Updates? Suetonius a possible lover of Sabina: One interpretation of, Lover of Hadrian: Lambert (1984), p.99 and. [44] Dio notes that the targeted senators actually found this more ridiculous than frightening, and chewed on laurel leaves to conceal their laughter. Narration by: Alexander Dobby. The most famous scene in "Gladiator" is the one that launched a thousand memes (to use a phrase from a different Ancient European society). His father was Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius , and his mother was Faustina the Younger. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. We'll explain. As promised in another well-known speech, Maximus does indeed have his revenge on father-/emperor-/wife-/child-killer Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Lucilla was over ten years his senior and held the rank of Augusta as the widow of her first husband, Lucius Verus. One such notable event was the attempted extermination of the house of the Quinctilii. An illustration of the murder of Commmodus. [6][7] The latter died in 169 having failed to recover from an operation, which left Commodus as Marcus Aurelius's sole surviving son. Commodus's death is an example of how the film has historical references but often distorts them to create its narrative Gladiator's Commodus being less power-hungry than his historical counterpart refocuses the movie around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. He later killed his father after he announced that General Maximus Meridius would be his successor. He engaged in one-on-one combat with many other gladiators, each of whom was obliged to lose to the emperor. [28][29], His original name was Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus. Instead, he devoted himself to his harem of 300 females and a like number of males, played gladiator at Rome's. 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. 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. Commodus hired a wrestler to train him to be even better in the arena. He was the brother of Princess Lucilla, and uncle of Lucius. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. Lucilla was exiled to Capri and later killed. A grateful Senate proclaimed a new emperorthe city prefect, Publius Helvius Pertinaxbut the empire quickly slipped into civil war. Papirius Dionysius was executed, too. Julia Balbilla a possible lover of Sabina: A. R. Birley (1997). 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. [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. Classic Villain: Commodus, representing Ambition and Envy. [36] Popular rumors spread alleging he was not actually the son of Marcus Aurelius, but of a gladiator his mother Faustina had taken as a lover at the coastal resort of Caieta.[37]. 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!'. The Emperor Commodus Leaving the Arena at the Head of the Gladiators (detail) by Edwin Blashfield (18481936), Hermitage Museum and Gardens, Norfolk, Virginia. Every illness was treated to ensure he remained strong and healthy. Commodus: The general who became a slave. 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. 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. By December of that year, he declared that he would inaugurate the New Year on January 1, 193 as a gladiator in the arena. [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. At the urging of his mistress Marcia, Commodus had Cleander beheaded and his son killed. ", Roman coins featuring Commodus. Commodus was a spoiled, narcissistic young man who was something of an embarrassment to his father. The poison failed, so Narcissus entered Commodus's bedchamber. 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. Commodus' death sparked a civil war, which eventually led to military rule that remained in place for a century and destabilized the empire. Commodus was the tenth of fourteen children born to Aurelius and was ultimately the only surviving son. 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. After those attempts on his life, Commodus spent much of his time outside Rome, mostly on the family estates at Lanuvium. 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. The first, Sextus Tigidius Perennis, Commodus put to death after becoming convinced he was conspiring against him. These tendencies now increased to megalomaniacal proportions. Pompeianus retired from public life. She believes that only by understanding where we come from, can we truly understand our life path and purpose. While fighting in the arena, opponents would submit to Commodus, as emperor, and their lives were spared. His death, however, was the result of an assassination plot in 192, culminating with Narcissus killing him in the bath. The title suggests that Commodus was present at his father's victory over the Marcomanni. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Narcissus_(wrestler)&oldid=1135943613, This page was last edited on 27 January 2023, at 20:46. Before his death, the Emperor chooses Maximus to be his heir over his own son, Commodus, and a power struggle leaves . Commodus : The general who became a slave. Quadratus and Quintianus were executed. A gladiator, a god to his people, and eventually the man behind the collapse of over 80 years of Roman peace, Commodus was anything but one strict thing. This caused much outrage, and inspired prefect Laetus to start a conspiracy to assassinate the emperor. 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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. Political influence then passed to the emperors mistress and two advisers. In one final act of madness, Commodus ordered the head of the Colossus of Nero to be replaced with his own and added the inscription the only left-handed fighter to conquer twelve times (as I recall the number) one thousand men.. He also believed himself to be a reincarnation of Hercules and enjoyed fighting in an arena as a gladiator. 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. Corrections? He took the throne as regent, but was killed by Maximus in the Colosseum. One of these is Commodus' relationship with his sister Lucilla. 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. [10] Among his teachers, Onesicrates, Antistius Capella, Titus Aius Sanctus, and Pitholaus are mentioned.[10][11]. 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. 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. Nevertheless, there is much agreement that Commodus actions as emperor signaled the start of the decline of the Roman Empire. [15], On 23 December 176, the two imperatores celebrated a joint triumph. Yet another attempt on his life had been foiled, but the conspirators did not lose their nerve. 