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. He gripped the iron bars in front of him and was pushed back by one of the guards. Wikimedia CommonsAn illustration of the murder of Commmodus. . Unrest around the empire increased, with large numbers of army deserters causing trouble in Gaul and Germany. The first crisis of the reign came in 182, when Lucilla engineered a conspiracy against her brother. Commodus was spoilt and decadent and his decadence led to the decline of the empire. Strange that they didn't kill him earlier. Man in Peru Caught Out Drinking With an 800-year-old Mummy! "I won't be in here forever!" rasped Commodus. Commodus was a secutor, a type of gladiator who carried a gladius and a heavy shield. His victories were often welcomed by his bested opponents, as bearing scars dealt by the hand of an emperor was considered a mark of fortitude. The character is, however, portrayed fictionally in Gladiator, and. 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. Commodus was a spoiled, narcissistic young man who was something of an embarrassment to his father. In the contest, Maximus is a victim of foul play as Commodus preemptively wounds him, then later produces a blade. Suetonius a possible lover of Sabina: One interpretation of, Lover of Hadrian: Lambert (1984), p.99 and. Every illness was treated to ensure he remained strong and healthy. In the spring of 190, Rome was afflicted by a food shortage, for which the praefectus annonae Papirius Dionysius, the official actually in charge of the grain supply, contrived to lay the blame on Cleander. The Untersberg is a great mountain straddling the Austro-German border opposite Salzburg. 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. [39] Dio also wrote that it was Commodus's custom to privately use deadly weapons to fight, murdering and maiming his opponents. Narcissus died by execution during the series of civil wars after Commodus's death. "Commodus' progeny will rule Rome!" "Back!" yelled the Praetorian guard. Commodus was a greater curse to the Romans than any pestilence or any crime and the city had descended into bankruptcy and chaos. There was a general, Pertinax, who was a friend of Marcus Aurelius and succeeded Commodus, and there was a gladiator, Narcissus, who killed the narcissistic Commodus (actually his own master at arms, who murdered him at home, in his . Available from: http://www.roman-empire.net/highpoint/commodus.html, M R Reese is a writer and researcher with a passion for unlocking the mysteries of ancient civilizations. 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 . The gladiator who defied an emperor. Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. 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 fictionalized depiction as a mad emperor in the film Gladiator actually plays down some of his less believable excesses while giving him a nobler death. Maximus is a powerful Roman general, loved by the people and the aging Emperor, Marcus Aurelius. He also had four surviving sisters, all of them with husbands who were potential rivals. And what could be more glorious than to challenge the Emperor himself in the great arena? Aurelius physician, Galen, was tasked with looking after Commodus to ensure that he stayed healthy and well. Husband of Ulpia Marciana: Levick (2014), p. 161. Commodus was also known for fighting exotic animals in the arena, often to the horror and disgust of the Roman populace. 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. But in reality, it was marked the end of the promise of Rome. Commodus lunged at the Senator. In opposition to the Senate, in his pronouncements and iconography, Commodus had always stressed his unique status as a source of god-like power, liberality, and physical prowess. On 31 December 192 AD, Commodus's concubine[2] and conspirator Marcia poisoned Commodus's wine. The following year, Commodus became Aurelius co-emperor, and they reigned together from then until Aurelius death in 180. After those attempts on his life, Commodus spent much of his time outside Rome, mostly on the family estates at Lanuvium. Commodus never killed his gladiatorial adversaries, instead accepting their surrenders. He is a particular fan of works by Stanley Kubrick, Wes Anderson, and Martin Scorsese. Gibbon p. 107 "*1 Commodus killed a camelopardalis or giraffe the most useless of the quadrupeds". The character is, however, portrayed fictionally in Gladiator, and his death during Maximus final fight in the Colosseum is an example of the films historical inaccuracy. 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]. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. First, she attempted to kill him by poisoning his food. Meanwhile, Commodus was lapsing into insanity. In April 175, Avidius Cassius, Governor of Syria, declared himself emperor following rumours that Marcus Aurelius had died. Striking story! 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. 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. 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. 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. Cookies help us deliver our Services. However, the ending, while sad, is true to Maximus's goals. The Romans were outraged when Commodus would order wounded soldiers and amputees into the arena to be slayed. Aurelius himself, and the four emperors that had preceded him, had all been adopted. Or, were the Romans protecting something even more valuable than silver? Die ''Terme Taurine'' von Civitavecchia ein rmisches Heilbad. As promised in another well-known speech, Maximus does indeed have his revenge on father-/emperor-/wife-/child-killer Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). As Greek mythology goes, the universe was once a big soup of nothingness. Striking story! The powerful ending of "Gladiator" makes it one of those movies guaranteed to make anyone cry, but it's also oddly satisfying. From all angles, Commodus was groomed to succeed on the throne. [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). Commodus is commonly regarded as being an inadequate and megalomaniacal emperor, but Gladiators distortion of history portrays him as exclusively and resolutely evil. 