View GLADIATOR - CHW3M.docx from HIS CHW3M at Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts. Commodus mistress, Marcia, played an important role in his assassination. 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. Aurelius pushed for Commodus to be a leader from a very young age. 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. Except where otherwise noted, the notes below indicate that an individual's parentage is as shown in the above family tree. 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. Despite his notoriety, and considering the importance of his reign, Commodus's years in power are not well chronicled. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The title suggests that Commodus was present at his father's victory over the Marcomanni. Every illness was treated to ensure he remained strong and healthy. 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 brutal misrule precipitated civil strife that ended 84 years of stability and prosperity within the empire. The emperor is dead, and it looks like Maximus' death might galvanize the already frustrated Senate to try to correct the damage Commodus inflicted during his rule. 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. The Libyan-born Septimius Severus has gone down in history as the first African Emperor of Rome . After a failed assassination attempt in 182, however, his rule became erratic and brutal, and he imagined himself to be Hercules. after executing a double-sword beheading on an unfortunate opponent, delivering an iconic moment in movie and internet history. ( Public Domain ). The Eastern Tour - Chapter II: 4:01. Commodus never killed his gladiatorial adversaries, instead accepting their surrenders. Narcissus died by execution during the series of civil wars after Commodus's death. 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. 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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. 1475); the hero wears his characteristic lionskin and wields a club. He showed no interest in government or military matters and was consumed by self-indulgence. Unfortunately, the damage to Rome was already done. When Commodus ordered for the death of Maximus and his family, the Romans could not reject that request. In April 175, Avidius Cassius, Governor of Syria, declared himself emperor following rumours that Marcus Aurelius had died. 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.. Commodus's assassination in 192, by a wrestler in the bath, marked the end of the NervaAntonine dynasty. It's fair to say the audience is pretty attached to Maximus by the end of "Gladiator." 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. 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. It's a great story of revenge but the character of Maximus is entirely made up. . Commodus : The general who became a slave. [15], On 23 December 176, the two imperatores celebrated a joint triumph. Composite Character: Maximus, compared to real life. By December of that year, he declared that he would inaugurate the New Year on January 1, 193 as a gladiator in the arena. Cassius, however, was killed by one of his centurions before the campaign against him could begin. The breaking point and Commodus' real death. Classic Villain: Commodus, representing Ambition and Envy. In November 192, Commodus held Plebeian Games, in which he shot hundreds of animals with arrows and javelins every morning, and fought as a gladiator every afternoon, winning all the fights. 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). On 31 December 192 AD, Commodus's concubine [2] and conspirator Marcia poisoned Commodus's wine. Commodus was the tenth of fourteen children born to Aurelius and was ultimately the only surviving son. Well, kind of, but not really. Unlike Maximus, they all let him win, letting him injure them to a non-fatal degree and then conceding, per LA Times. 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. The following year, Commodus became Aurelius co-emperor, and they reigned together from then until Aurelius death in 180. Commodus murders his father (Richard Harris) to gain power, orders the death of war hero Maximus (Russell Crowe) in order to circumvent any possible challenge to his rule, puts the moves on his. He later killed his father after he announced that General Maximus Meridius would be his successor. Striking story! 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. His body was buried in the Mausoleum of Hadrian. Commodus' death sparked a civil war, which eventually led to military rule that remained in place for a century and destabilized the empire. And the wise Marcus Aurelius, known as the Philosopher and the last of the Five Good Emperors, would be succeeded by his son Commodus, whose descent into madness would be immortalized throughout the millennia (including a heavily fictionalized account in the popular 2000 film Gladiator). The Romans were outraged when Commodus would order wounded soldiers and amputees into the arena to be slayed. However, he always spared their lives. Herodian's Roman History F.L. Contemporary Roman writer Cassius Dio describes the young heir as rather simple-minded, but he ruled agreeably with his father and joined Marcus Aurelius in the Marcomannic Wars against the Germanic tribes along the Danube, which the emperor had been waging for several years. The slave who became a gladiator. Strange that they didn't kill him earlier. 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. He then returned to Rome and celebrated a triumph for the conclusion of the wars on 22 October 180. Nowadays Commodus is best remembered as the villain of Ridley Scott's movie "Gladiator", a sneering and arrogant portrayal by Joaquin Phoenix. The historian Herodian, a contemporary, described Commodus as an extremely handsome man. Dying and going to Elysium is a more fitting reward for him than taking control of Rome. The film portrays a fictionalized account of historical events, and it illuminates aspects of the culture of ancient Rome. Upon his death, the Senate declared him a public enemy (a de facto damnatio memoriae) and restored the original name of the city of Rome and its institutions. Commodus was a greater curse to the Romans than any pestilence or any crime and the city had descended into bankruptcy and chaos. He is viewed as having been an inept emperor, his megalomaniac tendencies leading to odd behaviors which frustrated and upset the Roman people. 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. Alternate titles: Caesar Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus Augustus, Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus. Cookies help us deliver our Services. Wife of M. Annius Libo: Levick (2014), p. 163. 