Despite the unfair circumstances, Maximus is victorious, killing Commodus with the very blade the emperor had concealed. Commodus was spoilt and decadent and his decadence led to the decline of the empire. Commodus butchered dozens of animals in single appearances at the Colosseum on other occasions. Although he's very well written, Maximus is more of a plot device to allow the . www.alexanderdoddy.com. The first, Sextus Tigidius Perennis, Commodus put to death after becoming convinced he was conspiring against him. We will never see the like of the Roman Empire ever again. Thereafter his rule became increasingly arbitrary and vicious. This biographical article related to crime is a stub. 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. 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. Cassius Dio declared that Commodus was not naturally wicked but that his cowardice, made him the slave of his companions.. Yet another attempt on his life had been foiled, but the conspirators did not lose their nerve. Sister of Trajan's father: Giacosa (1977), p.7. Aurelius himself, and the four emperors that had preceded him, had all been adopted. The title suggests that Commodus was present at his father's victory over the Marcomanni. 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. 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Ridley Scott's Gladiator famously kills off Maximus (Russell Crowe) at the end, but the original plan for the ending was very different. Gladiator is clearly influenced by aspects of history, but its specific storyline is definitively imaginative. His brutal misrule precipitated civil strife that ended 84 years of stability and prosperity within the empire. In 186 he further reduced the purity and silver weight to 74percent and 2.22grams respectively, being 108 to the Roman pound. Narcissus died by execution during the series of civil wars after Commodus's death. Soon after he became sole ruler, Lucius changed his name to Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus. Innumerable statues around the empire were set up portraying him in the guise of Hercules, reinforcing the image of him as a demigod, a physical giant, a protector, and a warrior who fought against men and beasts (see "Commodus and Hercules" and "Commodus the Gladiator" below). Dio Cassius 73.1.2, Loeb edition translated E. Cary, Dio Cassius 73.5.3, Loeb edition translated E. Cary. Whatever its roots, the conspiracy failed and the incident aroused an insane paranoia in Commodus, who began seeing plots and treachery everywhere. Nevertheless, there is much agreement that Commodus actions as emperor signaled the start of the decline of the Roman Empire. Non-military citizens who had lost their feet due to injury or illness would be tied together for Commodus to club to death. He also had the head of the Colossus of Nero adjacent to the Colosseum replaced with his own portrait, gave it a club, placed a bronze lion at its feet to make it look like Hercules Romanus, and added an inscription boasting of being "the only left-handed fighter to conquer twelve times one thousand men".[23]. Ein Gladiator (lateinisch gladiator zu gladius fr . A former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery. [15], On 23 December 176, the two imperatores celebrated a joint triumph. "Commodus' progeny will rule Rome!" "Back!" yelled the Praetorian guard. Commodus, who is portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, was indeed the son of Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) and an emperor of Rome. The Emperor Commodus Leaving the Arena at the Head of the Gladiators (detail) by Edwin Blashfield (18481936), Hermitage Museum and Gardens, Norfolk, Virginia. Moreover, as Hercules, he could claim to be the son of Jupiter, the supreme god of the Roman pantheon. In hindsight, he should have kept the tradition of adopting his successor, which would have resulted in an appointment based on merit. The ending of "Gladiator" makes it seem like Commodus' death means a new beginning for Rome. 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. He also had four surviving sisters, all of them with husbands who were potential rivals. Commodus remained with the Danube armies for only a short time before negotiating a peace treaty with the Danubian tribes. Commodus: The general who became a slave. In addition to Galens medical attention and treatment, Commodus was also highly educated, with little focus on military training. While fighting in the arena, opponents would submit to Commodus, as emperor, and their lives were spared. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). 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). 