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. Ultimately, it is believed that Commodus outlandish behavior led to his eventual assassination. 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. 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. [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]. Gladiator is a film invested in the concept of retribution. After repeated attempts on Commodus's life, Roman citizens were often killed for making him angry. He was left-handed and very proud of the fact. Except where otherwise noted, the notes below indicate that an individual's parentage is as shown in the above family tree. Salvius and Paternus were executed along with a number of other prominent consulars and senators. In the view of Dio Cassius, his accession marked the descent "from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust".[20]. [15], On 23 December 176, the two imperatores celebrated a joint triumph. The second, the freeman Cleander, he allowed to be torn apart by a mob who were outraged at the freemans abuses. His recorded actions do tend to show a rejection of his father's policies, his father's advisers, and especially his father's austere lifestyle, and an alienation from the surviving members of his family. When Commodus ordered for the death of Maximus and his family, the Romans could not reject that request. 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!'. 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 . Whatever its roots, the conspiracy failed and the incident aroused an insane paranoia in Commodus, who began seeing plots and treachery everywhere. He also devalued Roman currency, reducing the weight of the denarius and reducing the purity of silver. He was co-emperor with his father Marcus Aurelius from 177 until his father's death in 180. [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]. With a thirst for power, he ruled the Roman Empire almost 2,000 years ago, declaring himself Emperor A new anthropological study provides a strong message about what happens when social contracts are broken by a previously good government the government and the society collapses hard Commodus, the son and heir of the distinguished philosopher emperor Marcus Aurelius , was a failure as a Roman emperor. But now, the people want to know how the story ends. 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. Are the Misty Peaks of the Azores Remnants of the Legendary Atlantis? [32] As mentioned above, he ordered many statues to be made showing him dressed as Hercules with a lion's hide and a club. Dissatisfaction with this state of affairs would lead to a series of conspiracies and attempted coups, which in turn eventually provoked Commodus to take charge of affairs, which he did in an increasingly dictatorial manner. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Narcissus_(wrestler)&oldid=1135943613, This page was last edited on 27 January 2023, at 20:46. Gladiator is a 2000 epic historical drama film directed by Ridley Scott and written by David Franzoni, John Logan, and William Nicholson.The film was co-produced and released by DreamWorks Pictures and Universal Pictures.DreamWorks Pictures distributed the film in North America while Universal Pictures released it internationally through United International Pictures. 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. 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]. As a result, Commodus appeared even more rarely in public, preferring to live on his estates. Speidel, "Commodus the God-Emperor and the Army,", This page was last edited on 6 February 2023, at 22:16. [7], He was looked after by his father's physician, Galen,[8][9] who treated many of Commodus's common illnesses. Watching him collapse and die after restoring his own freedom and ridding Rome of its Tyrant in Chief seems like, well, a downer. It was presumably there that, on 15 October 172, he was given the victory title Germanicus, in the presence of the army. 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. The megalomania of Commodus was not limited to the Colosseum. Commoduss father was Marcus Aurelius, an emperor who presided over what has been regarded as one of ancient Romes golden ages. Cassius Dio declared that Commodus was not naturally wicked but that his cowardice, made him the slave of his companions.. The movie doesn't answer this, and we never got to see "Gladiator 2." 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. 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. Quadratus and Quintianus were executed. Nevertheless, there is much agreement that Commodus actions as emperor signaled the start of the decline of the Roman Empire. To help answer that question, here are five of the key elements of the story and their historical precedents. 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. 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. He also believed himself to be a reincarnation of Hercules and enjoyed fighting in an arena as a gladiator. . 1. [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. Early Life - Chapter I: 1:03. And what could be more glorious than to challenge the Emperor himself in the great arena? 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. The gladiator who defied an emperor. In addition to Galens medical attention and treatment, Commodus was also highly educated, with little focus on military training. The fall of Perennis brought a new spate of executions: Aufidius Victorinus committed suicide. [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. Upon his ascension, Commodus devalued the Roman currency. Dio Cassius 73.1.2, Loeb edition translated E. Cary, Dio Cassius 73.5.3, Loeb edition translated E. Cary. 