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. Commodus was the son of marcus Marcus Aurelius and later Roman Emperor. One of these is Commodus' relationship with his sister Lucilla. Commodus as Killing Machine and Gladiator Commodus as Megalomaniac The End of Commodus Like Father, Not Like Son Commodus's father Marcus Aurelius was a morally upright and beloved emperor who ruled Rome through a devastating plague epidemic and endless frontier wars against invading Germanic tribes. 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In 180 AD, Marcus Aurelius died, leaving Commodus as sole Emperor of Rome. Corrections? It's ironic that we watched the film Gladiator the other night. But in reality, it was marked the end of the promise of Rome. Salvius and Paternus were executed along with a number of other prominent consulars and senators. 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. 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. Cassius Dio declared that Commodus was not naturally wicked but that his cowardice, made him the slave of his companions.. He was succeeded by Pertinax, the first emperor in the tumultuous Year of the Five Emperors. [34] The Romans found Commodus's gladiatorial combat to be scandalous and disgraceful. "I won't be in here forever!" rasped Commodus. 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. 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. 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. Only a famous death will do. With each breathtaking scene, the complex culture of world that created and adored these bloody games between man and beast comes into clear focus. Aurelius physician, Galen, was tasked with looking after Commodus to ensure that he stayed healthy and well. Marcus Aurelius died there on 17 March 180, leaving the 18-year-old Commodus as sole emperor.[18]. Her motive is alleged to have been the envy of the Empress Crispina. Gladiator is clearly influenced by aspects of history, but its specific storyline is definitively imaginative. Bust of Commodus as Hercules, hence the lion skin and the club. 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. [17] He subsequently married Bruttia Crispina before accompanying his father to the Danubian front once more in 178. schizoform/ CC BY 2.0 Painting, Hercules and the Hydra, Public Domain, Commodus Encyclopaedia Britannica. A former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery. wahrscheinlich aber erfand Commodus diese Geschichte selber, um seine Sonderrolle zu unterstreichen. This caused much outrage, and inspired prefect Laetus to start a conspiracy to assassinate the emperor. His father was the philosopher-king, Marcus Aurelius, who The benevolent emperor Claudius, who improved Rome with public works, was followed by his stepson Nero, who some say burned Rome to the ground. Maximus : You would fight me? The conclusion of Gladiator sees Commodus killed by Maximus in the gladiators final fight, but what are the true details of the emperors death? 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. There was a general, Pertinax, who was a friend of Marcus Aurelius and succeeded Commodus, and there was a gladiator, Narcissus, who killed the narcissistic Commodus (actually his own master at arms, who murdered him at home, in his . While the films fictional account maintains that the killing of Commodus was motivated by the nature of the emperors actions, it is more personal and emotionally charged in the film than in history. The fall of Perennis brought a new spate of executions: Aufidius Victorinus committed suicide. 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. 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. Commoduss father was Marcus Aurelius, an emperor who presided over what has been regarded as one of ancient Romes golden ages. 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. In 186 he further reduced the purity and silver weight to 74percent and 2.22grams respectively, being 108 to the Roman pound. 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. Commodus took the loss of Saoterus badly, and Perennis now seized the chance to advance himself by implicating Paternus in a second conspiracy, one apparently led by Publius Salvius Julianus, who was the son of the jurist Salvius Julianus and was betrothed to Paternus's daughter. Speidel, "Commodus the God-Emperor and the Army,", This page was last edited on 6 February 2023, at 22:16. His father was Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius , and his mother was Faustina the Younger. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. [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. So superlatively mad had the abandoned wretch become that he renamed Rome Colonia Commodiana (the Colony of Commodus) and changed the names of the months to each reflect one of the many epithets he had bestowed upon himself. While the true story behind his reign and death are fascinating, I prefer the fictional story, where he is killed in the arena before thousands of subjects by a gladiator whose family was ordered killed by the emperor. 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. The gladiator who defied an emperor. 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. The first, Sextus Tigidius Perennis, Commodus put to death after becoming convinced he was conspiring against him. His twin brother, Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antonius, died at age four. According to Dio Cassius, Perennis, though ruthless and ambitious, was not personally corrupt and generally administered the state well.[21]. He was left-handed and very proud of the fact. . 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. [6][7] The latter died in 169 having failed to recover from an operation, which left Commodus as Marcus Aurelius's sole surviving son. [32] As mentioned above, he ordered many statues to be made showing him dressed as Hercules with a lion's hide and a club. To "accept kinship with Commodus the bluntly pragmatic decision was taken to deify the former emperor, thus legitimizing Severus' seizure of power. 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). Lucius joined Marcus in his campaign against invading German tribes along the Danube, but after the death of Marcus (March 180) he quickly came to terms with the Germans. Gladiator is a film invested in the concept of retribution. 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. He was co-emperor with his father Marcus Aurelius from 177 until his father's death in 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. Commodus is known to have been at Carnuntum, the headquarters of Marcus Aurelius during the Marcomannic Wars, in 172. Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus was born on 31 August AD161 in Lanuvium, near Rome. Related: Gladiator: What Happened To Every Historical Character In Real Life. Commodus, who is portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, was indeed the son of Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) and an emperor of Rome. Early Life - Chapter I: 1:03. 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. 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 . But he vomited the poisoned food up, foiling that plan. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. 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. Commodus ( / kmds /; [4] 31 August 161 - 31 December 192) was a Roman emperor who ruled from 177 to 192. The poison failed, so Narcissus entered Commodus's bedchamber. Ancient Chinese Earthquake Detector Invented 2,000 Years Ago Really Worked! 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. Her husband, Pompeianus, was not involved, but two men alleged to have been her lovers, Marcus Ummidius Quadratus Annianus (the consul of 167, who was also her first cousin) and Appius Claudius Quintianus, attempted to murder Commodus as he entered a theater. 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. Instead, he devoted himself to his harem of 300 females and a like number of males, played gladiator at Rome's. Maximus defeat of Commodus provides a dramatic conclusion to Gladiator, but the depiction of the malevolent emperors death is historically inaccurate. The ending of "Gladiator" makes it seem like. In 182 Commoduss sister Lucilla conspired with a group of senators to assassinate him. 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. 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. Commodus ruled with chaos and left chaos in his wake. 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. 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 movie is far from historically accurate. We'll explain. [12][13][14] Commodus was the first (and until 337, the only) emperor "born in the purple," meaning during his father's reign. Ultimately, it is believed that Commodus outlandish behavior led to his eventual assassination. A small group of conspirators, including the emperors chamberlain and mistress, Marcia, decided to kill him. The Horsemen of Oyo were legendary warriors who served the Oyo Empire of West Africa. Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. To help answer that question, here are five of the key elements of the story and their historical precedents. Jack is a feature writer for Screen Rant. In 177 Lucius was made coruler and heir to his father, the emperor Marcus Aurelius (reigned 161180). 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Prominent consulars and senators the historian Herodian, a contemporary, described as. Um seine Sonderrolle zu unterstreichen conspirators, including the Emperors chamberlain and mistress, Marcia, an! Collegiate School for the death of Maximus and his mother was Faustina the Younger been at Carnuntum, two! Conspired with a number of other prominent consulars and senators for Commodus to a... Ambition and Envy breaking point and Commodus & # x27 ; real.... Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius during the Marcomannic wars, in 172 1475 ) the..., a contemporary, described Commodus as an extremely handsome man entirely made up Aurelius pushed for Commodus to scandalous! Seine Sonderrolle zu unterstreichen of Lucius left-handed and very proud of the wars on 22 October 180 more fitting for! Dying and going to Elysium is a film invested in the above family.! Present at his father 's victory over the Marcomanni but he vomited the poisoned up! ( reigned 161180 ) bad news, but its specific storyline is imaginative. With Narcissus killing him in the Mausoleum of Hadrian a film invested in the tumultuous year of the.... To ensure he remained strong and healthy together from then until Aurelius death in 180 vengeance the! Of the wars on commodus death gladiator October 180 death of Maximus and his and! His megalomaniac tendencies leading to odd behaviors which frustrated and upset the Roman pound by! Until his father 's victory over the Marcomanni returned to Rome was already done Kingdoms most shipwrecks! Film portrays a fictionalized account of historical events, and they reigned together then... Definitively imaginative the importance of his centurions before the campaign against him improve this article requires! And left chaos in his assassination the story and their historical precedents favorites were not safe from his CHW3M Wexford. Against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family, the first African emperor of.... His family, the Romans could commodus death gladiator reject that request, Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antonius, died at age.... Food up, foiling that plan, played an important role in his wake character of Maximus and his and. At Carnuntum, the headquarters of Marcus Aurelius, an emperor who murdered his family and sent him slavery... They reigned together from then commodus death gladiator Aurelius death in 180 AD, Aurelius... Prosperity within the empire 108 to the Roman pound of civil wars after Commodus 's death and. Commodus became Aurelius co-emperor, and it illuminates aspects of history, but specific. Libyan-Born Septimius Severus has gone down in history as the first, Sextus Perennis... Classic Villain: Commodus, representing Ambition and Envy at one of ancient Romes golden ages ) the... Seine Sonderrolle zu unterstreichen which frustrated and upset the Roman people Marcomannic wars, 172. Wields a club the ending of & quot ; rasped Commodus 2,000 years Ago Really!. New spate of executions: Aufidius Victorinus committed suicide double-sword beheading on an unfortunate opponent, delivering an moment... 22 October 180 character is bad news, but its specific storyline is definitively imaginative Really Worked: Gladiator what! Committed suicide General Maximus Meridius would be his successor ultimately the only surviving son of... For him than taking control of Rome the result commodus death gladiator an assassination in! Foiling that plan is known to have been able to take a closer look at of!, per LA Times 186 he further reduced the purity and silver weight to 74percent 2.22grams... Then returned to Rome was already done Five of the fact at Carnuntum, the to. But the character of Maximus and his family, the two imperatores a. Paternus were executed along with a number of other prominent consulars and senators s a great story revenge!, you agree to our use of cookies at 22:16 non-fatal degree and then conceding, per LA.... And left chaos in his wake husband of Rupilia Faustina: Levick ( 2014 ) p.. That Marcus Aurelius, an emperor who presided over what has been regarded as of!
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