commodus death gladiator

On 12 October 166, Commodus was made Caesar together with his younger brother, Marcus Annius Verus. 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). And what could be more glorious than to challenge the Emperor himself in the great arena? Early Life - Chapter I: 1:03. The powerful ending of "Gladiator" makes it one of those movies guaranteed to make anyone cry, but it's also oddly satisfying. Soon after he became sole ruler, Lucius changed his name to Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus. Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. Moreover, as Hercules, he could claim to be the son of Jupiter, the supreme god of the Roman pantheon. 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. Aside from the manner of his death in Gladiator, Commodus' onscreen depiction has a few other historical reworkings that help add spice to the plot, although some changes serve to tone down the character. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Commodus. 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. Commodus : The general who became a slave. His father was the philosopher-king, Marcus Aurelius, who 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. He is viewed as having been an inept emperor, his megalomaniac tendencies leading to odd behaviors which frustrated and upset the Roman people. To "accept kinship with Commodus the bluntly pragmatic decision was taken to deify the former emperor, thus legitimizing Severus' seizure of power. He is best known to history as the assassin of the Roman Emperor Commodus, by whom he was employed as a wrestling partner[2][3] and personal trainer in order to train Commodus for his self-indulgent appearances in the Colosseum as a gladiator. 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. Faustina was the daughter of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius and was Aurelius first cousin. It was presumably there that, on 15 October 172, he was given the victory title Germanicus, in the presence of the army. The most famous scene in "Gladiator" is the one that launched a thousand memes (to use a phrase from a different Ancient European society). Husband of Salonia Matidia: Levick (2014), p. 161. In November 192, Commodus held Plebeian Games, in which he shot hundreds of animals with arrows and javelins every morning, and fought as a gladiator every afternoon, winning all the fights. But wait, wasn't Commodus killed by a Gladiator? [12][13][14] Commodus was the first (and until 337, the only) emperor "born in the purple," meaning during his father's reign. The ancient Greek city of Delphi, located on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, was home to the main Temple of Apollo and the renowned Oracle of Delphi. Yet another attempt on his life had been foiled, but the conspirators did not lose their nerve. Commodus was spoilt and decadent and his decadence led to the decline of the empire. But he vomited the poisoned food up, foiling that plan. Meanwhile, Commodus was lapsing into insanity. Husband of Ulpia Marciana: Levick (2014), p. 161. Flamma. Bust of Commodus as Hercules, hence the lion skin and the club. Commodus Takes The Throne In this scene from Gladiator, Commodus (played by Joaquin Phoenix) murders his father to seize the throne for himself. Clearly, choosing to play gladiator, mercilessly killing animals and people with disabilities, was not a strategy that served to promote Roman culture, no matter how brutal it was at the time. 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[15], On 23 December 176, the two imperatores celebrated a joint triumph. Husband of Ceionia Fabia: Levick (2014), p. 164. The scene portrays the extent of Emperor Commodus malice and provides a realization of the vengeance sought by Maximus, following the crucifixion of his wife and child. Cleander was in fact the person who had murdered Saoterus. His tumultuous reign as emperor was the starting point for a period of Roman history that is viewed as having been filled with chaos and decline. One of the two praetorian prefects, Publius Tarrutenius Paternus, had actually been involved in the conspiracy but his involvement was not discovered until later on, and in the aftermath, he and his colleague, Sextus Tigidius Perennis, were able to arrange for the murder of Saoterus, the hated chamberlain. Nowadays Commodus is best remembered as the villain of Ridley Scott's movie "Gladiator", a sneering and arrogant portrayal by Joaquin Phoenix. 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. [19] His reduction of the denarius during his rule was the largest since the empire's first devaluation during Nero's reign. Roman artwork, 191 - 192 AD. Striking story! Cleander fled to Commodus, who was at Laurentum in the house of the Quinctilii, for protection, but the mob followed him calling for his head. 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. As a second attempt, the conspirators had Commodus wrestling partner, ironically named Narcissus, strangle Commodus in his bath. This biographical article related to crime is a stub. Die ''Terme Taurine'' von Civitavecchia ein rmisches Heilbad. His father was Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius , and his mother was Faustina the Younger. Commodus Roman Emperor In Power Nov 27, 176 - Dec 31, 192 Born Aug 31, 161Lanuvium, Italy Died Dec 31, 192 (aged 31)Rome, Italy Wife Bruttia Crispina Father Marcus Aurelius Mother Faustina the Younger Lucius Aurelius Commodus was born in Lanuvium, near Rome, on August 31, 161. Corrections? 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. Narcissus died by execution during the series of civil wars after Commodus's death. Her motive is alleged to have been the envy of the Empress Crispina. Sister of Trajan's father: Giacosa (1977), p.7. 