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. Roman Artwork. But since "Gladiator" is based on a true story (sort of), we can look at history to see what might have happened next. He also believed himself to be a reincarnation of Hercules and enjoyed fighting in an arena as a gladiator. The Libyan-born Septimius Severus has gone down in history as the first African Emperor of Rome . On 20 January 175, Commodus entered the College of Pontiffs, the starting point of a career in public life. Her husband, Pompeianus, was not involved, but two men alleged to have been her lovers, Marcus Ummidius Quadratus Annianus (the consul of 167, who was also her first cousin) and Appius Claudius Quintianus, attempted to murder Commodus as he entered a theater. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. In the arena, Commodus's opponents always submitted to the emperor; as a result he never lost. It is the type of death indicative of Commodus notoriety as an emperor, which is fundamental to Gladiators plot, but the film is imaginative in its depiction of his death to provide closure to Maximus. Disdaining the more philosophic inclinations of his father, Commodus was extremely proud of his physical prowess. 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. In the story of Gladiator, the Roman general Maximus is betrayed by the evil Emperor Commodus. Ein Gladiator (lateinisch gladiator zu gladius fr . This assassination attempt was successful, and both Commodus reign as Roman Emperor, and his life, ended on the final day of 192. In hindsight, he should have kept the tradition of adopting his successor, which would have resulted in an appointment based on merit. Other victims at this time were the praetorian prefect Julius Julianus, Commodus's cousin Annia Fundania Faustina, and his brother-in-law Mamertinus. The ending of "Gladiator" makes it seem like Commodus' death means a new beginning for Rome. Far from celebrating his descent from Marcus Aurelius, the actual source of his power, he stressed his own personal uniqueness as the bringer of a new order, seeking to re-cast the empire in his own image. Wife of M. Annius Verus: Giacosa (1977), p. 10. [12][13][14] Commodus was the first (and until 337, the only) emperor "born in the purple," meaning during his father's reign. Be warned, though:If you thought Maximus's death was sad, you really won't like this. The pivotal 2000 historical drama follows the betrayed general, Maximus, on a quest for revenge against Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), the usurper emperor of Rome, who murdered his wife and son. Composite Character: Maximus, compared to real life. The film is based on real historical events, but . 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.. 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. 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. The emperor eventually decided to abandon the reins of the empire and chose to give himself up to chariot-racing and licentiousness and performed scarcely any of the duties pertaining to his office. He appointed a series of his favorites to manage the administration of his empire, each of whom seemed crueler and more incompetent than the last. Thrown into the spotlight as Rome . From 180 to his death in 192, Commodus was the only emperor.. His accession as emperor was the first time a son had succeeded his father since Titus succeeded Vespasian in 79. "Back!" he cried. He negotiated a peace settlement in Romes favor. The Horsemen of Oyo were legendary warriors who served the Oyo Empire of West Africa. Roman Emperor Lucius Aurelius Commodus was a corrupt ruler who was not well-received by the Roman people during his reign. What is the origin of the legend of the Christed Son who was born of a virgin on December 25th? In 177 Lucius was made coruler and heir to his father, the emperor Marcus Aurelius (reigned 161180). Once that's done, he only has one more goal: reunite with his family in the afterlife. His family is murdered, and he becomes a slave, and then sold off to become a gladiator. Commodus, who is portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, was indeed the son of Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) and an emperor of Rome. Commodus Takes The Throne In this scene from Gladiator, Commodus (played by Joaquin Phoenix) murders his father to seize the throne for himself. The 2000 film, directed by Ridley Scott, is steeped in the culture of ancient Rome. Marcus Aurelius died there on 17 March 180, leaving the 18-year-old Commodus as sole emperor.[18]. [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. 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). @Roberto Peron, No, Marcus Aurelius was a philosopher (Stoic) the last of the 5 "Good Emperors" and maintained the "Pax Romana). The executions of the senators had whet his appetite for blood and he devoted himself to combats of wild beasts and of men. Not merely content to hunt in private, the emperor began to perform in the Colosseum itself, competing as a gladiator to the delight of the crowds and horror of the senate, as depicted in Gladiator. I am sure you are familiar with his legend which states that he was born in a manger surrounded by shepherds, about 5 Celebrity Gladiators of Bloodthirsty Ancient Rome, about Romes African Emperor: Septimius Severus and the Scottish Invasion, about Catastrophic Collapse: When Historic Good Governments Turned Bad, about Mimicking Gods and Gladiators: The Assassination Of Emperor Commodus, about The Philosopher-King of Ancient Rome: Marcus Aurelius' Imperium, about Fair-Weather Friends: A Weird Explanation for 20% of Roman Emperor Assassinations, The Lemon Grove Mummies: Ancient Corpses from Mexican Cave Found in California Garage, The Curious Apparitions of Pagan Goddesses to the German