schizoform/ CC BY 2.0 Painting, Hercules and the Hydra, Public Domain, Commodus Encyclopaedia Britannica. Commodus did initially engage in some leadership-oriented activities, although not always in the favor of the Roman people. [7], He was looked after by his father's physician, Galen,[8][9] who treated many of Commodus's common illnesses. 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. In AD 191, he took over more of the reins of power, though he continued to rule through a cabal consisting of Marcia, his new chamberlain Eclectus, and the new praetorian prefect Quintus Aemilius Laetus. Commodus' death sparked a civil war, which eventually led to military rule that remained in place for a century and destabilized the empire. In 182 Commoduss sister Lucilla conspired with a group of senators to assassinate him. 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. Emperor Commodus lust for power is widely credited with bringing an end to the fabled Pax Romana. 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. To some, this was a sign that Commodus was not actually the biological child of Aurelius, and that his mother had conceived him while engaging in an affair. Instead, he devoted himself to his harem of 300 females and a like number of males, played gladiator at Rome's. We will never see the like of the Roman Empire ever again. Aurelius himself, and the four emperors that had preceded him, had all been adopted. Early Life - Chapter I: 1:03. Commodus : The general who became a slave. [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. Commodus's death is an example of how the film has historical references but often distorts them to create its narrative Gladiator's Commodus being less power-hungry than his historical counterpart refocuses the movie around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 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. Upon his ascension, Commodus devalued the Roman currency. 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. However, just when the days of the mad emperors seemed long gone, Commodus brought the madness roaring back. The benevolent emperor Claudius, who improved Rome with public works, was followed by his stepson Nero, who some say burned Rome to the ground. Murdering the emperor, after all, was frowned upon even one as hated as Commodus, who had bankrupted Rome with his egotistical demands and was infamous for ordering cruel executions. During his solo reign, the Roman Empire enjoyed reduced military conflict compared with the reign of Marcus Aurelius. Wikimedia CommonsAn illustration of the murder of Commmodus. The Libyan-born Septimius Severus has gone down in history as the first African Emperor of Rome . He also reduced the silver purity from 79percent to 76percent the silver weight dropping from 2.57grams to 2.34grams. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Suetonius a possible lover of Sabina: One interpretation of, Lover of Hadrian: Lambert (1984), p.99 and. One such notable event was the attempted extermination of the house of the Quinctilii. ( Public Domain ). Didius Julianus, the future emperor and a relative of Salvius Julianus, was dismissed from the governorship of Germania Inferior. Maximus is given a very clear ending, but what about the rest of Rome? Salvius and Paternus were executed along with a number of other prominent consulars and senators. [15], On 23 December 176, the two imperatores celebrated a joint triumph. [28][29], His original name was Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus. Commodus was the son of marcus Marcus Aurelius and later Roman Emperor. To help answer that question, here are five of the key elements of the story and their historical precedents. 1475); the hero wears his characteristic lionskin and wields a club. At the urging of his mistress Marcia, Commodus had Cleander beheaded and his son killed. The poison failed, so Narcissus entered Commodus's bedchamber. Cassius, however, was killed by one of his centurions before the campaign against him could begin. [38] Cassius Dio claimed that citizens of Rome who were missing their feet through accident or illness were taken to the arena, where they were tethered together for Commodus to club to death while pretending they were giants. 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. Anyone who caught the emperors attention risked also inadvertently invoking his wrath. Ancient Chinese Earthquake Detector Invented 2,000 Years Ago Really Worked! The most famous scene in "Gladiator" is the one that launched a thousand memes (to use a phrase from a different Ancient European society). He is viewed as having been an inept emperor, his megalomaniac tendencies leading to odd behaviors which frustrated and upset the Roman people. The powerful ending of "Gladiator" makes it one of those movies guaranteed to make anyone cry, but it's also oddly satisfying. The Romans were outraged when Commodus would order wounded soldiers and amputees into the arena to be slayed. As a result, Commodus appeared even more rarely in public, preferring to live on his estates. 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. 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. The latter is what has made the movie timeless. 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 . As Greek mythology goes, the universe was once a big soup of nothingness. Disdaining the more philosophic inclinations of his father, Commodus was extremely proud of his physical prowess. He also believed himself to be a reincarnation of Hercules and enjoyed fighting in an arena as a gladiator. 1. 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. Reigning from 180 to 192 A.D., Commodus all but ignored his official duties. His death, however, was the result of an assassination plot in 192, culminating with Narcissus killing him in the bath. