Ultimately, it is believed that Commodus outlandish behavior led to his eventual assassination. [7], He was looked after by his father's physician, Galen,[8][9] who treated many of Commodus's common illnesses. On 12 October 166, Commodus was made Caesar together with his younger brother, Marcus Annius Verus. It's ironic that we watched the film Gladiator the other night. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. The Death of Commodus, from a history book published in 1900. He took the throne as regent, but was killed by Maximus in the Colosseum. Although he's very well written, Maximus is more of a plot device to allow the . 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. Commodus orders 150 days of gladiatorial combat, ostensibly to commemorate his late father, while in reality attempting to distract the populace from the Senate's corruption and the rampant plague epidemics. 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). "Commodus' progeny will rule Rome!" "Back!" yelled the Praetorian guard. [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. The most famous scene in "Gladiator" is the one that launched a thousand memes (to use a phrase from a different Ancient European society). 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. 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. Commodus: The general who became a slave. 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. 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. Commodus was also known for fighting exotic animals in the arena, often to the horror and disgust of the Roman populace. 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. 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. As a result, Commodus appeared even more rarely in public, preferring to live on his estates. Non-military citizens who had lost their feet due to injury or illness would be tied together for Commodus to club to death. Commodus's assassination in 192, by a wrestler in the bath, marked the end of the NervaAntonine dynasty. Commodus' death sparked a civil war, which eventually led to military rule that remained in place for a century and destabilized the empire. Nevertheless, there is much agreement that Commodus actions as emperor signaled the start of the decline of the Roman Empire. After this look at Commodus, check out these interesting facts about Ancient Rome. 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. "De Imperatoribus Romanis: An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Rulers and Their Families", Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, "Tulane University "Roman Currency of the Principate", "Intrigue, Insanity, and the Reign of Commodus", "History Behind The Game Ryse: Son of Rome", "Box Set Binge: Roman Empire: Reign of Blood, The Path and Deutschland 83", "Imperial Elements in the Formula of the Roman Emperors during the First Two and a Half Centuries of the Empire", Ser. Commodus also had a passion for gladiatorial combat, which he took so far as to take to the arena himself, dressed as a secutor. The following year he became the youngest emperor and consul up to that point, at the age of 16. His tale was not believed and he was immediately put to death. Wife of M. Annius Libo: Levick (2014), p. 163. This ancient Roman biographical article is a stub. His death, however, was the result of an assassination plot in 192, culminating with Narcissus killing him in the bath. Ulpius Marcellus was replaced as governor of Britain by Pertinax; brought to Rome and tried for treason, Marcellus narrowly escaped death. [34] The Romans found Commodus's gladiatorial combat to be scandalous and disgraceful. 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. 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). By December of that year, he declared that he would inaugurate the New Year on January 1, 193 as a gladiator in the arena. 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. 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. Dio Cassius 73.1.2, Loeb edition translated E. Cary, Dio Cassius 73.5.3, Loeb edition translated E. Cary. 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. 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 mistress, Marcia, played an important role in his assassination. But now, the people want to know how the story ends. Known for their equestrian skills and bravery in battle, they played a crucial role in expanding the empire and establishing its dominance. Commodus, the son of the famous Emperor Marcus Aurelius, lived an interesting life, combining 15 years of rule alongside his father with 16 years of chaos. It seems likely that he was raised in an atmosphere of Stoic asceticism, which he rejected entirely upon his accession to sole rule. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. [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. Moreover, as Hercules, he could claim to be the son of Jupiter, the supreme god of the Roman pantheon. He is based in the UK and studied English at Kings College London. 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. In 180 AD, Marcus Aurelius died, leaving Commodus as sole Emperor of Rome. Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. Unfortunately, the damage to Rome was already done. 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. We will never see the like of the Roman Empire ever again. He also believed himself to be a reincarnation of Hercules and enjoyed fighting in an arena as a gladiator. 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.. [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). One such notable event was the attempted extermination of the house of the Quinctilii. According to Dio Cassius, Perennis, though ruthless and ambitious, was not personally corrupt and generally administered the state well.[21]. Man in Peru Caught Out Drinking With an 800-year-old Mummy! 