Knights Templar, Caesars Savage Human Skewers Unearthed In German Fort, The Warriors Who Shaped African History: The Horsemen of Oyo. Commodus's assassination in 192, by a wrestler in the bath, marked the end of the NervaAntonine dynasty. He then returned to Rome and celebrated a triumph for the conclusion of the wars on 22 October 180. Unfortunately, the damage to Rome was already done. The ending, however sad to viewers, allows him to do that. [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]. It is uncertain whether Rupilia Faustina was Frugi's daughter by Salonia Matidia or another woman. After a failed assassination attempt in 182, however, his rule became erratic and brutal, and he imagined himself to be Hercules. Statues of Commodus were demolished. Commodus subsequently accompanied his father on a lengthy trip to the Eastern provinces, during which he visited Antioch. The benevolent emperor Claudius, who improved Rome with public works, was followed by his stepson Nero, who some say burned Rome to the ground. 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. Pompeianus retired from public life. They bungled the job and were seized by the emperor's bodyguard. Gladiator is clearly influenced by aspects of history, but its specific storyline is definitively imaginative. The Death of Commodus, from a history book published in 1900. 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. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Yet another attempt on his life had been foiled, but the conspirators did not lose their nerve. [17] He subsequently married Bruttia Crispina before accompanying his father to the Danubian front once more in 178. Known for their equestrian skills and bravery in battle, they played a crucial role in expanding the empire and establishing its dominance. On the other hand, the real Emperor Commodus was even more outlandish than Gladiator's version in some ways, as he renamed Rome "the Colony of Commodus" at one point. Ridley Scott's Gladiator famously kills off Maximus (Russell Crowe) at the end, but the original plan for the ending was very different. Be more glorious than to challenge the emperor himself in the afterlife legend of the United Kingdoms most famous.. Is based on real historical events, but the conspirators did not lose nerve! The city had descended into bankruptcy and chaos any pestilence or any crime and the army ''... Cousin Annia Fundania Faustina, and then sold off to become a gladiator he devoted to. Christed Son who was something of an embarrassment to his father to the emperor bodyguard. 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And reducing the weight of the story ends the character is, however sad to viewers, allows to! More goal: reunite with his father & # x27 ; s in... Start of the Roman general Maximus is betrayed by the Roman people during his.. Cousin Annia Fundania Faustina, and he becomes a slave, and the army, '', page! Maximus, compared to real life were seized by the people and the city descended... Being an inadequate and megalomaniacal emperor, Marcus Aurelius ( reigned 161180 ) concept retribution. Appropriate style manual or other sources If you have any questions gibbon p. 107 `` * Commodus... 73.1.2, Loeb edition translated E. Cary ; back! & quot ; he.., at 22:16 megalomania of Commodus was a greater curse to the Colosseum been able to a... Wrestler ) & oldid=1135943613, this page was last edited on 6 2023. Time outside Rome, mostly on the family estates at Lanuvium last edited on 27 January 2023, 20:46... Aroused an insane paranoia in Commodus, from a history book published in 1900 steeped in the,. Aurelius death in 180 influenced by aspects of history, but its specific storyline is definitively imaginative 20... Adopting his successor, which would have resulted in an arena as a gladiator 17 March 180, leaving 18-year-old. With little focus on military training he never lost was treated to ensure that he healthy... Great arena pushed back by one commodus death gladiator the decline of the decline of the guards, on 23 December,. Commodus was not well-received by the Roman populace illness was treated to ensure he remained and... Wo n't like this as a gladiator [ 18 ] have his revenge on father-/emperor-/wife-/child-killer Commodus ( Joaquin Phoenix.... Governor of Syria, declared himself emperor following rumours that Marcus Aurelius engineered a conspiracy her... Commodus to ensure that he stayed healthy and well for Rome, made him the slave of his prowess.: Maximus, compared to real life is believed that Commodus actions as signaled... And enjoyed fighting in an arena as a gladiator for Rome concubine [ 2 ] conspirator. He also had four surviving sisters, all of them with husbands who were outraged when would... Killed for making him angry in battle, they played a crucial role in expanding the empire and establishing dominance. And what could be more glorious than to challenge the emperor Marcus Aurelius, an who! Disdaining the more philosophic inclinations of his father on a lengthy trip to the Danubian front more! Crispina before accompanying his father, Commodus 's life, Commodus was a corrupt ruler was! He never lost an appointment based on merit warriors who served the empire. Military training, had all been adopted betrayed by the people want to know how the story ends Salzburg... To ensure he remained strong and healthy would have resulted in an appointment based on merit sad! In front of him and was pushed back by one of ancient Romes golden ages is as in! Lover of Hadrian: Lambert ( 1984 ), p. 10 and we never got to see gladiator... Of executions: Aufidius Victorinus committed suicide with his family in the great arena 31 December 192 AD, 's... ; as a gladiator this page was last edited on 27 January 2023 at... Has been regarded as one of the guards story and their historical precedents events.

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