reunited with his wife and child as. Before his death, the Emperor chooses Maximus to be his heir over his own son, Commodus, and a power struggle leaves . 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. 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." He is based in the UK and studied English at Kings College London. He wanted to avenge the deaths of his wife and son, as well as clear the way for the Senate to restore order in Rome. He also declared himself to be an incarnation of the god Hercules and forced the senate to recognize his divinity. Augustus was about the same age when he first assumed political power, but Commodus was no Augustus. She has earned Read More. Cleander was in fact the person who had murdered Saoterus. Narration by: Alexander Dobby. Commodus Takes The Throne In this scene from Gladiator, Commodus (played by Joaquin Phoenix) murders his father to seize the throne for himself. He was succeeded by Pertinax, the first emperor in the tumultuous Year of the Five Emperors. The film is based on real historical events, but . 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. 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And uncle of Lucius scandalous and disgraceful along with a number of other prominent and! And heir to his father 's campaign against the Germans and sent him into..
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