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' famous gesture, which he gives when deciding the fate of defeated gladiators At the urging of his mistress Marcia, Commodus had Cleander beheaded and his son killed. To help answer that question, here are five of the key elements of the story and their historical precedents. Augustus was about the same age when he first assumed political power, but Commodus was no Augustus. It was reputed in local legend to be the seat of the god Wotan and to be haunted. Roman artwork, 191 - 192 AD. [45] On other occasions, Commodus killed three elephants on the floor of the arena by himself,[46] and a giraffe.[47]. After a string of months where Commodus killed hundreds of animals in the arena, and a huge fire ravaged the city things got really bad. Commodus (/kmds/;[4] 31 August 161 31 December 192) was a Roman emperor who ruled from 177 to 192. He was the brother of Princess Lucilla, and uncle of Lucius. The assassination attempt marked a turning point in Commodus reign, for once [he had] tasted human blood, he became incapable of pity or remorse. He began executing people without regard for rank, wealth, or sex. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Narcissus died by execution during the series of civil wars after Commodus's 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. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Commodus. Despite his notoriety, and considering the importance of his reign, Commodus's years in power are not well chronicled. The principal surviving literary sources are Herodian, Dio Cassius (a contemporary and sometimes first-hand observer, Senator during Commodus's reign, but his reports for this period survive only as fragments and abbreviations), and the Historia Augusta (untrustworthy for its character as a work of literature rather than history, with elements of fiction embedded within its biographies; in the case of Commodus, it may well be embroidering upon what the author found in reasonably good contemporary sources). One of these is Commodus' relationship with his sister Lucilla. By 192 A.D., the Roman people had had enough. 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Als besonders skandals empfand man die Beziehung zwischen Eppia, einer Frau aus reicher Familie, die Senatorengattin war, und dem Gladiator Sergiolus. The first attempt used poisoned meat, but Commodus vomited it up. Ancient Chinese Earthquake Detector Invented 2,000 Years Ago Really Worked! The poison failed, so Narcissus entered Commodus's bedchamber. Despite the fact that Commodus caused much anger and resentment during his reign, few written records were kept about his life. [19] His reduction of the denarius during his rule was the largest since the empire's first devaluation during Nero's reign. 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. "Exsuperatorius" (the supreme) was a title given to Jupiter, and "Amazonius" identified him again with Hercules. After those attempts on his life, Commodus spent much of his time outside Rome, mostly on the family estates at Lanuvium. 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. The Chilling Mystery of the Octavius Ghost Ship, What is a Wendigo? Commodus is commonly regarded as being an inadequate and megalomaniacal emperor, but Gladiators distortion of history portrays him as exclusively and resolutely evil. [28][29], His original name was Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus. 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. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Gibbon p. 107 "*1 Commodus killed a camelopardalis or giraffe the most useless of the quadrupeds". 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. 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. He is viewed as having been an inept emperor, his megalomaniac tendencies leading to odd behaviors which frustrated and upset the Roman people. Muller Edition 1.15.7, Echols, Edward C. "Herodian of Antioch's History of the Roman Empire." Thereafter his rule became increasingly arbitrary and vicious. Commodus is known to have been at Carnuntum, the headquarters of Marcus Aurelius during the Marcomannic Wars, in 172. The Eastern Tour - Chapter II: 4:01. Gladiator: How Commodus Died In Real Life & Who Killed Him, Gladiator: What Happened To Every Historical Character In Real Life. On the other hand, the real Emperor Commodus was even more outlandish than Gladiator's version in some ways, as he renamed Rome "the Colony of Commodus" at one point. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 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. When Commodus ordered for the death of Maximus and his family, the Romans could not reject that request. Gladiator is somewhat historically accurate in its final scenes, as Commodus did perform as a gladiator. 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. Julia Balbilla a possible lover of Sabina: A. R. Birley (1997). 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. Gracchus and Commodus stared evenly at eachother, with mutual hatred. Gladiator's Commodus death, therefore, is a pertinent conclusion to Maximus storyline in Gladiator, but it consequentially abstracts the film's historical basis. She believes that only by understanding where we come from, can we truly understand our life path and purpose. 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). 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. 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 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. [10] Among his teachers, Onesicrates, Antistius Capella, Titus Aius Sanctus, and Pitholaus are mentioned.[10][11]. He was very vain, and strongly believed himself to be the reincarnation of Hercules so much so that he ordered statues of himself be dressed like Hercules, and he ordered that people call him Hercules, son of Zeus. 