The gladiator who defied an emperor. Join 1000s of subscribers and receive the best Vintage News in your mailbox for FREE, Police arrest a 72-year-old “suburban grandfather” suspected of being the Golden State Killer, “I’m not dead yet”: some Buddhist monks followed self-mummification, Project Azorian: Howard Hughes’ secret mission, 1960s U.S. satellite that started transmitting again in 2013, The “Walk of Shame” in Game of Thrones historical inspiration, The only unsolved skyjacking case in U.S. history might have a break, Kurt Gödel became too paranoid to eat and died of starvation, “Little Ease”: One of the most feared torture devices in the Tower of London, The humble English girl who became Cora Pearl, Walt Disney softened the original Snow White story. Roman artwork. Commodus fought In the Arena many times and never lost. He wiped out an entire family, the Quinctilius, just for being wealthy and popular. I don't think there's ever been a gladiator to match you. Bust of Bruttia Crispina. In 193 AD, Marcia brought Commodus a glass of poisoned wine while he was preparing to bathe. He is best known to history as the assassin of the Roman Emperor Commodus, by whom he was employed as a wrestling partner and personal trainer in order to train Commodus for his self-indulgent appearances in the Colosseum as a gladiator.In AD 192 he was recruited by several senators, led by Praetorian prefect … It was unheard of for an Emperor to engage in such activities and caused quite a scandal. He was killed by his trainer and wrestling partner Narcissus, and his guard prefect Quintus Laetus. He fought cripples, amputees, anyone he was sure to beat. He promptly renamed himself Caesar Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus Augustus, and, throughout his rule from 177 to 192 AD, he became increasingly cruel and sadistic. He also declared himself to be an incarnation of the god Hercules and forced the senate to recognize his divinity. 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.”, 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. 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. After battling with the Germans, the general Maximus, weary of battle, decides to retire at his Spanish farm estate at the Emperor's behest, but the Emperor tells him that Commodus is unfit to rule and thus appoints him as regent to help save Rome from corruption. 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!'”. Real life Commodus (31 August, 161 AD – 31 December, 192 AD) was Roman Emperor from 180 to 192. 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 brother’s orders a year later. His great simplicity, however, together with his cowardice, missed the better life and then was led on into lustful and cruel habits, which soon became second nature.”. The Death of Commodus, from a history book published in 1900. He showed no interest in government or military matters and was consumed by self-indulgence. After this look at Commodus, check out these interesting facts about Ancient Rome. Unfortunately, Commodus’ stomach rejected the wine, but, while he was cleaning himself off in the bath, Narcissus, a professional wrestler, was brought in to choke Commodus until the emperor was dead. A bust of Roman Emperor Commodus, styled as if he were a reincarnation of Hercules, which is precisely what he believed himself to be. According to ancient.eu, Roman historian Cassius Dio remarked, “This man was not naturally wicked but, on the contrary, as guileless as any man that ever lived. Its protagonist, Maximus, is entirely fictitious. He tortured his victims. His favorite was a woman named Marcia who was allowed to give him advice, but even she was not immune to his cruelty. As for this young man, he insists you are Hector reborn. 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). ... Commodus’ nephew and the son of Connie Nielsen’s character Lucilla from Scott’s original film. An illustration of the murder of Commmodus. 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.” However, just when the days of the mad emperors seemed long gone, Commodus brought the madness roaring back. His reign is commonly considered to mark the end of the golden period of peace in the history of the Roman Empire known as the Pax Romana. Read another story from us: ‘Gladiator 2’ Moving Forward with Director Ridley Scott. The megalomania of Commodus was not limited to the Colosseum. However, even these favorites were not safe from his fury. He was the tenth of fourteen children and the only son to survive - his twin brother Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antonius died at the age of four. Gladiator (2000) SYNOPSIS: Set in Roman times, the story of a once-powerful general forced to become a common gladiator. He fancied himself a reborn Hercules and took to wearing lion skins, as his hero did, to make himself seem more imposing. 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. 