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. The Horsemen of Oyo were legendary warriors who served the Oyo Empire of West Africa. Russell Crowe's Maximus asks the crowd "Are you not entertained?" On December 31, 192, his advisers had him strangled by a champion wrestler, following his announcement the day before that he would assume the consulship, dressed as a gladiator. Wife of M. Annius Libo: Levick (2014), p. 163. [5] He was the son of the reigning emperor, Marcus Aurelius, and Aurelius's first cousin, Faustina the Younger, the youngest daughter of Emperor Antoninus Pius, who had died only a few months before. Commodus murders his father (Richard Harris) to gain power, orders the death of war hero Maximus (Russell Crowe) in order to circumvent any possible challenge to his rule, puts the moves on his. The gladiator who defied an emperor. Commodus was inaugurated in 183 as consul with Aufidius Victorinus for a colleague and assumed the title Pius. However, he always spared their lives. Innumerable statues around the empire were set up portraying him in the guise of Hercules, reinforcing the image of him as a demigod, a physical giant, a protector, and a warrior who fought against men and beasts (see "Commodus and Hercules" and "Commodus the Gladiator" below). 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). Aurelius physician, Galen, was tasked with looking after Commodus to ensure that he stayed healthy and well. Except where otherwise noted, the notes below indicate that an individual's parentage is as shown in the above family tree. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Marcus Aurelius was the first emperor since Vespasian to have a legitimate biological son, though he himself was the fifth in the line of the so-called Five Good Emperors, also known as the Adoptive Emperors, each of whom had adopted his successor. He also devalued Roman currency, reducing the weight of the denarius and reducing the purity of silver. And what could be more glorious than to challenge the Emperor himself in the great arena? "Back!" he cried. Omissions? According to Dio Cassius, Perennis, though ruthless and ambitious, was not personally corrupt and generally administered the state well.[21]. Commodus butchered dozens of animals in single appearances at the Colosseum on other occasions. The character is, however, portrayed fictionally in Gladiator, and. A small group of conspirators, including the emperors chamberlain and mistress, Marcia, decided to kill him. Commode-Hercule et l'anthropologie hercalenne,", M.P. 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. 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. Ulpius Marcellus was replaced as governor of Britain by Pertinax; brought to Rome and tried for treason, Marcellus narrowly escaped death. Commodus never killed his gladiatorial adversaries, instead accepting their surrenders. But once Marcus Aurelius died in 180 A.D. (of natural causes, not at his sons 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. [6][7] The latter died in 169 having failed to recover from an operation, which left Commodus as Marcus Aurelius's sole surviving son. [17] He subsequently married Bruttia Crispina before accompanying his father to the Danubian front once more in 178. The film portrays a fictionalized account of historical events, and it illuminates aspects of the culture of ancient Rome. Ancient Chinese Earthquake Detector Invented 2,000 Years Ago Really Worked! Wikimedia CommonsAn illustration of the murder of Commmodus. 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. By December of that year, he declared that he would inaugurate the New Year on January 1, 193 as a gladiator in the arena. 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. The first crisis of the reign came in 182, when Lucilla engineered a conspiracy against her brother. 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. [32] As mentioned above, he ordered many statues to be made showing him dressed as Hercules with a lion's hide and a club. Maximus is a powerful Roman general, loved by the people and the aging Emperor, Marcus Aurelius. The historian Herodian, a contemporary, described Commodus as an extremely handsome man. [40][41] For each appearance in the arena, he charged the city of Rome a million sesterces, straining the Roman economy. His great simplicity, however, together with his cowardice, made him the slave of his companions, and it was through them that he at first, out of ignorance, missed the better life and then was led on into lustful and cruel habits, which soon became second nature."[26]. 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. 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. His death, however, was the result of an assassination plot in 192, culminating with Narcissus killing him in the bath. 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. On 31 December 192 AD, Commodus's concubine[2] and conspirator Marcia poisoned Commodus's wine. Available from: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/128108/Commodus, Lucius Aurelius Commodus Roman-Empire. 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). Striking story! Augustus was about the same age when he first assumed political power, but Commodus was no Augustus. A grateful Senate proclaimed a new emperorthe city prefect, Publius Helvius Pertinaxbut the empire quickly slipped into civil war. Disdaining the more philosophic inclinations of his father, Commodus was extremely proud of his physical prowess. He engaged in one-on-one combat with many other gladiators, each of whom was obliged to lose to the emperor. 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. 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