The 2000 film, directed by Ridley Scott, is steeped in the culture of ancient Rome. Lucilla was exiled to Capri and later killed. [10] Among his teachers, Onesicrates, Antistius Capella, Titus Aius Sanctus, and Pitholaus are mentioned.[10][11]. According to Aurelius, Commodus received his educational training with "an abundance of good masters.". Corrections? Russell Crowe's Maximus asks the crowd "Are you not entertained?" 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 was a terrible ruler by virtually any standard. Sister of Trajan's father: Giacosa (1977), p.7. On 31 December 192 AD, Commodus's concubine[2] and conspirator Marcia poisoned Commodus's wine. [42] Later, he decapitated a running ostrich with a specially designed dart[43] and afterwards carried his sword and the bleeding head of the dead bird over to the Senators' seating area and motioned as though they were next. 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. The slave who became a gladiator. The Iliad can provide new insights on the role of motherhood among the ancient Greek gods, and by extension, amongst ancient mortal Greek women themselves. A grateful Senate proclaimed a new emperorthe city prefect, Publius Helvius Pertinaxbut the empire quickly slipped into civil war. The Eastern Tour - Chapter II: 4:01. He took the throne as regent, but was killed by Maximus in the Colosseum. Roman Emperor Lucius Aurelius Commodus was a corrupt ruler who was not well-received by the Roman people during his reign. Muller Edition 1.15.7, Echols, Edward C. "Herodian of Antioch's History of the Roman Empire." On 31 December, Marcia poisoned Commodus's food, but he vomited up the poison, so the conspirators sent his wrestling partner Narcissus to strangle him in his bath.[24]. 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. Instead, he devoted himself to his harem of 300 females and a like number of males, played gladiator at Rome's. He wanted to avenge the deaths of his wife and son, as well as clear the way for the Senate to restore order in Rome. Ivar the Boneless: Viking Warrior, Ruler and Raider, What is Shambhala? Gina Dimuro is a New York-based writer and translator. By 192 A.D., the Roman people had had enough. Augustus was about the same age when he first assumed political power, but Commodus was no Augustus. He gave Rome a new name, Colonia Commodiana (Colony of Commodus), and imagined that he was the god Hercules, entering the arena to fight as a gladiator or to kill lions with bow and arrow. In December, he announced his intention to inaugurate the year 193 as both consul and gladiator on 1 January. This assassination attempt was successful, and both Commodus reign as Roman Emperor, and his life, ended on the final day of 192. 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.. 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!'. 1. [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). 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. Commodus was inaugurated in 183 as consul with Aufidius Victorinus for a colleague and assumed the title Pius. After repeated attempts on Commodus's life, Roman citizens were often killed for making him angry. 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. Roman artwork, 191 - 192 AD. Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. Narration by: Alexander Dobby. Crowe toldEmpire magazinein 2020 that originally, Maximus survived: Crowe said he used to joke that his character would "end up running a f****** pizzeria by the Colosseum." Record 10 significant and detailed observations about Rome that you noticed while watching the video. The film portrays a fictionalized account of historical events, and it illuminates aspects of the culture of ancient Rome. With each breathtaking scene, the complex culture of world that created and adored these bloody games between man and beast comes into clear focus. 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. In hindsight, he should have kept the tradition of adopting his successor, which would have resulted in an appointment based on merit. [15], On 23 December 176, the two imperatores celebrated a joint triumph. A small group of conspirators, including the emperors chamberlain and mistress, Marcia, decided to kill him. Commodus Takes The Throne In this scene from Gladiator, Commodus (played by Joaquin Phoenix) murders his father to seize the throne for himself. It was presumably there that, on 15 October 172, he was given the victory title Germanicus, in the presence of the army. Herodian's Roman History F.L. The movie is far from historically accurate. He is based in the UK and studied English at Kings College London. 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. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The conclusion of Gladiator sees Commodus killed by Maximus in the gladiators final fight, but what are the true details of the emperors death? 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. His tale was not believed and he was immediately put to death. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. He also believed himself to be a reincarnation of Hercules and enjoyed fighting in an arena as a gladiator. Commodus remained with the Danube armies for only a short time before negotiating a peace treaty with the Danubian tribes. Conveniently, both of these goals are achieved by killing Commodus. Marcus Aurelius. Only a famous death will do. The first attempt used poisoned meat, but Commodus vomited it up. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. Commodus mistress, Marcia, played an important role in his assassination. Nevertheless, though the senatorial order came to hate and fear him, the evidence suggests that he remained popular with the army and the common people for much of his reign, not least because of his lavish shows of largesse (recorded on his coinage) and because he staged and took part in spectacular gladiatorial combats. His death, however, was the result of an assassination plot in 192, culminating with Narcissus killing him in the bath. Maximus : You would fight me? [25], Cassius Dio, a first-hand witness, describes him as "not naturally wicked but, on the contrary, as guileless as any man that ever lived. 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. Commodus was a greater curse to the Romans than any pestilence or any crime and the city had descended into bankruptcy and chaos. 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. Maximus defeat of Commodus provides a dramatic conclusion to Gladiator, but the depiction of the malevolent emperors death is historically inaccurate. Disdaining the more philosophic inclinations of his father, Commodus was extremely proud of his physical prowess. Political influence then passed to the emperors mistress and two advisers. 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. It appears that Aurelius was desperate to have a son of his own bloodline succeed him. 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. It's fair to say the audience is pretty attached to Maximus by the end of "Gladiator." Dio Cassius 73.1.2, Loeb edition translated E. Cary, Dio Cassius 73.5.3, Loeb edition translated E. Cary. 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. In 182 A.D., Commodus sister Lucilla organized an attempt on her brothers life. As promised in another well-known speech, Maximus does indeed have his revenge on father-/emperor-/wife-/child-killer Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). [7], He was looked after by his father's physician, Galen,[8][9] who treated many of Commodus's common illnesses. Gladiator: How Commodus Died In Real Life & Who Killed Him, Gladiator: What Happened To Every Historical Character In Real Life. The Emperor and his son then travelled to Athens, where they were initiated into the Eleusinian Mysteries. Commodus was also known for fighting exotic animals in the arena, often to the horror and disgust of the Roman populace. Whatever its roots, the conspiracy failed and the incident aroused an insane paranoia in Commodus, who began seeing plots and treachery everywhere. Known for their equestrian skills and bravery in battle, they played a crucial role in expanding the empire and establishing its dominance. 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. The last Emperor and his mother were the final straw that finally broke the Empire, leaving the Eastern half of the Empire to continue almost another 1000 years until 1453 (although it reverted to Greek and became known as Byzantium thanks to Christianity). [28][29], His original name was Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus. 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. 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. 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). While co-emperor, Commodus became the youngest consul up until that point in Roman history. 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. His family is murdered, and he becomes a slave, and then sold off to become a gladiator. fascinating facts from the entirety of ancient history. He kept most of the advisers from his fathers 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 father was the philosopher-king, Marcus Aurelius, who 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. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Als besonders skandals empfand man die Beziehung zwischen Eppia, einer Frau aus reicher Familie, die Senatorengattin war, und dem Gladiator Sergiolus. Initiated into the Eleusinian Mysteries Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us if... Steeped in the culture of ancient Rome murdered, and he was immediately put death... Proud of his father, Commodus became the youngest consul up until that point in Roman History then sold to. 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