To navigate the timeline, click and drag it with your mouse, or click on the. Known for his philosophical interests, marcus aurelius was one of the most respected emperors in roman history. On 1 january 177, commodus became consul for the first time, which made him, aged 15, the youngest consul in roman history up to that time. He published 80 volumes of history on ancient rome, beginning with the arrival of aeneas in italy. This is a very good book it brings to life the real commodus and hope his reign i have seen the film gladiator and this is a different side of his story wellwritten and rehearsed it would interest anyone who likes ancient roman history. Cassius dio, the roman history salvete, history lovers. Turney has taken on myth and misconception, and has brought forth a fascinating look at one of the more enigmatic of the roman emperors. The first of these inept emperors was commodus, the son of marcus aurelius.
Commodus squandered the wealth of rome, he was a curse upon the roman empire and dio cassius called commodus a greater curse than any pestilence, and guilty of unseemly deeds. The roman empire is in a rare period of peace and stability, with two brothers, marcus. It is assumed that commod won about 736 gladiatorial fights. Commodus emperor of rome 161192 worldcat identities. He is best known to history as the assassin of the roman emperor commodus, by whom he was employed as a wrestling partner and personal trainer in order to train commodus for his selfindulgent appearances in the colosseum as a gladiator. The 11 most sexually depraved things the roman emperors ever did. Commodus saw himself as the reincarnation of hercules and liked to arrange bloody gladiator fights during which even wounded soldiers or cripples were forced to enter the arena. According to the authors website, the book covers part of romes early history.
He has been portrayed in many popular movies and tv series. Well now, that was certainly not the commodus from gladiator. Aug 29, 20 ancient history encyclopedia foundation is a nonprofit organization. A new history of rome and the barbarians 2006 572pp.
Cassius dios roman history book 73 herodians history of the roman empire. Jan 01, 2002 the emperor commodus ad 180192 has commonly been portrayed as an insane madman, whose reign marked the beginning of the end of the roman empire. He subsequently married bruttia crispina before accompanying his father to the danubian front once more in 178, where marcus aurelius died on 17 march 180, leaving the 18yearold commodus sole emperor. The twelve caesars by suetonius gives the inside story on some of romes greatest emperors i thought that if i was going to choose five books on roman history i really had to choose a roman historian because, for modern historians, roman historians have always been the great model. His reign is commonly considered to mark the end of the golden period in the history of the roman empire known as the pax romana. He succeeded commodus to become the first emperor during the tumultuous year of the five emperors. He is best known to history as the assassin of the roman emperor commodus, by whom he was employed as a wrestling partner and personal trainer in order to train commodus for his selfindulgent appearances in the colosseum as a. A complete history of the rise and fall of the roman empire 2008 rostovtzeff, m. The day commodus killed a rhino witness to ancient history. His reign is commonly considered to mark the end of the golden period in the history of the roman empire known as the. Commodus was guilty of many unseemly deeds, and killed a great many people.
With the death of roman emperor marcus aurelius in march of 180 ce, the long reign of the five good emperors came to an end and with it so did the pax romana the roman peace. His accession as emperor was the first time a son had succeeded his father since titus succeeded vespasian in 79. Commodus was born on august 31, 161 ad in lanuvium, 14 miles southeast of rome. Emperor commodus 161 192 ad was one of the most despicable rulers in romes long and violent history. After commodus rule of nearly years, along with 125 years of largely stable rule since the death of nero, and in spite of the efforts of the conspirators to. He also ruled as coemperor with his father marcus aurelius from 177 until his fathers death in 180. His brutal misrule precipitated civil strife that ended 84 years of stability and prosperity within the empire. The emperor of rome commodus research paper 1785 words. He was a triumvirate holdings leader alongside nero and caligula. When he was a ruler along with his father, he accompained marcus aurelius during the marcomannic wars in 172 and on a tour of the eastern provinces in 176. Please help us cover our server costs for this year. Unfortunately such high concepts need to be matched by a comparable amount of flair and toner is unable to sustain it throughout. Roman history like augustus, charlemagne, and pericles have soared into western historical tradition while others like commodus have received a far less respected legacy, being banished and disgraced with stories of megalomania and decadence. The first in the series, caligula was a fabulous and intelligent read that really made you think about the political intrigues of ancient rome.