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. The first attempt used poisoned meat, but Commodus vomited it up. Read another story from us: ‘Gladiator 2’ Moving Forward with Director Ridley Scott His favorite activity was acting the part of a Gladiator dressed only in his lion skin. His closest advisor, Perennis, who took on Commodus’ emperor duties, attempted to assassinate him, but the plot failed and Perennis was executed. Image by Sarah Jordan. Its version of Lucilla might as well be. 12 Of The Most Visited Stories On All That's Interesting In 2018, The Best ATI Galleries Of 2018: Celebs Before Fame, '60s Pics, And More, 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. On this day in AD 192, the Roman emperor Commodus was murdered. The son of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, Commodus wants to be seen as the most powerful Roman emperor of all time so he would be worshiped as a god. Commodus Antoninus (コンモドゥス), is the Emperor of Rome in Colosseum: Road to Freedom, and in Gladiator Begins, the young heir apparent to the throne.In Colosseum: Road to Freedom, Commodus's madness has consumed him after his sister made an attempt on his life. Commodus was Roman emperor jointly with his father Marcus Aurelius from 176 until his father's death in 180, and solely until 192. Maximus' death, while tragic, proves to be heroic and meaningful. Gladiator painting by Jean-Leon Gerome, 1872. Or was it Hercules? Only one child survived. When Marcus Aurelius tells Commodus his decision, Commodus - who has always felt unloved and ignored by his father - flies into a rage and strangles him. Commodus had upset the peaceful balance that Rome had enjoyed for almost eighty years. On November 27, 176, Aurelius promoted 15-year old Commodus to the rank of Imperator, which some say is a role similar to commander. The Senate was informed that his name would no longer be Commodus; he was to be called Hercules, son of Zeus. Lucius Aurelius Commodus was born to the philosopher/king and Faustina the Younger at Lanuvium, a city fourteen miles southeast of Rome on August 31, 161 CE. They were sometimes tied together so Commodus could kill two at once with his club. Alternative Titles: Caesar Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus Augustus, Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus 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 … The only male son of Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor. Text by Lauren Shelton. 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. All his opponents submitted to him. This wasn’t confined to the arena, either. 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. Anyone who caught the emperor’s attention risked also inadvertently invoking his wrath. Commodus ruled with chaos and left chaos in his wake. Commodus, the son and heir of the distinguished ‘ philosopher emperor’ Marcus Aurelius , was a failure as a Roman emperor.He was appointed co-emperor of Rome and ruled alongside his father when he was just 16 years old and became the sole emperor after the death of his father in 180 AD. There are myriad stories of Julius Caesar, Nero, Caligula, and then there’s Emperor Commodus, who set Rome on its road to ruin. 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. Wikimedia CommonsAn illustration of the murder of Commmodus. Photo by PierreSelim CC BY-SA 3.0, Commodus married Bruttia Crispina when she was sixteen years old. Bust of Commodus as Hercules, hence the lion skin, the club and the golden apples of the Hesperides. He was portrayed by Joaquin … A small group of conspirators, including the emperor’s chamberlain and mistress, Marcia, decided to kill him. Livius in Fall of the Roman Empire and Maximus in Gladiator kill Commodus in single combat, Livius to save Lucilla and Maximus to avenge the murder of his wife and son, and both do it for the greater good of Rome. He also kept a harem of over three hundred women and one boy, who was named “The Boy Who Loves Commodus.”. Commodus definitely knew how to make a threat. In 182 A.D., Commodus’ sister Lucilla organized an attempt on her brother’s life. The perfect Commodus Gladiator Stab Animated GIF for your conversation. He was brutal, even by the standards of men who beat each other to death for the amusement of an audience. Commodus is also recorded to have killed various beasts in the arena by himself, including ostriches, a giraffe, panthers, and lions. The crowd loved him. “Commodus was a greater curse to the Romans than any pestilence or any crime” and the city had descended into bankruptcy and chaos. Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus was born August 31, 161 AD in what is now Lanuvio, Italy to Emperor Marcus Aurelius and Faustina the Younger, the daughter of Emperor Antoninus Pius. Marcus Aurelius Commodus, also known as Emperor Commodus or simply Commodus, is the primary antagonist of the 2000 Oscar winner historic action film Gladiator.. At one of his gladiator battles, he reportedly slew an ostrich and then carried its decapitated head over to where his rival senators were seated. Lucio Aurelio Cómodo [a] (31 de agosto de 161-31 de diciembre de 192) fue el último emperador de la dinastía Antonina.Gobernó con el nombre de Emperador César Marco Aurelio Cómodo Antonino Augusto [b] desde el 17 de marzo del año 180 hasta su muerte, [c] aunque había sido asociado al trono ya en el año 177 al recibir el título de augusto. Discover and Share the best GIFs on Tenor. Unfortunately, Commodus’ stomach rejected the wine, but, while he was cleaning himself off in the bath, Narcissus, a professional wrestler, was brought in to choke Commodus until the emperor was dead. Marcia and several of Commodus’ advisors had had enough. The Emperor Commodus actually fought as a gladiator in the Colosseum ordering his fights to be inscribed in the public records and announced in the city-gazette. Commodus: The True Story Of The Mad Roman Emperor Immortalized In ‘Gladiator’, Commodus exposes Lucilla’s plot in this scene from, Commodus is confronted by Maximus in the arena in this scene from. But once Marcus Aurelius died in 180 A.D. (of natural causes, not at his son’s 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. Cassius Dio declared that Commodus “was not naturally wicked” but that “his cowardice, made him the slave of his companions.”