. The Horsemen of Oyo were legendary warriors who served the Oyo Empire of West Africa. His family is murdered, and he becomes a slave, and then sold off to become a gladiator. Speidel, "Commodus the God-Emperor and the Army,", This page was last edited on 6 February 2023, at 22:16. @Roberto Peron, No, Marcus Aurelius was a philosopher (Stoic) the last of the 5 "Good Emperors" and maintained the "Pax Romana). 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. In 180 AD, Marcus Aurelius died, leaving Commodus as sole Emperor of Rome. Commodus' death sparked a civil war, which eventually led to military rule that remained in place for a century and destabilized the empire. The Libyan-born Septimius Severus has gone down in history as the first African Emperor of Rome . The Eastern Tour - Chapter II: 4:01. Are the Misty Peaks of the Azores Remnants of the Legendary Atlantis? Striking story! Commoduss father was Marcus Aurelius, an emperor who presided over what has been regarded as one of ancient Romes golden ages. Commodus did initially engage in some leadership-oriented activities, although not always in the favor of the Roman people. Ulpius Marcellus was replaced as governor of Britain by Pertinax; brought to Rome and tried for treason, Marcellus narrowly escaped death. [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. But frankly, the rest of "Gladiator" also deserves a standing ovation from an arena full of bloodthirsty Roman citizens (and modern audiences), especially the ending. Pompeianus retired from public life. Maximus is a powerful Roman general, loved by the people and the aging Emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Alternate titles: Caesar Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus Augustus, Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus. Gibbon p. 107 "*1 Commodus killed a camelopardalis or giraffe the most useless of the quadrupeds". Statues of Commodus were demolished. ( Louisonze/CC BY-SA 3.0 ). 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. ", Roman coins featuring Commodus. The slave who became a gladiator. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. Commodus was a greater curse to the Romans than any pestilence or any crime and the city had descended into bankruptcy and chaos. 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. Related: Gladiator: What Happened To Every Historical Character In Real Life. One of the things that the film followed fairly accurately was the . [28][29], His original name was Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus. 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. On 12 October 166, Commodus was made Caesar together with his younger brother, Marcus Annius Verus. Muller Edition 1.15.7, Echols, Edward C. "Herodian of Antioch's History of the Roman Empire." 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). In the same year, Pertinax unmasked a conspiracy by two enemies of Cleander Antistius Burrus (one of Commodus's brothers-in-law) and Arrius Antoninus. Once that's done, he only has one more goal: reunite with his family in the afterlife. [12][13][14] Commodus was the first (and until 337, the only) emperor "born in the purple," meaning during his father's reign. 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. The film stars Russell Crowe as General Maximus Decimus Meridius, who is forced into the life of a gladiator after his family is murdered by the Emperor's son, Commodus. He also had four surviving sisters, all of them with husbands who were potential rivals. Salvius and Paternus were executed along with a number of other prominent consulars and senators. Commodus, The Unhinged Roman Emperor Who Went Mad With Power, Commodus exposes Lucillas plot in this scene from. Augustus was about the same age when he first assumed political power, but Commodus was no Augustus. Maximus defeat of Commodus provides a dramatic conclusion to Gladiator, but the depiction of the malevolent emperors death is historically inaccurate. 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. Strange that they didn't kill him earlier. As Edward Gibbon noted in his famous Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, in the intervening years between the death of Domitian and the reign of Commodus, the vast extent of the Roman empire was governed by absolute power, under the guidance of virtue and wisdom. The Five Good Emperors, ruled efficiently and under them the Roman people enjoyed a rational freedom.. Gladiator is a film invested in the concept of retribution. 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 reign is commonly regarded as the beginning of the Roman Empires decline, and he is a natural choice for the primary antagonist of Gladiator. 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 . 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 was spoilt and decadent and his decadence led to the decline of the empire. 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. Lucilla was over ten years his senior and held the rank of Augusta as the widow of her first husband, Lucius Verus. The slave who became a gladiator. The following year he became the youngest emperor and consul up to that point, at the age of 16. He took the throne as regent, but was killed by Maximus in the Colosseum. 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. 