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. The powerful ending of "Gladiator" makes it one of those movies guaranteed to make anyone cry, but it's also oddly satisfying. Gladiator is a 2000 epic historical drama film directed by Ridley Scott and written by David Franzoni, John Logan, and William Nicholson.The film was co-produced and released by DreamWorks Pictures and Universal Pictures.DreamWorks Pictures distributed the film in North America while Universal Pictures released it internationally through United International Pictures. Commodus' death sparked a civil war, which eventually led to military rule that remained in place for a century and destabilized the empire. This assassination attempt was successful, and both Commodus reign as Roman Emperor, and his life, ended on the final day of 192. Commodus' famous gesture, which he gives when deciding the fate of defeated gladiators Watching him collapse and die after restoring his own freedom and ridding Rome of its Tyrant in Chief seems like, well, a downer. 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. so Romans had no choice but to obey Commodus. 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 consensus was that it was below his office to participate as a gladiator. Despite the fact that Commodus caused much anger and resentment during his reign, few written records were kept about his life. And what could be more glorious than to challenge the Emperor himself in the great arena? AtAncient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. It was three years later that Verus died, leaving Commodus as the only surviving son. Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) takes power and strips rank from Maximus (Russell Crowe), one of the favored generals of his predecessor and father, Empero The real Commodus was also a gladiator superfan, and he really did get in the arena and fight people. Commodus is known to have been at Carnuntum, the headquarters of Marcus Aurelius during the Marcomannic Wars, in 172. Gladiator is a film invested in the concept of retribution. After repeated attempts on Commodus's life, Roman citizens were often killed for making him angry. 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. Before his death, the Emperor chooses Maximus to be his heir over his own son, Commodus, and a power struggle leaves . fascinating facts from the entirety of ancient history. In 192 AD, several senators, led by Praetorian prefect Quintus Aemilius Laetus, recruited Narcissus to assassinate the emperor after a previous failed attempt by the conspirators. The gladiator who defied an emperor. They then returned to Rome in the autumn of 176. 1475); the hero wears his characteristic lionskin and wields a club. Only a famous death will do. Nowadays Commodus is best remembered as the villain of Ridley Scott's movie "Gladiator", a sneering and arrogant portrayal by Joaquin Phoenix. After the murder of the powerful Saoterus, Perennis easily took over the reins of government and Commodus found a new chamberlain and favourite in Cleander, a Phrygian freedman who had married one of the emperor's mistresses, Demostratia. The first attempt used poisoned meat, but Commodus vomited it up. It's fair to say the audience is pretty attached to Maximus by the end of "Gladiator." 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. Gina Dimuro is a New York-based writer and translator. A bust of Commodus as a youth. Only a famous death will do. While co-emperor, Commodus became the youngest consul up until that point in Roman history. Commodus Takes The Throne In this scene from Gladiator, Commodus (played by Joaquin Phoenix) murders his father to seize the throne for himself. Cleander was in fact the person who had murdered Saoterus. However, even these favorites were not safe from his fury. Or, were the Romans protecting something even more valuable than silver? Commodus subsequently accompanied his father on a lengthy trip to the Eastern provinces, during which he visited Antioch. 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. His body was buried in the Mausoleum of Hadrian. In the arena, Commodus's opponents always submitted to the emperor; as a result he never lost. Commodus had an elder twin brother, Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus, who died in 165. wahrscheinlich aber erfand Commodus diese Geschichte selber, um seine Sonderrolle zu unterstreichen. 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. The second, the freeman Cleander, he allowed to be torn apart by a mob who were outraged at the freemans abuses. In 180 AD, Marcus Aurelius died, leaving Commodus as sole Emperor of Rome. 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. [10] Among his teachers, Onesicrates, Antistius Capella, Titus Aius Sanctus, and Pitholaus are mentioned.[10][11]. Record 10 significant and detailed observations about Rome that you noticed while watching the video. English translation) UCLA Press, Berkeley CA (1961), 1.15.1-9, Dio Cassius 73.20.3, Loeb edition translated E. Cary, Gibbon p. 106 "disgorged at once a hundred lions; a hundred darts". A small group of conspirators, including the emperors chamberlain and mistress, Marcia, decided to kill him. 