Upon his ascension, Commodus devalued the Roman currency. He was left-handed and very proud of the fact. Then, discover the most fascinating facts from the entirety of ancient history. 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. Cleander was in fact the person who had murdered Saoterus. The plot failed, and Commodus retaliated by executing a number of leading senators. Be warned, though:If you thought Maximus's death was sad, you really won't like this. 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. Thrown into the spotlight as Rome . 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. Heinz, W. (1986). [10] Among his teachers, Onesicrates, Antistius Capella, Titus Aius Sanctus, and Pitholaus are mentioned.[10][11]. As a second attempt, the conspirators had Commodus wrestling partner, ironically named Narcissus, strangle Commodus in his bath. Die ''Terme Taurine'' von Civitavecchia ein rmisches Heilbad. Gladiator is a film invested in the concept of retribution. Contrary to the plot of Gladiator where Emperor Commodus is portrayed as having killed Marcus Aurelius the two ruled together, from 177 until the latters death in 180. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. 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]. Dying and going to Elysium is a more fitting reward for him than taking control of Rome. 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]. [16] On 1 January 177, Commodus became consul for the first time, which made him, aged 15, the youngest consul up to that time (the minimum age for the consulship was around 30). Instead, he devoted himself to his harem of 300 females and a like number of males, played gladiator at Rome's. Disappointment aside, Aurelius continued to promote Commodus through the ranks. Commodus : The general who became a slave. Commodus butchered dozens of animals in single appearances at the Colosseum on other occasions. In December, he announced his intention to inaugurate the year 193 as both consul and gladiator on 1 January. 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. Aurelius physician, Galen, was tasked with looking after Commodus to ensure that he stayed healthy and well. His body was buried in the Mausoleum of Hadrian. Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus was born on 31 August AD161 in Lanuvium, near Rome. On 12 October 166, Commodus was made Caesar together with his younger brother, Marcus Annius Verus. A bust of Commodus as a youth. Her motive is alleged to have been the envy of the Empress Crispina. Maximus : You would fight me? During the preparations for the campaign against Cassius, Commodus assumed his toga virilis on the Danubian front on 7 July 175, thus formally entering adulthood. 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. Maximus : You would fight me? 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. 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. Commodus, who is portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, was indeed the son of Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) and an emperor of Rome. 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. Unfortunately, the damage to Rome was already done. Faustina was the daughter of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius and was Aurelius first cousin. 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 death, however, was the result of an assassination plot in 192, culminating with Narcissus killing him in the bath. Upon his fathers death in 180, Commodus became the sole emperor. 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. As promised in another well-known speech, Maximus does indeed have his revenge on father-/emperor-/wife-/child-killer Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Cleander fled to Commodus, who was at Laurentum in the house of the Quinctilii, for protection, but the mob followed him calling for his head. Bestowing the imperial title of Caesar upon Commodus at such a young age further shows Aurelius desperation for Commodus to be viewed and treated as royalty. In addition to Galens medical attention and treatment, Commodus was also highly educated, with little focus on military training. Although he's very well written, Maximus is more of a plot device to allow the . 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. A former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery. 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). Unlike Maximus, they all let him win, letting him injure them to a non-fatal degree and then conceding, per LA Times. 1475); the hero wears his characteristic lionskin and wields a club. 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? A former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery. Reigning from 180 to 192 A.D., Commodus all but ignored his official duties. Commodus never killed his gladiatorial adversaries, instead accepting their surrenders. The slave who became a gladiator. But now, the people want to know how the story ends. The 2000 film, directed by Ridley Scott, is steeped in the culture of ancient Rome. The following year, Commodus became Aurelius co-emperor, and they reigned together from then until Aurelius death in 180. Was this German silver mine really defended by two Roman forts and a line of "spike defenses? The second, the freeman Cleander, he allowed to be torn apart by a mob who were outraged at the freemans abuses. Gibbon p. 107 "*1 Commodus killed a camelopardalis or giraffe the most useless of the quadrupeds". @Roberto Peron, No, Marcus Aurelius was a philosopher (Stoic) the last of the 5 "Good Emperors" and maintained the "Pax Romana). He was co-emperor with his father Marcus Aurelius from 177 until his father's death in 180. This horrified the Roman people. This biographical article related to crime is a stub. 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. [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. 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. Commodus is known to have been at Carnuntum, the headquarters of Marcus Aurelius during the Marcomannic Wars, in 172. Nevertheless, there is much agreement that Commodus actions as emperor signaled the start of the decline of the Roman Empire. Striking story! He later killed his father after he announced that General Maximus Meridius would be his successor. 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. 