Commodus: Firsthand Accounts

Hard evidence about Commodus's reign remains scarce. Only two texts survive, and both come from hostile sources.Cassius Dio.a Roman senator of Greek descent during Commodus's time.

Dio's account shows the emperor's relationship with the Senate was very strained. Dio does not try to protect Commodus's reputation. Some claims seem exaggerated; Dio lists many personality flaws for Commodus. Dio wrote eighty books, covering over a thousand years of Roman history.

The other source came from a civil servant namedHerodian.Little is known about Herodian, except for details he includes about his own lifetime's events. Herodian tells stories more than Cassius Dio. Herodian's version of events often shows the emperor in a more wild, though not less aggressive, light. Dio and Herodian sometimes disagree on the same events; other important events are only mentioned by one writer.

According toHerodian.Commodus turned heads upon arriving in Rome as a new emperor:

He was in his prime, striking, with a developed body and a handsome face, not pretty. His commanding eyes flashed like lightning. His naturally blond, curly hair shone in the sun like fire.Some people thought he sprinkled gold dust in his hair before appearing publicly.Others saw something divine in it, claiming a heavenly light shone around his head.

After his death in 192 CE, Herodian wrote that Commodus was "the handsomest man of his time, both in beauty of features and in physical development."

After the so-calledFive Good Emperors.The Nerva-Antonine dynasty oversaw years of stable rule, wealth, and growth. Commodus ruined it all. This was not a blood dynasty; Commodus was the first emperor in a century to take over from his father. Before that, dynasty members were either given the role or adopted to become emperor.

The idea of the Five Good Emperors was popular until recently. Modern historians view the long decline of the Roman Empire through a broader look at internal and external factors. After Commodus died in 192 CE, there were at least five emperors in 193.

At fifteen, Commodus became Consul of Rome, appointed by his father.Marcus AureliusOn January 1, 177 CE, Commodus became the youngest person to hold that position. The emperor gave him more duties and ruled with his father until Aurelius died in 180 CE.

Dio suggests Commodus held no ill will for his father or any part in his death.Dio mentions one regret.Aurelius felt disappointment in his son.

Rearing and educating his son well did not make Aurelius happy; he was vastly disappointed.

Commodus became emperor at nineteen. He ended the long Marcomannic War, which raged on the empire's frontiers for fourteen years.

Contemporary sources suggest he ended the war.He ended it from weakness and a desire to return to Rome's luxuries.Commodus wanted Rome's luxuries. This choice brought an unusual peace to the hostile area. The Danube River stayed the empire's border until the fourth century.

As a young ruler, Commodus appeared to have a decent relationship with the Senate and his father's advisors.Herodian noted this.Herodian noted this.

For years, the emperor followed his father's advisors, accepting their advice on everything.

The film Gladiator shows this.GladiatorIn the film, Commodus became obsessed with his sister Lucilla. Real life was not like that.

Lucilla remarried a less prestigious second husband after her first husband died. She did not stay out of the spotlight long. Ancient sources rarely view women positively, and Dio or Herodian offer little insight into her character. According toDioDio says she was "no more chaste or immodest than her brother Commodus," while Herodian made equally suggestive statements about her morals.Herodianmade equally suggestive statements about her morals.

Lucilla gathered conspirators to stab her brother and seize power. Entrusting the vital task to a young noble named Quintianus proved a mistake; he revealed the plan before failing the murder attempt. Her sister and her co-conspirators were executed quickly. Herodian says Commodus's deep distrust of the Senate started after the conspiracy.

Commodus ordered executions of men he suspected of plotting against him, including those who might have the means. Dio states Commodus killed two nobles, not for actual plots, but because their wealth and influence threatened him.

Multiple attempts on his life showed Commodus's suspicions were justified. Ironically, the harshness of his rule made further plots against him certain.

Likely using artistic license,Diowrote Commodus eliminated so many would-be plotters that "it would be tedious to try to list all of them."

One imaginative idea in the film GladiatorGladiatorFact showed Commodus fought many gladiators; sources claim over 700 bouts. He never lost. He apparently built a statue honoring himself, claiming the title "Commodus conquered a thousand gladiators."

Commodus fought left-handed. He took pride in this, an odd trait in the ancient world that favored right-handers. People mockingly called him "He was left-handed.This happened in some elite circles.

Beyond the inflated victory count, these exhibitions likely lacked legitimacy. Who would fight the emperor, especially one known for cruelty?