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. His body was buried in the Mausoleum of Hadrian. Faustina was the daughter of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius and was Aurelius first cousin. Striking story! The ancient Greek city of Delphi, located on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, was home to the main Temple of Apollo and the renowned Oracle of Delphi. Be warned, though:If you thought Maximus's death was sad, you really won't like this. Commodus, who is portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, was indeed the son of Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) and an emperor of Rome. The movie doesn't answer this, and we never got to see "Gladiator 2." The latter eventually would be used as a conventional title by Roman emperors, starting about a century later, but Commodus seems to have been the first to assume it.[31]. 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. 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). Only a famous death will do. 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. Maximus is a powerful Roman general, loved by the people and the aging Emperor, Marcus Aurelius. [45] On other occasions, Commodus killed three elephants on the floor of the arena by himself,[46] and a giraffe.[47]. He was co-emperor with his father Marcus Aurelius from 177 until his father's death in 180. 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. 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. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. 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. Cleander proceeded to concentrate power in his own hands and to enrich himself by becoming responsible for all public offices: he sold and bestowed entry to the Senate, army commands, governorships, and increasingly, even the suffect consulships to the highest bidder. [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]. @Roberto Peron, No, Marcus Aurelius was a philosopher (Stoic) the last of the 5 "Good Emperors" and maintained the "Pax Romana). But now, the people want to know how the story ends. 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. As disgusted as the senators were by the sight of their emperor running around half-naked in the sands of the amphitheater, they were too terrified to do anything but play along. His family is murdered, and he becomes a slave, and then sold off to become a gladiator. Sporting critical wounds after enacting his vengeance at the end of Gladiator, Maximus dies moments after Commodus. wahrscheinlich aber erfand Commodus diese Geschichte selber, um seine Sonderrolle zu unterstreichen. A bust of Commodus as a youth. 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. Was this German silver mine really defended by two Roman forts and a line of "spike defenses? Commodus's death marked the end of the NervaAntonine dynasty. But now, the people want to know how the story ends. [44] Dio notes that the targeted senators actually found this more ridiculous than frightening, and chewed on laurel leaves to conceal their laughter. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Commodus. Commodus : The general who became a slave. Bust of Commodus as Hercules, hence the lion skin and the club. "Back!" he cried. 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. It's fair to say the audience is pretty attached to Maximus by the end of "Gladiator." Despite his notoriety, and considering the importance of his reign, Commodus's years in power are not well chronicled. 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. She believes that only by understanding where we come from, can we truly understand our life path and purpose. Commodus lunged at the Senator. On 12 October 166, Commodus was made Caesar together with his younger brother, Marcus Annius Verus. 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. 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. It was presumably there that, on 15 October 172, he was given the victory title Germanicus, in the presence of the army. He also declared himself to be an incarnation of the god Hercules and forced the senate to recognize his divinity. The following year he became the youngest emperor and consul up to that point, at the age of 16. He reduced the weight of the denarius from 96 per Roman pound to 105 per Roman pound (3.85grams to 3.35grams). Meanwhile, Commodus was lapsing into insanity. [5] He was the son of the reigning emperor, Marcus Aurelius, and Aurelius's first cousin, Faustina the Younger, the youngest daughter of Emperor Antoninus Pius, who had died only a few months before. Ein Gladiator (lateinisch gladiator zu gladius fr . 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. Omissions? A small group of conspirators, including the emperors chamberlain and mistress, Marcia, decided to kill him. Commodus reign is commonly regarded as the beginning of the Roman Empires decline, and he is a natural choice for the primary antagonist of Gladiator. The first crisis of the reign came in 182, when Lucilla engineered a conspiracy against her brother. According to Aurelius, Commodus received his educational training with "an abundance of good masters.". The movie is far from historically accurate. Composite Character: Maximus, compared to real life. 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. 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). They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. But wait, wasn't Commodus killed by a Gladiator? He thought of himself as the reincarnation of Hercules, frequently emulating the legendary hero's feats by appearing in the arena to fight a variety of wild animals. This biographical article related to crime is a stub. Available from: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/128108/Commodus, Lucius Aurelius Commodus Roman-Empire. Commodus Takes The Throne In this scene from Gladiator, Commodus (played by Joaquin Phoenix) murders his father to seize the throne for himself. 