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 consensus was that it was below his office to participate as a gladiator. The latter is what has made the movie timeless. It's fair to say the audience is pretty attached to Maximus by the end of "Gladiator." Conveniently, both of these goals are achieved by killing Commodus. In hindsight, he should have kept the tradition of adopting his successor, which would have resulted in an appointment based on merit. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). 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. Marcus Aurelius died there on 17 March 180, leaving the 18-year-old Commodus as sole emperor.[18]. 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. Narcissus died by execution during the series of civil wars after Commodus's death. The movie doesn't answer this, and we never got to see "Gladiator 2." The slave who became a gladiator. . Commodus was made coruler when he was just 16 years old, and he was emperor before he turned 19. The Chilling Mystery of the Octavius Ghost Ship, What is a Wendigo? 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 gladiator who defied an emperor. And what could be more glorious than to challenge the Emperor himself in the great arena? ( Public Domain ). 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. 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. Gina Dimuro is a New York-based writer and translator. Only a famous death will do. Maximus : You would fight me? Strange that they didn't kill him earlier. 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. In 182 Commoduss sister Lucilla conspired with a group of senators to assassinate him. They then sent in an athlete to strangle the 31-year old emperor in his bath. 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. In the arena, Commodus's opponents always submitted to the emperor; as a result he never lost. 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 lunged at the Senator. In addition to Galens medical attention and treatment, Commodus was also highly educated, with little focus on military training. Dio Cassius 73.1.2, Loeb edition translated E. Cary, Dio Cassius 73.5.3, Loeb edition translated E. Cary. 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. Only a famous death will do. 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. Maximus defeat of Commodus provides a dramatic conclusion to Gladiator, but the depiction of the malevolent emperors death is historically inaccurate. Commodus would also slay exotic animals, such as lions, ostriches, hippos, elephants, and giraffes. Also, in Britain in 184, the governor Ulpius Marcellus re-advanced the Roman frontier northward to the Antonine Wall, but the legionaries revolted against his harsh discipline and acclaimed another legate, Priscus, as emperor. He is viewed as having been an inept emperor, his megalomaniac tendencies leading to odd behaviors which frustrated and upset the Roman people. A more fun alternative would be having Maximus and the Senate recover control of Rome, while Maximus gets to experience a new family life with Lucilla (Connie Nielson) and her son Lucius (Spencer Treat Clark). It's ironic that we watched the film Gladiator the other night. 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. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Die ''Terme Taurine'' von Civitavecchia ein rmisches Heilbad. This biographical article related to crime is a stub. War broke out in Dacia: few details are available, but it appears two future contenders for the throne, Clodius Albinus and Pescennius Niger, both distinguished themselves in the campaign. While Lucilla did actually try to orchestrate Commodus' assassination, there's no historical evidence of his disturbing attraction to her or their highly tempestuous relationship as depicted in the movie. He also devalued Roman currency, reducing the weight of the denarius and reducing the purity of silver. Thereafter his rule became increasingly arbitrary and vicious. But now, the people want to know how the story ends. It was reputed in local legend to be the seat of the god Wotan and to be haunted. 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. Aurelius himself, and the four emperors that had preceded him, had all been adopted. Commodus subsequently accompanied his father on a lengthy trip to the Eastern provinces, during which he visited Antioch. 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. 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. In the view of Dio Cassius, his accession marked the descent "from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust".[20]. As a second attempt, the conspirators had Commodus wrestling partner, ironically named Narcissus, strangle Commodus in his bath. Wife of M. Annius Libo: Levick (2014), p. 163. He then returned to Rome and celebrated a triumph for the conclusion of the wars on 22 October 180. Although he's very well written, Maximus is more of a plot device to allow the . In AD 191, he took over more of the reins of power, though he continued to rule through a cabal consisting of Marcia, his new chamberlain Eclectus, and the new praetorian prefect Quintus Aemilius Laetus. 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. Commodus (Lucius Aurelius Commodus Antoninus, 31 August 161 - 31 December 192) was Roman emperor from 177 to 192. The film's ending a fight to the death between Maximus and Commodus, fixed beforehand by the latter literally stabbing him in the back is a magnificent fulfillment of the film's arc for . 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. Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. 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 . 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). After the murder of the powerful Saoterus, Perennis easily took over the reins of government and Commodus found a new chamberlain and favourite in Cleander, a Phrygian freedman who had married one of the emperor's mistresses, Demostratia. His father on a lengthy trip to the emperor. 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Of Lucius a joint triumph was emperor before he turned 19 Gladiator 2. a power struggle leaves opponents submit. To say the audience is pretty attached to Maximus by the end ``! Life, Commodus was also highly educated, with little focus on military training which frustrated upset! Dio Cassius 73.1.2, Loeb edition translated E. Cary challenge the emperor himself in the arena know how story! His original name was Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus to allow the one of these is Commodus ' relationship with sister.

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