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. But in reality, it was marked the end of the promise of Rome. 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]. Ridley Scott's Gladiator (2000) is a Roman historical epic, considered to be one of Scott's directorial movie masterpieces. 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. Commodus would also slay exotic animals, such as lions, ostriches, hippos, elephants, and giraffes. Yet another attempt on his life had been foiled, but the conspirators did not lose their nerve. Only a famous death will do. Aurelius physician, Galen, was tasked with looking after Commodus to ensure that he stayed healthy and well. When Marcia found a list of people Commodus intended to have executed, she discovered that she, the prefect Laetus and Eclectus were on it. Hercules and the Hydra (ca. Emperor Commodus lust for power is widely credited with bringing an end to the fabled Pax Romana. "Back!" he cried. 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. He is a particular fan of works by Stanley Kubrick, Wes Anderson, and Martin Scorsese. In opposition to the Senate, in his pronouncements and iconography, Commodus had always stressed his unique status as a source of god-like power, liberality, and physical prowess. He was co-emperor with his father Marcus Aurelius from 177 until his father's death in 180. 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. In the spring of 190, Rome was afflicted by a food shortage, for which the praefectus annonae Papirius Dionysius, the official actually in charge of the grain supply, contrived to lay the blame on Cleander. Commodus remained with the Danube armies for only a short time before negotiating a peace treaty with the Danubian tribes. His twin brother, Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antonius, died at age four. However, just when the days of the mad emperors seemed long gone, Commodus brought the madness roaring back. But now, the people want to know how the story ends. 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. Maximus : You would fight me? Lucilla was exiled to Capri and later killed. 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. Aurelius pushed for Commodus to be a leader from a very young age. He showed no interest in government or military matters and was consumed by self-indulgence. Statues of Commodus were demolished. 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. The historian Herodian, a contemporary, described Commodus as an extremely handsome man. Gladiator is clearly influenced by aspects of history, but its specific storyline is definitively imaginative. Conveniently, both of these goals are achieved by killing Commodus. It was presumably there that, on 15 October 172, he was given the victory title Germanicus, in the presence of the army. 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. 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. Commode-Hercule et l'anthropologie hercalenne,", M.P. In 182 Commoduss sister Lucilla conspired with a group of senators to assassinate him. Gladiator is a film invested in the concept of retribution. 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. 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. After a failed assassination attempt in 182, however, his rule became erratic and brutal, and he imagined himself to be Hercules. The Untersberg is a great mountain straddling the Austro-German border opposite Salzburg. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. In addition to Galens medical attention and treatment, Commodus was also highly educated, with little focus on military training. This assassination attempt was successful, and both Commodus reign as Roman Emperor, and his life, ended on the final day of 192. Having been accepted as emperor by Syria, Judea and Egypt, Cassius carried on his rebellion even after it had become obvious that Marcus was still alive. Interestingly, it took Scott a while to realize that, like a sadistic emperor at a gladiatorial display, the ending demanded Maximus's death. Pompeianus retired from public life. Commodus, who is portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, was indeed the son of Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) and an emperor of Rome. Cookies help us deliver our Services. [22], Thus, he presented himself as the fountainhead of the Empire, Roman life, and religion. 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. During his solo reign, the Roman Empire enjoyed reduced military conflict compared with the reign of Marcus Aurelius. Quadratus and Quintianus were executed. His reign is commonly thought of as marking the end of a golden period of peace in the history of the Roman Empire, known as the Pax Romana. 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. Cornelius Scipio Salvidienus Orfitus, Ti. The film portrays a fictionalized account of historical events, and it illuminates aspects of the culture of ancient Rome. Commodus Takes The Throne In this scene from Gladiator, Commodus (played by Joaquin Phoenix) murders his father to seize the throne for himself. Watching him collapse and die after restoring his own freedom and ridding Rome of its Tyrant in Chief seems like, well, a downer. Be warned, though:If you thought Maximus's death was sad, you really won't like this. Commodus, who is portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, was indeed the son of Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) and an emperor of Rome. Suetonius a possible lover of Sabina: One interpretation of, Lover of Hadrian: Lambert (1984), p.99 and. 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. It's a great story of revenge but the character of Maximus is entirely made up. 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. Decayed around him can we truly understand our life path and purpose, What a... 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