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 . The gladiator who defied an emperor. During his solo reign, the Roman Empire enjoyed reduced military conflict compared with the reign of Marcus Aurelius. Non-military citizens who had lost their feet due to injury or illness would be tied together for Commodus to club to death. Despite the fact that Commodus caused much anger and resentment during his reign, few written records were kept about his life. 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. The ending of "Gladiator" makes it seem like Commodus' death means a new beginning for Rome. AtAncient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. The benevolent emperor Claudius, who improved Rome with public works, was followed by his stepson Nero, who some say burned Rome to the ground. Cornelius Scipio Salvidienus Orfitus. 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. Commodus Takes The Throne In this scene from Gladiator, Commodus (played by Joaquin Phoenix) murders his father to seize the throne for himself. His family is murdered, and he becomes a slave, and then sold off to become a gladiator. Lucilla was over ten years his senior and held the rank of Augusta as the widow of her first husband, Lucius Verus. 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. Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) takes power and strips rank from Maximus (Russell Crowe), one of the favored generals of his predecessor and father, Empero It was reputed in local legend to be the seat of the god Wotan and to be haunted. 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]. 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. An illustration of the murder of Commmodus. The megalomania of Commodus was not limited to the Colosseum. 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. She has earned Read More. The powerful ending of "Gladiator" makes it one of those movies guaranteed to make anyone cry, but it's also oddly satisfying. The following year he became the youngest emperor and consul up to that point, at the age of 16. He engaged in one-on-one combat with many other gladiators, each of whom was obliged to lose to the emperor. As Greek mythology goes, the universe was once a big soup of nothingness. Narration by: Alexander Dobby. Composite Character: Maximus, compared to real life. 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. 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]. The poison failed, so Narcissus entered Commodus's bedchamber. Lucilla was exiled to Capri and later killed. 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. He negotiated a peace settlement in Romes favor. The gladiator who defied an emperor. Now at the zenith of his power, Cleander continued to sell public offices as his private business. From 180 to his death in 192, Commodus was the only emperor.. His accession as emperor was the first time a son had succeeded his father since Titus succeeded Vespasian in 79. He was the brother of Princess Lucilla, and uncle of Lucius. The Libyan-born Septimius Severus has gone down in history as the first African Emperor of Rome . This caused much outrage, and inspired prefect Laetus to start a conspiracy to assassinate the emperor. The film is based on real historical events, but . Only a famous death will do. In 166, at the age of five, Commodus was made Caesar, along with his younger brother Marcus Annius Verus. His twin brother, Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antonius, died at age four. Dio Cassius 73.1.2, Loeb edition translated E. Cary, Dio Cassius 73.5.3, Loeb edition translated E. Cary. Maximus is a powerful Roman general, loved by the people and the aging Emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Emperor Commodus lust for power is widely credited with bringing an end to the fabled Pax Romana. Corrections? His father was the philosopher-king, Marcus Aurelius, who Commodus's assassination in 192, by a wrestler in the bath, marked the end of the NervaAntonine dynasty. [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 was also known for fighting exotic animals in the arena, often to the horror and disgust of the Roman populace. 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. A small group of conspirators, including the emperors chamberlain and mistress, Marcia, decided to kill him. [39] Dio also wrote that it was Commodus's custom to privately use deadly weapons to fight, murdering and maiming his opponents. 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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. Cookies help us deliver our Services. According to Dio Cassius, Perennis, though ruthless and ambitious, was not personally corrupt and generally administered the state well.[21]. Aurelius himself, and the four emperors that had preceded him, had all been adopted. Roman artwork, 191 - 192 AD. [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. Cassius, however, was killed by one of his centurions before the campaign against him could begin. The emperor Titus Flavian completed the Colosseum and endeared himself to the public with his generosity only to have his good works undone by his brother Domitian, who was assassinated by his own court. Other victims at this time were the praetorian prefect Julius Julianus, Commodus's cousin Annia Fundania Faustina, and his brother-in-law Mamertinus. 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." 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. ", Roman coins featuring Commodus. Cassius Dio recorded one incident where, after becoming tired out, Commodus ordered a cup of chilled wine to him and drank it at one gulp. In an amusing anecdote, Dio continued, At this both the populace and we senators all immediately shouted out the words so familiar at drinking-bouts, Long life to you!'. 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. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. On 15 October 184 at the Capitoline Games, a Cynic philosopher publicly denounced Perennis before Commodus. The Chilling Mystery of the Octavius Ghost Ship, What is a Wendigo? Commodus subsequently accompanied his father on a lengthy trip to the Eastern provinces, during which he visited Antioch. It's ironic that we watched the film Gladiator the other night. Commodus was inaugurated in 183 as consul with Aufidius Victorinus for a colleague and assumed the title Pius. On November 27, 176, Aurelius promoted 15-year-old Commodus to the rank of Imperator, which some say is a role similar to commander. Gladiator is clearly influenced by aspects of history, but its specific storyline is definitively imaginative. Commodus mistress, Marcia, played an important role in his assassination. And what could be more glorious than to challenge the Emperor himself in the great arena? Joaquin Phoenix's character is bad news, but he doesn't quite have the same unhinged level of megalomania as his real-life counterpart. Maximus is a powerful Roman general, loved by the people and the aging Emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Commodus was born on August 31, 161 AD in Lanuvium, 14 miles (22.5 km) southeast of Rome. Maximus is given a very clear ending, but what about the rest of Rome? It's fair to say the audience is pretty attached to Maximus by the end of "Gladiator." And what could be more glorious than to challenge the Emperor himself in the great arena? They then returned to Rome in the autumn of 176. The conclusion of Gladiator sees Commodus killed by Maximus in the gladiators final fight, but what are the true details of the emperors death? Sister of Trajan's father: Giacosa (1977), p.7. Pompeianus retired from public life. His tumultuous reign as emperor was the starting point for a period of Roman history that is viewed as having been filled with chaos and decline. 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. In 186 he further reduced the purity and silver weight to 74percent and 2.22grams respectively, being 108 to the Roman pound. Unrest around the empire increased, with large numbers of army deserters causing trouble in Gaul and Germany. Narcissus (born 2nd century A.D.) was a Roman athlete,[1][2] likely a wrestler,[3] from the 2nd century AD. [19] His reduction of the denarius during his rule was the largest since the empire's first devaluation during Nero's reign. Didius Julianus, the future emperor and a relative of Salvius Julianus, was dismissed from the governorship of Germania Inferior. 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. He assassinated the Roman emperor Commodus in 192 AD. [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]. In fact, the rule of Commodus might have gone down as quite unremarkable in the history of Rome were it not for one unfortunate incident. She believes that only by understanding where we come from, can we truly understand our life path and purpose. Commodus was spoilt and decadent and his decadence led to the decline of the empire. Only a famous death will do. 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. We'll explain. When Commodus ordered for the death of Maximus and his family, the Romans could not reject that request. A grateful Senate proclaimed a new emperorthe city prefect, Publius Helvius Pertinaxbut the empire quickly slipped into civil war. The historian Herodian, a contemporary, described Commodus as an extremely handsome man. 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. 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Commodus was made coruler when he was just 16 years old, and he was emperor before he turned 19. Speidel, "Commodus the God-Emperor and the Army,", This page was last edited on 6 February 2023, at 22:16. [6][7] The latter died in 169 having failed to recover from an operation, which left Commodus as Marcus Aurelius's sole surviving son. Ancient Chinese Earthquake Detector Invented 2,000 Years Ago Really Worked! 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. 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. However, he always spared their lives. According to Cassius Dio, Commodus once killed 100 lions in a single day. 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 somewhat historically accurate in its final scenes, as Commodus did perform as a gladiator. In hindsight, he should have kept the tradition of adopting his successor, which would have resulted in an appointment based on merit. [7], He was looked after by his father's physician, Galen,[8][9] who treated many of Commodus's common illnesses. He then returned to Rome and celebrated a triumph for the conclusion of the wars on 22 October 180. Only a famous death will do. Except where otherwise noted, the notes below indicate that an individual's parentage is as shown in the above family tree. But now, the people want to know how the story ends. Indeed, director Ridley Scott's vision of Maximus slowly walking toward his family through the fields of their farm as he's dying is one of the most moving moments in movie history. The Carnac stones are an exceptionally dense collection of megalithic sites around the French village of Carnac, in Brittany, consisting of more than 3,000 prehistoric standing stones and erected by the pre-Celtic people of Brittany. 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. Commodus : The general who became a slave. After this look at Commodus, check out these interesting facts about Ancient Rome. Gina Dimuro is a New York-based writer and translator. Hercules and the Hydra (ca. After repeated attempts on Commodus's life, Roman citizens were often killed for making him angry. Narcissus died by execution during the series of civil wars after Commodus's death. Herodian's Roman History F.L. It was three years later that Verus died, leaving Commodus as the only surviving son. Unlike Commodus, Maximus isn't driven by a desire for power but by loyalty to "the true emperor" whom Commodus murdered and to his family. In the arena, Commodus's opponents always submitted to the emperor; as a result he never lost. 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. [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. 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. He is viewed as having been an inept emperor, his megalomaniac tendencies leading to odd behaviors which frustrated and upset the Roman people. From all angles, Commodus was groomed to succeed on the throne. 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. On 20 January 175, Commodus entered the College of Pontiffs, the starting point of a career in public life. 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. It appears that Aurelius was desperate to have a son of his own bloodline succeed him. His victories were often welcomed by his bested opponents, as bearing scars dealt by the hand of an emperor was considered a mark of fortitude. Record 10 significant and detailed observations about Rome that you noticed while watching the video. Husband of Ulpia Marciana: Levick (2014), p. 161. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. 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. Then conceding, per LA Times notes below indicate that an individual parentage! Weight to 74percent and 2.22grams respectively, being 108 to the Eastern provinces, during which visited... Citizens who had lost their feet due to injury or illness would be his successor Marcomannic wars, 172. 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