The character is, however, portrayed fictionally in Gladiator, and. [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.[3]. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Emperor Commodus lust for power is widely credited with bringing an end to the fabled Pax Romana. In December, he announced his intention to inaugurate the year 193 as both consul and gladiator on 1 January. The gladiator who defied an emperor. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Strange that they didn't kill him earlier. After repeated attempts on Commodus's life, Roman citizens were often killed for making him angry. Cleander was in fact the person who had murdered Saoterus. As a result, Commodus appeared even more rarely in public, preferring to live on his estates. 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. 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. 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. Commodus had an elder twin brother, Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus, who died in 165. Gladiator follows Roman general Maximus (Russell Crowe), who is chosen by the ailing Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) to succeed him as the new Caesar.This doesn't sit well with Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), the son of Marcus, who murders his . A former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery. [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: The general who became a slave. Commodus subsequently accompanied his father on a lengthy trip to the Eastern provinces, during which he visited Antioch. He negotiated a peace settlement in Romes favor. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. 1475); the hero wears his characteristic lionskin and wields a club. On 20 January 175, Commodus entered the College of Pontiffs, the starting point of a career in public life. "I won't be in here forever!" rasped Commodus. Whatever its roots, the conspiracy failed and the incident aroused an insane paranoia in Commodus, who began seeing plots and treachery everywhere. Commodus : The general who became a slave. Other victims at this time were the praetorian prefect Julius Julianus, Commodus's cousin Annia Fundania Faustina, and his brother-in-law Mamertinus. Pompeianus retired from public life. The climax came in the year 190, which had 25 suffect consuls a record in the 1,000-year history of the Roman consulshipall appointed by Cleander (they included the future Emperor Septimius Severus). 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. Commodus reign is commonly regarded as the beginning of the Roman Empires decline, and he is a natural choice for the primary antagonist of Gladiator. Commoduss father was Marcus Aurelius, an emperor who presided over what has been regarded as one of ancient Romes golden ages. Commodus was inaugurated in 183 as consul with Aufidius Victorinus for a colleague and assumed the title Pius. Statues of Commodus were demolished. Commodus mistress, Marcia, played an important role in his assassination. Gladiator is somewhat historically accurate in its final scenes, as Commodus did perform as a gladiator. In 182 A.D., Commodus sister Lucilla organized an attempt on her brothers life. At the end of June, a mob demonstrated against Cleander during a horse race in the Circus Maximus: he sent the Praetorian Guard to put down the disturbances, but Pertinax, who was now City Prefect of Rome, dispatched the Vigiles Urbani to oppose them. 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. 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In 195, the emperor Septimius Severus, trying to gain favour with the family of Marcus Aurelius, rehabilitated Commodus's memory and had the Senate deify him. Faustina was the daughter of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius and was Aurelius first cousin. [10] Among his teachers, Onesicrates, Antistius Capella, Titus Aius Sanctus, and Pitholaus are mentioned.[10][11]. This ancient Roman biographical article is a stub. "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. 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 historian Herodian, a contemporary, described Commodus as an extremely handsome man. 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. However, even these favorites were not safe from his fury. [30] On his father's death in 180, Commodus changed this to Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Commodus, before changing back to his birth name in 191.[1]. Gladiator is a film invested in the concept of retribution. 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. They then returned to Rome in the autumn of 176. 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. On 31 December 192 AD, Commodus's concubine[2] and conspirator Marcia poisoned Commodus's wine. The three of them plotted to assassinate the emperor. Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus was born on 31 August AD161 in Lanuvium, near Rome. His twin brother, Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antonius, died at age four. Be warned, though:If you thought Maximus's death was sad, you really won't like this. This horrified the Roman people. But now, the people want to know how the story ends. . 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. Roman artwork, 191 - 192 AD. Salvius and Paternus were executed along with a number of other prominent consulars and senators. According to Dio Cassius, Perennis, though ruthless and ambitious, was not personally corrupt and generally administered the state well.[21]. 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. 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. Early Life - Chapter I: 1:03. He is a particular fan of works by Stanley Kubrick, Wes Anderson, and Martin Scorsese. Cornelius Scipio Salvidienus Orfitus, Ti. Husband of Ceionia Fabia: Levick (2014), p. 164. Known for their equestrian skills and bravery in battle, they played a crucial role in expanding the empire and establishing its dominance. Commodus Takes The Throne In this scene from Gladiator, Commodus (played by Joaquin Phoenix) murders his father to seize the throne for himself. 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 was made coruler when he was just 16 years old, and he was emperor before he turned 19. In the story of Gladiator, the Roman general Maximus is betrayed by the evil Emperor Commodus. His family is murdered, and he becomes a slave, and then sold off to become a gladiator. Or, were the Romans protecting something even more valuable than silver? The long line of ancient Roman emperors is marked by a strange pattern: Almost every exceptionally brilliant emperor was succeeded by an exceptionally mad one. However, he always spared their lives. The Eastern Tour - Chapter II: 4:01. Mudlarker Finds Bronze Age Shoe on a UK Riverbank Dated 2,800 Years Old! https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Narcissus_(wrestler)&oldid=1135943613, This page was last edited on 27 January 2023, at 20:46. Commodus ( / kmds /; [4] 31 August 161 - 31 December 192) was a Roman emperor who ruled from 177 to 192. Are the Misty Peaks of the Azores Remnants of the Legendary Atlantis? We'll explain. On this channel we focus on Roman History and right now we're doing a video on every Roman Emperor, if you're interested in that subscribe or watch the playlist here: https://bit.ly/32CUA2g. But now, the people want to know how the story ends. Commodus never killed his gladiatorial adversaries, instead accepting their surrenders. Commodus took the loss of Saoterus badly, and Perennis now seized the chance to advance himself by implicating Paternus in a second conspiracy, one apparently led by Publius Salvius Julianus, who was the son of the jurist Salvius Julianus and was betrothed to Paternus's daughter. Soon after he became sole ruler, Lucius changed his name to Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus. 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. Commodus lunged at the Senator. 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. Instead, he devoted himself to his harem of 300 females and a like number of males, played gladiator at Rome's. Gracchus and Commodus stared evenly at eachother, with mutual hatred. 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