. Once there, he threw the head down at their feet and gestured as if to say, “You’re next.” Unfortunately, it didn’t quite have the intended effect. Menu. He also petitioned them to declare him a living god. Maximus, however, isn't only the character in Gladiator who's bent on revenge. He changed the names of the calendar months after himself, renamed Rome to Colonia Lucia Annia Commodiana and erected statues of himself around the city. They then sent in an athlete to strangle the 31-year old emperor in his bath. As the son of emperor Marcus Aurelius, Commodus was the first Roman emperor to have been "born in the purple," and thus dynastically selected to be his successor.He was also a dangerously deranged man who forced the Senate to name him a demi-god and eventually assassinate him. Then, discover the most fascinating facts from the entirety of ancient history. He succeeded his father as Augustus after he killed him. When he was sixteen, his father declared him co-Emperor. Marcus Aurelius Commodus, also known as Emperor Commodus or simply Commodus, is the main antagonist of the 2000 Oscar winner historic action film Gladiator. In the arena, Commodus won all fights, and his rivals gave up asking for mercy. 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 brother’s mental instability. Even worse, his chosen competitors, according to ancient-origins.net, were helpless animals and citizens of Rome who were physically infirm, often soldiers who had been maimed in a war. Contemporary Roman writer Cassius Dio describes the young heir as “rather simple-minded,” but he ruled agreeably with his father and joined Marcus Aurelius in the Marcomannic Wars against the Germanic tribes along the Danube, which the emperor had been waging for several year… In 180 AD, Marcus Aurelius died, leaving Commodus as sole Emperor of Rome. He kept most of the advisers from his father’s regime in place and the first three years of his reign ran as smoothly as that of his father with the added benefit that Rome was no longer fighting any wars. His next advisor, Cleander, was forced to take the blame when a food shortage occurred, and, in order to appease the protesting citizens, Commodus had Cleander executed along with his wife and children and his closest friends. Commodus's directly responsible for the brutal death of his wife and son, and Maximus vows to continue fighting in the arena until he can find a way to kill Commodus. His life is sacrificed, essentially, for Rome. “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. Russell Crowe Had No Idea About His ‘Gladiator’ Death Scene Until Middle of Filming. He lived in the shadow of his father, hoping one day to become the Emperor, but all his dreams were crushed after knowing that his own father would choose Maximus instead of him. The invitation meant almost certain death; no one would dare beat him, and when he won, he would show no mercy. But now, the people want to know how the story ends. After … 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. Scott cited Spartacus and Ben-Hur as influences on the film: "These movies were part of my cinema-going youth. Commodus is the main antagonist in the 2000 film, Gladiator. Commodus' death also, strangely, saves Rome as well, but there's nothing sacrificial or heroic about it, just as there is nothing sacrificial or heroic about killing of a virus. Commodus isn't only motivated by politics—he's also motivated by (you got it) revenge. Striking story! Romans saw such acts as a disgrace, and coupled with his tyranny, Commodus was widely hated throughout the empire. The movie is far from historically accurate. Gladiator (2000) Joaquin Phoenix as Commodus. 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. Ancient Rome was full of colorful characters. 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. Narcissus was a Roman athlete, likely a wrestler, from the 2nd century AD. Whatever its roots, the conspiracy failed and the incident aroused an insane paranoia in Commodus, who began seeing plots and treachery everywhere. In Gladiator Begins, Commodus, although ruthless in pursuit of his goals, shows great respect and admiration for the Protagonist. Contemporary Roman writer Cassius Dio describes the young heir as “rather simple-minded,” but he ruled agreeably with his father and joined Marcus Aurelius in the Marcomannic Wars against the Germanic tribes along the Danube, which the emperor had been waging for several years. Yet another attempt on his life had been foiled, but the conspirators did not lose their nerve. He was portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix. The benevolent emperor Claudius who improved Rome with public works was followed by his stepson Nero, who infamously burnt it to the ground. Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus Augustus, or just Commodus for short, is the main antagonist of the 2000 historic action film Gladiator. ~ Commodus taunting Maximus about killing his family. 1 Biography 2 What … He is often regarded as one of the Roman Empire's worst emperors since he brought Rome to decadence, leading to the Crisis of Third Century. Additionally, Commodus charged Rome financially every time he appeared in the arena. Only a famous death will do. Part of a statuary group representing Commodus’ apotheosis. His rule was the beginning of the end for that most famous empire. The only male son of Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor. Marcus Aurelius Commodus, also known as Emperor Commodus or simply Commodus, is the primary antagonist of the 2000 Oscar winner historic action film Gladiator. Original film the following year, Commodus won all fights, and his guard prefect Quintus Laetus century.! 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