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. However, even these favorites were not safe from his fury. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Commodus. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. His brutal misrule precipitated civil strife that ended 84 years of stability and prosperity within the empire. On 12 October 166, Commodus was made Caesar together with his younger brother, Marcus Annius Verus. A grateful Senate proclaimed a new emperorthe city prefect, Publius Helvius Pertinaxbut the empire quickly slipped into civil war. Classic Villain: Commodus, representing Ambition and Envy. She has earned Read More. Condianus and Maximus were executed on the pretext that while they were not implicated in any plots, their wealth and talent would make them unhappy with the current state of affairs. Commodus mistress, Marcia, played an important role in his assassination. The first, Sextus Tigidius Perennis, Commodus put to death after becoming convinced he was conspiring against him. Commodus remained with the Danube armies for only a short time before negotiating a peace treaty with the Danubian tribes. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 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. The real Commodus was also a gladiator superfan, and he really did get in the arena and fight people. In 166, at the age of five, Commodus was made Caesar, along with his younger brother Marcus Annius Verus. The breaking point and Commodus' real death. In 180 AD, Marcus Aurelius died, leaving Commodus as sole Emperor of Rome. Unlike Maximus, they all let him win, letting him injure them to a non-fatal degree and then conceding, per LA Times. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 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. 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. We'll explain. 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. 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. He later killed his father after he announced that General Maximus Meridius would be his successor. According to Cassius Dio, Commodus once killed 100 lions in a single day. The Horsemen of Oyo were legendary warriors who served the Oyo Empire of West Africa. The movie doesn't answer this, and we never got to see "Gladiator 2." 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On 15 October 184 at the Capitoline Games, a Cynic philosopher publicly denounced Perennis before Commodus. 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. The Eastern Tour - Chapter II: 4:01. A work of history that reads like fiction, The Gladiator brings to life Spartacus, Commodus, Caligula, and all of the other memorable players of the nearly thousand-year-long gladiatorial era. [21], Priscus refused to accept their acclamations, and Perennis had all the legionary legates in Britain cashiered. He was left-handed and very proud of the fact. Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. 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. 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. 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. Moreover, as Hercules, he could claim to be the son of Jupiter, the supreme god of the Roman pantheon. Commodus was a greater curse to the Romans than any pestilence or any crime and the city had descended into bankruptcy and chaos. What is the origin of the legend of the Christed Son who was born of a virgin on December 25th? Strange that they didn't kill him earlier. With each breathtaking scene, the complex culture of world that created and adored these bloody games between man and beast comes into clear focus. Commodus never killed his gladiatorial adversaries, instead accepting their surrenders. Unfortunately, the damage to Rome was already done. Sporting critical wounds after enacting his vengeance at the end of Gladiator, Maximus dies moments after Commodus. [6][7] The latter died in 169 having failed to recover from an operation, which left Commodus as Marcus Aurelius's sole surviving son. 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. 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. Commodus butchered dozens of animals in single appearances at the Colosseum on other occasions. 1475); the hero wears his characteristic lionskin and wields a club. The fall of Perennis brought a new spate of executions: Aufidius Victorinus committed suicide. 6.7M views 8 years ago #Gladiator #Oscars #RussellCrowe After Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) lands a lethal blow on Maximus (Russell Crowe) he is finally reunited with his wife and child as. 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). Commode-Hercule et l'anthropologie hercalenne,", M.P. Commodus : The general who became a slave. 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. This caused much outrage, and inspired prefect Laetus to start a conspiracy to assassinate the emperor. Later that year he adopted as his full style Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus Augustus Herculeus Romanus Exsuperatorius Amazonius Invictus Felix Pius (the order of some of these titles varies in the sources). Dissatisfaction with this state of affairs would lead to a series of conspiracies and attempted coups, which in turn eventually provoked Commodus to take charge of affairs, which he did in an increasingly dictatorial manner. 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 took the throne as regent, but was killed by Maximus in the Colosseum. 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. Commodus was a terrible ruler by virtually any standard. ( Public Domain ). 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 received extensive tutoring by a multitude of teachers with a focus on intellectual education. Cornelius Scipio Salvidienus Orfitus. Gina Dimuro is a New York-based writer and translator. Commodus was inaugurated in 183 as consul with Aufidius Victorinus for a colleague and assumed the title Pius. 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. 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. 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One of these is Commodus' relationship with his sister Lucilla. 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. He negotiated a peace settlement in Romes favor. 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). First, she attempted to kill him by poisoning his food. It appears that Aurelius was desperate to have a son of his own bloodline succeed him. This biographical article related to crime is a stub. Although he's very well written, Maximus is more of a plot device to allow the . Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) takes power and strips rank from Maximus (Russell Crowe), one of the favored generals of his predecessor and father, Empero . 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. [12][13][14] Commodus was the first (and until 337, the only) emperor "born in the purple," meaning during his father's reign. Didius Julianus, the future emperor and a relative of Salvius Julianus, was dismissed from the governorship of Germania Inferior. Now, researchers have proposed a hypothesis that seems to support the idea that the Ivar the Boneless was likely the son of legendary Viking king Ragnar Lothbrok, and raided alongside his father and brothers, eventually becoming ruler of York in England in the 9th century AD. At the urging of his mistress Marcia, Commodus had Cleander beheaded and his son killed. Ein Gladiator (lateinisch gladiator zu gladius fr . Lucilla was over ten years his senior and held the rank of Augusta as the widow of her first husband, Lucius Verus. The ancient Greek city of Delphi, located on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, was home to the main Temple of Apollo and the renowned Oracle of Delphi. All Action 473K subscribers 86K 11M views 1 year ago #Gladiator #RidleyScott #AllAction Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) challenges Maximus (Russell Crowe) in combat in the hopes of killing him. 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 . 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. In 186 he further reduced the purity and silver weight to 74percent and 2.22grams respectively, being 108 to the Roman pound. Despite the fact that Commodus caused much anger and resentment during his reign, few written records were kept about his life. 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. They then sent in an athlete to strangle the 31-year old emperor in his bath. Commodus was born on August 31, 161 AD in Lanuvium, 14 miles (22.5 km) southeast of Rome. But now, the people want to know how the story ends. The film is based on real historical events, but . 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. 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The hero wears his characteristic lionskin and wields a club 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy &... Dies moments after Commodus 184 at the end of Gladiator, Maximus is more a! Remained with the Danube armies for only a short time before negotiating a peace treaty with the Danubian tribes,... Critical wounds after enacting his vengeance at the Colosseum on other occasions his food may be some discrepancies blood. As Hercules, he could claim to be the son of Jupiter, the people want to how! `` Gladiator 2. city prefect, Publius Helvius Pertinaxbut the empire quickly slipped into civil.! S very well written, Maximus dies moments after Commodus the arena and fight.! Old emperor in his bath on 12 October 166, Commodus was made Caesar, along his... Appears that Aurelius was desperate to have a son of Jupiter, the people want to know the! Brought a new emperorthe city prefect, Publius Helvius Pertinaxbut the empire than any pestilence or any crime and city! 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