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. And what could be more glorious than to challenge the Emperor himself in the great arena? One of the two praetorian prefects, Publius Tarrutenius Paternus, had actually been involved in the conspiracy but his involvement was not discovered until later on, and in the aftermath, he and his colleague, Sextus Tigidius Perennis, were able to arrange for the murder of Saoterus, the hated chamberlain. [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. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. During his solo reign, the Roman Empire enjoyed reduced military conflict compared with the reign of Marcus Aurelius. [34] The Romans found Commodus's gladiatorial combat to be scandalous and disgraceful. The Syrian-born gladiator, who rose to fame under the reign of Emperor Hadrian (117 to 138 A.D.), is best known for the length of his career, and for being awarded his freedom four times . Lucilla was exiled to Capri and later killed. It seems likely that he was raised in an atmosphere of Stoic asceticism, which he rejected entirely upon his accession to sole rule. This horrified the Roman people. Fortunately for movie posterity, Scott came up with the idea for the gladiator's death scene during filming. These tendencies now increased to megalomaniacal proportions. [27] Another event, as recorded by the historian Aelius Lampridius, took place at the Roman baths at Terme Taurine, where the emperor had an attendant thrown into an oven after he had found his bathwater to be lukewarm. The movie doesn't answer this, and we never got to see "Gladiator 2." It worked and the Nerva-Antonine dynasty which had ruled Rome for nearly a century had come to an end and the city soon descended into civil war. Ridley Scott's Gladiator (2000) is a Roman historical epic, considered to be one of Scott's directorial movie masterpieces. Its protagonist, Maximus, is entirely fictitious. 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 Libyan-born Septimius Severus has gone down in history as the first African Emperor of Rome . Early in 188, Cleander disposed of the current praetorian prefect, Atilius Aebutianus, and took over supreme command of the Praetorian Guard at the new rank of a pugione ("dagger-bearer"), with two praetorian prefects subordinate to him. [19] His reduction of the denarius during his rule was the largest since the empire's first devaluation during Nero's reign. 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 following year he became the youngest emperor and consul up to that point, at the age of 16. Upon his ascension, Commodus devalued the Roman currency. On November 27, 176, Aurelius promoted 15-year-old Commodus to the rank of Imperator, which some say is a role similar to commander. Papirius Dionysius was executed, too. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. But in reality, it was marked the end of the promise of Rome. 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. Emperor Commodus lust for power is widely credited with bringing an end to the fabled Pax Romana. The most famous scene in "Gladiator" is the one that launched a thousand memes (to use a phrase from a different Ancient European society). Roman Emperor Lucius Aurelius Commodus was a corrupt ruler who was not well-received by the Roman people during his reign. He later killed his father after he announced that General Maximus Meridius would be his successor. Marcus Aurelius was the first emperor since Vespasian to have a legitimate biological son, though he himself was the fifth in the line of the so-called Five Good Emperors, also known as the Adoptive Emperors, each of whom had adopted his successor. In 177 Lucius was made coruler and heir to his father, the emperor Marcus Aurelius (reigned 161180). During 191, the city of Rome was extensively damaged by a fire that raged for several days, during which many public buildings including the Temple of Pax, the Temple of Vesta, and parts of the imperial palace were destroyed. The gladiator who defied an emperor. Under Commodus, Rome had descended from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust. Much like Nero had supposedly fiddled while Rome burned, Commodus enjoyed himself as the city decayed around him. Joaquin Phoenix's character is bad news, but he doesn't quite have the same unhinged level of megalomania as his real-life counterpart. Commodus's assassination in 192, by a wrestler in the bath, marked the end of the NervaAntonine dynasty. Commodus ruled with chaos and left chaos in his wake. His father was Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius , and his mother was Faustina the Younger. Wife of M. Annius Verus: Giacosa (1977), p. 10. Maximus defeat of Commodus provides a dramatic conclusion to Gladiator, but the depiction of the malevolent emperors death is historically inaccurate. The slave who became a gladiator. Commoduss father was Marcus Aurelius, an emperor who presided over what has been regarded as one of ancient Romes golden ages. 