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. Record 10 significant and detailed observations about Rome that you noticed while watching the video. Commodus was made coruler when he was just 16 years old, and he was emperor before he turned 19. Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) takes power and strips rank from Maximus (Russell Crowe), one of the favored generals of his predecessor and father, Empero After a failed assassination attempt in 182, however, his rule became erratic and brutal, and he imagined himself to be Hercules. But now, the people want to know how the story ends. In the arena, Commodus's opponents always submitted to the emperor; as a result he never lost. [22], Thus, he presented himself as the fountainhead of the Empire, Roman life, and religion. 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: The general who became a slave. But in reality, it was marked the end of the promise of Rome. so Romans had no choice but to obey Commodus. Its protagonist, Maximus, is entirely fictitious. Husband of Rupilia Faustina: Levick (2014), p. 163. Gladiator is clearly influenced by aspects of history, but its specific storyline is definitively imaginative. Ridley Scott's Gladiator famously kills off Maximus (Russell Crowe) at the end, but the original plan for the ending was very different. He was left-handed and very proud of the fact. The slave who became a gladiator. Dio Cassius 73.10.2, Loeb edition translated E. Cary. The ending, however sad to viewers, allows him to do that. Gladiator is somewhat historically accurate in its final scenes, as Commodus did perform as a gladiator. They bungled the job and were seized by the emperor's bodyguard. Whatever its roots, the conspiracy failed and the incident aroused an insane paranoia in Commodus, who began seeing plots and treachery everywhere. One of the things that the film followed fairly accurately was the . 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. 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 . Commodus received extensive tutoring by a multitude of teachers with a focus on intellectual education. A former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery. The conclusion of Gladiator sees Commodus killed by Maximus in the gladiators final fight, but what are the true details of the emperors death? An inscribed altar from Dura-Europos on the Euphrates shows that Commodus's titles and the renaming of the months were disseminated to the furthest reaches of the Empire; moreover, that even auxiliary military units received the title Commodiana, and that he claimed two additional titles: Pacator Orbis (pacifier of the world) and Dominus Noster (Our Lord). 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. From all angles, Commodus was groomed to succeed on the throne. 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. The Untersberg is a great mountain straddling the Austro-German border opposite Salzburg. Jack is a feature writer for Screen Rant. [6][7] The latter died in 169 having failed to recover from an operation, which left Commodus as Marcus Aurelius's sole surviving son. Known for their equestrian skills and bravery in battle, they played a crucial role in expanding the empire and establishing its dominance. 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. The three of them plotted to assassinate the emperor. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. [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]. The pivotal 2000 historical drama follows the betrayed general, Maximus, on a quest for revenge against Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), the usurper emperor of Rome, who murdered his wife and son. [40][41] For each appearance in the arena, he charged the city of Rome a million sesterces, straining the Roman economy. It was three years later that Verus died, leaving Commodus as the only surviving son. [42] Later, he decapitated a running ostrich with a specially designed dart[43] and afterwards carried his sword and the bleeding head of the dead bird over to the Senators' seating area and motioned as though they were next. While Lucilla did actually try to orchestrate Commodus' assassination, there's no historical evidence of his disturbing attraction to her or their highly tempestuous relationship as depicted in the movie. Are the Misty Peaks of the Azores Remnants of the Legendary Atlantis? Except where otherwise noted, the notes below indicate that an individual's parentage is as shown in the above family tree. Wikimedia CommonsEmperor Commodus lust for power is widely credited with bringing an end to the fabled Pax Romana. "I won't be in here forever!" rasped Commodus. 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. 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. The gladiator who defied an emperor. Commodus was succeeded by Pertinax, whose reign was short-lived; he would become the first claimant to be usurped during the Year of the Five Emperors. She has earned Read More. And what could be more glorious than to challenge the Emperor himself in the great arena? 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. 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. However, the ending, while sad, is true to Maximus's goals. 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. fascinating facts from the entirety of ancient history. 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. At the outset of his reign, Commodus, aged 18, inherited many of his father's senior advisers, notably Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus (the second husband of Commodus's eldest sister Lucilla), his father-in-law Gaius Bruttius Praesens, Titus Fundanius Vitrasius Pollio, and Aufidius Victorinus the Prefect of the City of Rome. Diese Geschichte selber, um seine Sonderrolle zu unterstreichen a slave, and the.! 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