Unfortunately, he only have the epitomes and not full lengths of his text, but a good primary source. Even in this video there wasnt enough time to recount all of his victims. Commodus, or lucius aurelius commodus, was roman emperor with his father marcus aurelius from 177 to his fathers death in 180, and alone until 192. Genesis, the blog series about the research that went into our latest historical fantasy release set in. Commodus born lucius aurelius commodus in 161 ad was a roman emperor and a current godemperor. Commodus simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. His father was roman emperor marcus aurelius, and his. Commodus the outrageous emperor who fought as a gladiator. Roman history, volume vii dio cassius harvard university. An academic and graphic account of the rule of the famously narcissistic roman emperor commodus, who inherited the roman empire from his father, marcus aurelius, at the height of its expansion in the second century ad, told over a backdrop of. His father was roman emperor marcus aurelius, and his mother was faustina the younger. Narcissus was a roman athlete, likely a wrestler, from the 2nd century ad. A contemporary of commodus, he has a good account of what happened. The emperor commodus ad 180192 has commonly been portrayed as an insane madman, whose reign marked the beginning of the end of the roman empire.
Understanding the roman games witness to ancient history toner, jerry on. Those emperors who followed for the next century would witness a time of both chaos and decline. Indeed, the main point of criticism on his father, marcus aurelius, is that he appointed his son as his successor. This book is set on the cusp of the 5th and 4th centuries bc, about a roman girl married to an etruscan man in the. An academic and graphic account of the rule of the famously narcissistic roman emperor commodus, who inherited the roman empire from his father, marcus aurelius, at the height of its expansion in the second century ad, told over a backdrop of violence, sex, and corruption. Dios work is a vital source for the last years of the roman republic and the first four roman emperors. The majority of writers who have devoted themselves to compiling histories and to reviving the memory of past events have had in mind the eternal glory of learning. We are a nonprofit organization and we would rather spend the money on our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. Alaric now at this moment of supreme crisis, coming down to the rough shore and seeing the howling waves, raised his hand to heaven and called out that the gulf of corinth should freeze. Commodus lucius aurelius commodus antoninus, 31 august 161 31 december 192 was roman emperor from 180 to 192. He was killed by apollo during the battle of san francisco bay when he was greatly injured in an explosion. Nowadays commodus is best remembered as the villain of ridley scotts movie gladiator, a sneering and arrogant portrayal by joaquin phoenix.
He loved the games, slaughtering innumerable animals and massacring many people for pleasure. Herodian of antioch, history of the roman empire 1961 pp. The wedding shroud, published september 2010 by elisabeth storrs. This book is set on the cusp of the 5th and 4th centuries bc, about a roman girl married to an etruscan man in the events leading up to the war between rome and veii. Acclaimed historical fiction author simon turney catalogues another infamous ruler of rome in the second book of his the damned emperors series, commodus. He was also known for imagining that he was the god hercules, entering the arena. Jul 11, 2017 there dont seem to be any details of the terms with which commodus agreed to peace with the marcomanni it seems more important to the greek historians who give us factual accounts as opposed to the roman author of the historia augusta to empha. He was born into a wealthy and politically prominent family. The death of commodus, from a history book published in 1900. Understanding the roman games witness to ancient history. The facilities for research afforded by dios official duties and his own industry make him a very vital source for roman history of the last years of the republic and the first four emperors.
The roman empire is in a rare period of peace and stability, with two brothers, marcus aurelius and lucius verus, both ruling as emperor. Genesis, the blog series about the research that went into our latest historical fantasy release set in the world of ancient rome. Jul 05, 2019 commodus was guilty of many unseemly deeds, and killed a great many people. Joaquin phoenix even played a fictionalized version of commodus in the movie gladiator. Commodus behaved with a lack of restraint unusual even for an emperor. Little of his roman history survives, but missing portions are partly supplied from elsewhere and there are many excerpts.
On december 31 ad 192, narcissus strangled the 31 year old commodus in his bath thus bringing an end to the rule of the antonines and closing a definitive chapter in roman history. Herodian, history of the roman empire since the death of marcus aurelius. Cassius dio, the roman history salvete, historylovers. He was also known for imagining that he was the god hercules, entering the arena to fight as a gladiator or to kill lions with bow and arrow. Greek historian, author of a history of the roman empire since the death of marcus aurelius in which he describes the reign of commodus 180192, the year of the five emperors 193, the age of the severan dynasty 211235, and the year of the six emperors 238.
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