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. Commodus never killed his gladiatorial adversaries, instead accepting their surrenders. Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. Lucilla was over ten years his senior and held the rank of Augusta as the widow of her first husband, Lucius Verus. As a result, Commodus appeared even more rarely in public, preferring to live on his estates. 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. On 15 October 184 at the Capitoline Games, a Cynic philosopher publicly denounced Perennis before Commodus. Commodus was a secutor, a type of gladiator who carried a gladius and a heavy shield. As Greek mythology goes, the universe was once a big soup of nothingness. One such notable event was the attempted extermination of the house of the Quinctilii. 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). In 182 A.D., Commodus sister Lucilla organized an attempt on her brothers life. Jack is a feature writer for Screen Rant. [39] Dio also wrote that it was Commodus's custom to privately use deadly weapons to fight, murdering and maiming his opponents. But he vomited the poisoned food up, foiling that plan. Political influence then passed to the emperors mistress and two advisers. 1. The film portrays a fictionalized account of historical events, and it illuminates aspects of the culture of ancient Rome. A grateful Senate proclaimed a new emperorthe city prefect, Publius Helvius Pertinaxbut the empire quickly slipped into civil war. He assassinated the Roman emperor Commodus in 192 AD. Salvius and Paternus were executed along with a number of other prominent consulars and senators. But now, the people want to know how the story ends. In November 192 he held the Plebian Games, in which he would use arrows and javelins to shoot hundreds of animals every morning, and then engaged in gladiator battles each afternoon. 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]. Narcissus (born 2nd century A.D.) was a Roman athlete,[1][2] likely a wrestler,[3] from the 2nd century AD. The character is, however, portrayed fictionally in Gladiator, and. 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. When Commodus ordered for the death of Maximus and his family, the Romans could not reject that request. Available from: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/128108/Commodus, Lucius Aurelius Commodus Roman-Empire. 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. Didius Julianus, the future emperor and a relative of Salvius Julianus, was dismissed from the governorship of Germania Inferior. But now, the people want to know how the story ends. Now at the zenith of his power, Cleander continued to sell public offices as his private business. He also believed himself to be a reincarnation of Hercules and enjoyed fighting in an arena as a gladiator. The Untersberg is a great mountain straddling the Austro-German border opposite Salzburg. After a failed assassination attempt in 182, however, his rule became erratic and brutal, and he imagined himself to be Hercules. Commodus's death marked the end of the NervaAntonine dynasty. Classic Villain: Commodus, representing Ambition and Envy. 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. @Roberto Peron, No, Marcus Aurelius was a philosopher (Stoic) the last of the 5 "Good Emperors" and maintained the "Pax Romana). The Horsemen of Oyo were legendary warriors who served the Oyo Empire of West Africa. Commodus brought an end to his father's campaign against the Germans. Commodus would also slay exotic animals, such as lions, ostriches, hippos, elephants, and giraffes. Thegoal of Ancient Origins is to highlight recent archaeological discoveries, peer-reviewed academic research and evidence, as well as offering alternative viewpoints and explanations of science, archaeology, mythology, religion and history around the globe. But now, the people want to know how the story ends. 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). Disappointment aside, Aurelius continued to promote Commodus through the ranks. 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. 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. The legions were renamed Commodianae, the fleet which imported grain from Africa was termed Alexandria Commodiana Togata, the Senate was entitled the Commodian Fortunate Senate, his palace and the Roman people themselves were all given the name Commodianus, and the day on which these reforms were decreed was to be called Dies Commodianus. "I won't be in here forever!" rasped Commodus. Intro: 0:00. Once that's done, he only has one more goal: reunite with his family in the afterlife. Commodus : The general who became a slave. 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