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. Ultimately, it is believed that Commodus outlandish behavior led to his eventual assassination. Classic Villain: Commodus, representing Ambition and Envy. 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. [33] Cassius Dio and the writers of the Augustan History say that Commodus was a skilled archer, who could shoot the heads off ostriches in full gallop, and kill a panther as it attacked a victim in the arena. Herodian's Roman History F.L. View GLADIATOR - CHW3M.docx from HIS CHW3M at Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts. 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. Ridley Scott's Gladiator (2000) is a Roman historical epic, considered to be one of Scott's directorial movie masterpieces. Narration by: Alexander Dobby. 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]. He assassinated the Roman emperor Commodus in 192 AD. Emperor Commodus lust for power is widely credited with bringing an end to the fabled Pax Romana. His brutal misrule precipitated civil strife that ended 84 years of stability and prosperity within the empire. Commodus : The general who became a slave. Wikimedia CommonsAn illustration of the murder of Commmodus. Commodus would enter the arena in the garb of Mercury and casting aside all his other garments, would begin his exhibition wearing only a tunic and unshod.. Bust of Commodus as Hercules, hence the lion skin and the club. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. He showed no interest in government or military matters and was consumed by self-indulgence. 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 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. 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". schizoform/ CC BY 2.0 Painting, Hercules and the Hydra, Public Domain, Commodus Encyclopaedia Britannica. The gladiator who defied an emperor. A bust of Roman Emperor Commodus, styled as if he were a reincarnation of Hercules, which is precisely what he believed himself to be. In hindsight, he should have kept the tradition of adopting his successor, which would have resulted in an appointment based on merit. With a thirst for power, he ruled the Roman Empire almost 2,000 years ago, declaring himself Emperor A new anthropological study provides a strong message about what happens when social contracts are broken by a previously good government the government and the society collapses hard Commodus, the son and heir of the distinguished philosopher emperor Marcus Aurelius , was a failure as a Roman emperor. Jack is a feature writer for Screen Rant. These tendencies now increased to megalomaniacal proportions. Disappointment aside, Aurelius continued to promote Commodus through the ranks. He also believed himself to be a reincarnation of Hercules and enjoyed fighting in an arena as a gladiator. Lucilla was exiled to Capri and later killed. The gladiator who defied an emperor. 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. By 192 A.D., the Roman people had had enough. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. Maximus is a powerful Roman general, loved by the people and the aging Emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Striking story! Heinz, W. (1986). Commodus, in full Caesar Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus Augustus, original name (until 180 ce) Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus, (born August 31, 161 ce, Lanuvium, Latium [now Lanuvio, Italy]died December 31, 192), Roman emperor from 177 to 192 (sole emperor after 180). 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. Then, discover the most fascinating facts from the entirety of ancient history. 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. However, in private practice fights, Commodus would slay his opponents. 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. Mudlarker Finds Bronze Age Shoe on a UK Riverbank Dated 2,800 Years Old! The Chilling Mystery of the Octavius Ghost Ship, What is a Wendigo? 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. Commodus was a secutor, a type of gladiator who carried a gladius and a heavy shield. But he vomited the poisoned food up, foiling that plan. It was reputed in local legend to be the seat of the god Wotan and to be haunted. The character is, however, portrayed fictionally in Gladiator, and. Commodus was the son of marcus Marcus Aurelius and later Roman Emperor. [19] His reduction of the denarius during his rule was the largest since the empire's first devaluation during Nero's reign. 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. Husband of Salonia Matidia: Levick (2014), p. 161. [40][41] For each appearance in the arena, he charged the city of Rome a million sesterces, straining the Roman economy. His tale was not believed and he was immediately put to death. Aurelius physician, Galen, was tasked with looking after Commodus to ensure that he stayed healthy and well. 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. The following year, Commodus became Aurelius co-emperor, and they reigned together from then until Aurelius death in 180. 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. so Romans had no choice but to obey Commodus. However, he always spared their lives. He also reduced the silver purity from 79percent to 76percent the silver weight dropping from 2.57grams to 2.34grams. 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