I have written about Romans before, Cicero for example. But the story of Commodus needs telling. On 31st December 192 A.D. the Roman Emperor Commodus survived an attempted poisoning by his mistress only to be strangled in his bath.
Emperor Commodus, born on August 31, 161 AD, was the son of Emperor Marcus Aurelius and his wife, Faustina the Younger. He ascended to the throne in 180 AD, becoming co-emperor with his father in 177 AD. Commodus’s reign marked a significant departure from the philosophical and stoic principles that characterized his father’s rule. Instead, Commodus is often remembered for his erratic behavior, extravagance, and a penchant for gladiatorial combat.
Commodus was only 18 years old when he became emperor, and his early reign was initially managed by his father’s advisors. However, after Marcus Aurelius’s death in 180 AD, Commodus quickly began to assert his authority, distancing himself from the Senate and the traditional Roman elite. His reign saw a decline in the influence of the Senate, as he favored a more autocratic style of governance.
One of the most notorious aspects of Commodus’s rule was his obsession with gladiatorial games. He participated in the arena himself, fighting as a gladiator, which was scandalous for a Roman emperor. Commodus claimed to be the reincarnation of Hercules and often appeared in public dressed as the hero, complete with a lion’s skin and a club. This behavior was not only seen as unseemly but also undermined the dignity of the imperial office.
His reign was marked by a series of bizarre and tyrannical acts. Commodus engaged in lavish spending, hosting extravagant games and public spectacles that drained the imperial treasury. He also instituted a series of reforms that favored his supporters while alienating the traditional power structures within Rome. His administration was characterized by a series of purges against perceived enemies, leading to a climate of fear and instability.
Commodus’s rule also saw military challenges, particularly along the northern frontiers of the empire. While he initially enjoyed some military successes, his later years were marked by defeats and a lack of effective leadership. This contributed to a growing discontent among the military and the populace.
The turning point in Commodus’s reign came in 192 AD when he was assassinated in a conspiracy led by his inner circle, including his chamberlain and the captain of the guard. His death marked the end of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty and ushered in a period of instability known as the Year of the Five Emperors.
Commodus’s legacy is complex. While he is often vilified as a tyrant and a madman, his reign reflects the challenges of governing a vast empire during a time of transition. His life and rule have been romanticized and dramatized in various forms of media, most notably in the film “Gladiator,” which, while fictionalized, captures the essence of his larger-than-life persona and the tumultuous nature of his reign.
Commodus’s death on December 31, 192 AD, was the result of a conspiracy that highlighted the growing discontent with his rule. By this time, Commodus had become increasingly erratic and tyrannical, alienating many within the Roman political and military elite. His obsession with gladiatorial combat and his lavish lifestyle had led to significant dissatisfaction among the Senate and the military, setting the stage for his downfall.
The conspiracy against him was orchestrated by a group of individuals close to the emperor, including his chamberlain, Eclectus, and the captain of the guard, Laetus. They were motivated by a combination of fear for their own safety and a desire to restore stability to the empire. Commodus had developed a reputation for paranoia, often executing those he suspected of disloyalty, which created an atmosphere of treachery and mistrust.
On the night of December 31, the conspirators put their plan into action. His mistress Marcia initially attempted to poison Commodus, but he vomited the poison up. Failing in their first method, the conspirators resorted to a more direct approach. They sent an assassin, named Narcissus, one of his wrestling partners. Narcissus found Commodus in his bath. In a dramatic turn of events, the assassin strangled the emperor, bringing an abrupt end to his reign. The act was swift and decisive, reflecting the desperation of those who sought to end his increasingly erratic rule.
After Commodus’s death, his body was subjected to a posthumous damnatio memoriae, a formal condemnation of his memory. This meant that his name was erased from public records, and statues of him were destroyed. The Senate sought to distance itself from his legacy, and his death marked the end of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty, leading to a power vacuum and a period of instability known as the Year of the Five Emperors.
Commodus’s death also had significant implications for the Roman Empire. It underscored the vulnerabilities of the imperial system and the potential for internal strife. The subsequent power struggles among various claimants to the throne highlighted the challenges of succession and governance in a vast empire. Ultimately, Commodus’s demise serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of tyranny and the fragility of power in ancient Rome.