The ending of "Gladiator" makes it seem like Commodus' death means a new beginning for Rome. This horrified the Roman people. However, even these favorites were not safe from his fury. Intro: 0:00. 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. 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. fascinating facts from the entirety of ancient history. Related: Gladiator: What Happened To Every Historical Character In Real Life. Ein Gladiator (lateinisch gladiator zu gladius fr . Hercules and the Hydra (ca. Husband of Salonia Matidia: Levick (2014), p. 161. Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. 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). Despite his notoriety, and considering the importance of his reign, Commodus's years in power are not well chronicled. In the view of Dio Cassius, his accession marked the descent "from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust".[20]. ( Naughtynimitz/CC BY-SA 3.0 ). 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. Other victims at this time were the praetorian prefect Julius Julianus, Commodus's cousin Annia Fundania Faustina, and his brother-in-law Mamertinus. His mother was Annia Galeria Faustina, a member of the Roman nobility and the daughter of the emperor Antoninus Pius. 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). Didius Julianus, the future emperor and a relative of Salvius Julianus, was dismissed from the governorship of Germania Inferior. Through his teen years, Commodus, now a young man with curly blonde hair, joined Aurelius on military campaigns. Once that's done, he only has one more goal: reunite with his family in the afterlife. 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). Gracchus and Commodus stared evenly at eachother, with mutual hatred. 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. Maximus is a powerful Roman general, loved by the people and the aging Emperor, Marcus Aurelius. 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 . Are the Misty Peaks of the Azores Remnants of the Legendary Atlantis? In hindsight, he should have kept the tradition of adopting his successor, which would have resulted in an appointment based on merit. However, the ending, while sad, is true to Maximus's goals. Cornelius Scipio Salvidienus Orfitus, Ti. Jack is a feature writer for Screen Rant. Commodus ( / kmds /; [4] 31 August 161 - 31 December 192) was a Roman emperor who ruled from 177 to 192. Commode-Hercule et l'anthropologie hercalenne,", M.P. 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. Ancient Chinese Earthquake Detector Invented 2,000 Years Ago Really Worked! 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. Meanwhile, Commodus was lapsing into insanity. He gripped the iron bars in front of him and was pushed back by one of the guards. Only a famous death will do. 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. The first attempt used poisoned meat, but Commodus vomited it up. Wikimedia CommonsA bust of Roman Emperor Commodus, styled as if he were a reincarnation of Hercules, which is precisely what he believed himself to be. Commodus's assassination in 192, by a wrestler in the bath, marked the end of the NervaAntonine dynasty. According to Cassius Dio, Commodus once killed 100 lions in a single day. The latter eventually would be used as a conventional title by Roman emperors, starting about a century later, but Commodus seems to have been the first to assume it.[31]. Cassius Dio declared that Commodus was not naturally wicked but that his cowardice, made him the slave of his companions.. First, she attempted to kill him by poisoning his food. Gladiator is somewhat historically accurate in its final scenes, as Commodus did perform as a gladiator. [45] On other occasions, Commodus killed three elephants on the floor of the arena by himself,[46] and a giraffe.[47]. 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. A small group of conspirators, including the emperors chamberlain and mistress, Marcia, decided to kill him. 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." 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. [27] Another event, as recorded by the historian Aelius Lampridius, took place at the Roman baths at Terme Taurine, where the emperor had an attendant thrown into an oven after he had found his bathwater to be lukewarm. The gladiator who defied an emperor. The final fight of Ridley Scott's Gladiator is relatively short, but it works very well for the movie's somewhat historically accurate story. Commodus hired a wrestler to train him to be even better in the arena. On 31 December 192 AD, Commodus's concubine [2] and conspirator Marcia poisoned Commodus's wine. Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus was born on 31 August AD161 in Lanuvium, near Rome. Upon his fathers death in 180, Commodus became the sole emperor. The character is, however, portrayed fictionally in Gladiator, and. 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. Then, discover the most fascinating facts from the entirety of ancient history. Cassius, however, was killed by one of his centurions before the campaign against him could begin. 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. Yet another attempt on his life had been foiled, but the conspirators did not lose their nerve. 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. 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. 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. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. 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. It was presumably there that, on 15 October 172, he was given the victory title Germanicus, in the presence of the army. 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. wahrscheinlich aber erfand Commodus diese Geschichte selber, um seine Sonderrolle zu unterstreichen. To help answer that question, here are five of the key elements of the story and their historical precedents. In 186 he had his chief minister executed in order to appease the army; three years later he allowed the ministers successor to be killed by a rioting crowd. Mudlarker Finds Bronze Age Shoe on a UK Riverbank Dated 2,800 Years Old! However, the following year, a detachment of soldiers from Britain (they had been drafted to Italy to suppress brigands) also denounced Perennis to the emperor as plotting to make his own son emperor (they had been enabled to do so by Cleander, who was seeking to dispose of his rival), and Commodus gave them permission to execute him as well as his wife and sons. However, in private practice fights, Commodus would slay his opponents. Before his death, the Emperor chooses Maximus to be his heir over his own son, Commodus, and a power struggle leaves . Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. 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. To "accept kinship with Commodus the bluntly pragmatic decision was taken to deify the former emperor, thus legitimizing Severus' seizure of power. 1. 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. Diese Geschichte selber, um seine Sonderrolle zu unterstreichen the campaign against him begin... The bath, marked the end of the emperor chooses Maximus to be even better in arena... 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