Rome's aristocracy disliked the emperor's obsessionThis was unbecoming.:

But at the amphitheaterhe went naked, took up arms, and fought as a gladiator. The people saw a shameful show, disgracing his high status byThe exhibitions were degrading and disgusting..

Commodus was athletic. Specialists trained him inHe used archery and javelins.He became an expert marksman. He also excelled at chariot racing. In a public display, he reportedly killed 100 lions with exactly 100 javelins, a feat even hostile sources admitted earned crowd approval.

Another shocking display involved him killing 100 bears. He paused briefly to drink cold wine before resuming his slaughter. Sources list the exotic animals brought to the city just for CommodusHe wanted to kill.:

For example, he killed five hippopotami and two elephants over two days, all by himself, using only his hands. He also killed rhinoceroses and a camelopard [giraffe].

Commodus fixated on Hercules. He dressed like Hercules publicly, making him a laughingstock among the Roman elite. He posed for statues as Hercules (pictured), commissionedHe used coins.He used himself as the hero, and evenHe orderedothers to call him Hercules instead of Commodus. He even renamed the months after his hero.

Sources conflict on Pereniss. Some say he was a loyal servant the emperor killed unfairly; others claim he was a schemer who got what was coming to him. Both Dio and Herodian agree Pereniss was an influential figure handling small administrative tasks Commodus ignored initially. That agreement stops there.

Dio:

Privately, Pereniss sought neither fame nor wealth. He lived a very honest and temperate life. He guarded Commodus and his imperial office with total security.

Herodian:

Driven by his need for money, he despised what he had and greedily wanted what he did not yet possess.

Herodian said Pereniss plotted against the emperor. A beggar dressed as a philosopher warned Commodus about the plot. Commodus burned the beggar alive as thanks. Other senior officials, likely victims of Pereniss's greed, told Commodus about the danger.

Soldiers arrived in the city, angry at their commander. Commodus did not stop them from killing Pereniss and his family.

The Senate might have scorned him for gaining power. However, the common people of Rome liked their emperor. Commodus's love for shows and beauty brought grand games and upgrades to Rome. Sources critical of him still admit he gave money to regular citizens. He often gave money directly to the people.people:

Commodus also liked giving gifts. He often gave large amounts to the crowd, one hundred and forty denarii for each person.

The people enjoyed the games he put on. The nobles who had to pay for the shows were understandably unhappy.

Finally, he ordered us, our wives, and our children each to give two gold pieces yearly on his birthday. He also commanded senators in other cities to give five denarii each. He spent nothing of this, butspent it all on wild beasts and gladiators..

After Commodus died, people tried to fix his image because of his standing with the common folk. One of his successors,JulianusHe promised to restore the statues of Commodus that the Senate had destroyed.

Dio claims that after another animal slaughter, Commodus sent a clear message to his Senate enemies:

He killed an ostrich and cut off its head. He approached where we sat, holding the head in his left hand. In his right hand, he raised his bloody sword. He said nothing, but he nodded with a grin, showing he would treat us the same way.

If that was not scary enough, he also ordered a statue of himself pointing a bow at theSenate:

...but across from the Senate house, he put up a special statue of the emperor as an archer ready to shoot. He wanted even his statues to make people fear him.

A terrible plague struck the empire. Soldiers returned home from frontier campaigns. This plague, sometimes called the Plague of Galen because Commodus's physician studied it, killed up to 2,000 citizens in Rome daily.

After the plague, famine hit the city, and many starved. Cleander, a trusted but corrupt subordinate of Commodus, earned the crowd's anger by hoarding grain while people starved. Cleander moved from slave to commander of Commodus's guard, using that rank to become very rich.

When an angry mob threatened the imperial palace, Commodus hadCleander.executed and gave his head to the crowd on a spear. This worked; the unrest stopped for now.

In 191, another disaster hit the city—a huge fire allegedly started by aA lightning bolt struck Rome during his reign.damaged Rome badly. The superstitious people started wondering if the gods turned against Commodus. The emperor's strange actions got even weirder.

Because of his vanity and love for sports, it fit that Commodus died from a wrestler named Narcissus, whom he had trained.

Sources differ on how Commodus died; either a former training partner finished him in the bath or in bed. Marcia and two top politicians Commodus planned to execute were central to the plot. Herodian suggests a child found a clay tablet namedPhilocommodus strangled him.This made Marcia learn Commodus planned to kill her.

Marcia strangled him.gave Commodus poison in his wine, but it only made him violently sick. As he lay to get better, Narcissus was promised big rewards to finish Commodus with hisPhilocommodus used his own hands..