One story goes that the young prince once cast a servant into a furnace for drawing a bath that was too cold. He was killed by his trainer and wrestling partner Narcissus, and his Praetorian Prefect Quintus Laetus.Even as a young child, Commodus displayed a penchant for cruelty that would carry into his rule later on. Romans saw such acts as a disgrace, and coupled with his tyranny, Commodus was widely hated throughout the empire. Commodus is also recorded to have killed various beasts in the arena by himself, including ostriches, a giraffe, panthers, and lions. While he was known to spare his opponents in arena matches, he also enjoyed slaughtering people in practice. The actual Roman emperor Commodus was infamous for his infatuation with gladiatoral combat to the point that he would himself participate in matches as a secutor class gladiator himself. Minutes later, his body can be seen on the arena floor while his sister and Senator Gracchus carry Maximus' body away with the help of the Roman people and his gang. He then produced a dagger and tried to deliver the killing blow on his rival, but was stabbed instead. During the first seconds of the duel,Commodus was disarmed by Maximus and his guards refused to give him a sword.

He then ordered the Praetorian Guard to strap on Maximus' armor and the latter soon joined him at the platform in preparation for their match in the Colosseum. Maximus declared one day that he would get total revenge on him.Īfter the failed escape of Maximus, Commodus then confronted him in prison and secretly stabbed him in the side in an effort to weaken him before their arena match. He eventually tortured Maximus by describing the emotions of his wife and son as they were crucified. He tried to kill Maximus at a fight with Tigris of Gaul by unleashing three tigers to kill him, but Maximus defeated Tigris and killed one of the tigers. However, the people in the audience of the colosseum wanted Maximus to live, and his lust for appreciation drove Commodus to decide to let Maximus live. Thinking he was dead after a failed execution, Commodus wanted to kill him. After Maximus defeated other gladiators after a reenactment of the Battle of Carthage, Maximus removed his helmet and revealed his identity to Commodus. His hatred for Maximus did not extinguish. He seemed to fall in love with Lucilla, though his sister, and took her as his consort empress. Commodus was angry at all the lists of demands given to him by the senators, but he wanted the people to love him because he was never loved. He ignored the fact given to him by Gracchus that the Greek Quarter of the Roman Empire was infected by plague. Enraged by this, the prince suffocated his father to death and was later crowned as the Emperor of Rome (Caesar).Ĭommodus was crowned Emperor of Rome, but had an uneasy approach to the post. However, the emperor announced to him that Maximus would be emperor instead of him. Later on, he visited his father and announced he was ready to serve Rome. He warned Maximus that when he got home, and when he was emperor, he might call him back to duty.

He introduced Maximus to senators Falco and Gaius, who were loyal friends to the prince. However, his secret jealousy of Maximus led to a huge fight.

He was happy that he missed the battle and the war, and embraced Maximus as a brother. He was portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix in the 2000 film Gladiator.Ĭommodus was a cowardly prince of Rome, and he arrived to meet the emperor shortly after the Battle against the Barbarians. He took the throne as regent, but was killed by Maximus in the Colosseum.

He later killed his father after he announced that General Maximus Meridius would be his successor. He was the brother of Princess Lucilla, and uncle of Lucius. Commodus was the son of marcus Marcus Aurelius and later Roman Emperor.

Joaquin phoenix commodus