Gladiator Movie -- What really happened? What’d they add in?
IS THE FILM GLADIATOR A TRUE STORY? Yes and no. While it is obvious that an impressive amount of historical and scholarly research was undertaken by the filmmakers, much of the plot is fiction. The fiction does however, appear to be inspired by actual historical events, as will be shown in the appropriate sections below. In this sense, the film is perhaps best seen as a collage, or artistic representation of ancient history, as opposed to an accurate, chronological, reconstruction of events.
It also appears that the creator of the movie attempts to present not just a reconstruction of hard facts, but also desires to present to those who watch the movie the culture of ancient Rome, the spirit of its time, and the psychological outlook characteristic of its period.
WHAT WAS EMPEROR MARCUS AURELIUS REALLY LIKE?
Marcus Aurelius was, as well as emperor from 161 to 180 CE, a stoic philosopher. He really did wage battles along the frontier as depicted in the film, and is remembered by historians of his time as a competent ruler, whom they liked. His name in full was Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus, and these are the titles to which he would have been referred, not the anachronistic "sire" and "my lord" as in the film. His book that he wrote, The Meditations, although more a collection of existing stoic thoughts than a work of great originality, remains a highly readable classic in philosophy!
WHAT WAS EMPEROR COMMODUS REALLY LIKE?
If the ancient sources can be trusted, Commodus was even more bizarre in real life than he was in the film. Commodus, whose full name was Caesar Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus Augustus, was proclaimed as the successor Caesar at age 5 and joint emperor (co-Augustus) at the age of 17, in 177 CE, by his father, Marcus Aurelius. Reality was very different than the film in this instance. Commodus was, as depicted in Gladiator, present with his father during the wars in modern day Germany (Germania on map below), and yes, this is where Marcus Aurelius died. As for the actual circumstances of his father's death, see below.
Historians from the time of Commodus have not been kind to him. As aristocratic (Upper-Class) intellectuals, they were not amused by his crude antics. Hence, our present day understanding of history still reflects, rightly or wrongly, this ancient bias. His father, possessing the virtues seen as noble by the literate aristocracy (Upper-class people), was, and often still is, regarded as a great man, while his son was hated by the Senate and ridiculed by historians. Yet it is said that the army and the lower classes loved Commodus.
Cassius Dio, a senator and historian who lived during the reign of both Commodus and his father wrote, in regards to Commodus becoming caesar, that "our history now descends from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust, as affairs did for the Romans of that day."
Indeed, some historians even question Commodus’ sanity. Commodus, in his own time, was accused of being a megalomaniac (In love with himself). He renamed Rome Colonia Commodiana, the "Colony of Commodus", and renamed the months of the year after titles held in his honour, namely, Lucius, Aelius, Aurelius, Commodus, Augustus, Herculeus, Romanus, Exsuperatorius, Amazonius, Invictus, Felix, and Pius. The Senate was renamed the Commodian Fortunate Senate, and the Roman people were given the name Commodianus.
Historian Aelius Lampridius tells us that "Commodus lived, rioting in the palace amid banquets and in baths along with 300 concubines, gathered together for their beauty and chosen from both matrons and harlots...
Commodus went so far as to declare himself the new founder of Rome, a "new Romulus". In attempting to boast a new "Golden Age" of Rome, he was clearly trying to follow after his father. But the effect was to make him the laughing stock of the aristocratic (upper) class.
DID COMMODUS REALLY KILL HIS FATHER? Maybe. Some sources suspect that he did. The fact that he was present at the time, made a hasty peace with the enemy, and a quick retreat back to Rome in a victory triumph, has fueled speculation. The official story is that Marcus Aurelius died of plague.
DID COMMODUS REALLY FIGHT AS A GLADIATOR? Yes! In this case, the truth is even stranger than the fiction. Commodus claimed to be descended from the God Hercules, and even began to dress like him, wearing lion skins and carrying a club. The historian Herodian wrote that "in his gladiatorial combats, he defeated his opponents with ease, and he did no more than wound them, since they all submitted to him, but only because they knew he was the emperor, not because he was truly a gladiator." He also fought wild beasts. Dio Cassius wrote that Commodus killed five hippopotami at one time. He also killed two elephants, several rhinoceroses, and a giraffe "with the greatest of ease". Herodian tells us further that Commodus had a special platform constructed which encircled the arena, from which he would display his skills as a hunter. He is recorded to have killed one hundred leopards with one hundred javelins. As a theatrical treat, he would slice the heads off of ostriches with crescent-headed arrows, which would then run around the amphitheater headless.
Dio Cassius reveals that Senators were made to attend these spectacles, and that on one occasion Commodus killed an ostrich and displayed the severed head in one hand, his sword dripping with blood in the other, thus implying that he could treat them the same way.
DID EMPEROR COMMODUS REALLY DIE IN THE ARENA? No. However he was assassinated, and, by an athlete. There were numerous plots and attempts upon his life, but the one which finally succeeded was carried out by a wrestler named Narcissus, while Commodus was in his bath. The plot was orchestrated by his closest advisors, and apparently even included his mistress, Marcia. It occurred on the last day of the year 192 A.D. It was believed that Commodus planned to kill the consuls-elect, and be sworn in as consul himself. This he reportedly was going to do dressed as a gladiator, in his lion skins. This was the final outrage. His fate was sealed. Commodus ruled for 12 years, a much longer period than alluded to in the film. Dio Cassius wrote that Commodus was "a greater curse to the Romans than any pestilence or any crime."
WAS THE REPUBLIC RESTORED AFTER THE DEATH OF COMMODUS? No. The film is wrong on this count. A republic is a system of government which does not have a hereditary monarch. An emperor is a monarch.
The Romans hated Dictators and kings! That is why the movie shows the loving ideals of a republican system of government, which was a central theme of both Roman history and the movie. After Commodus was murdered, the Senate met before daybreak, and declared sixty-six year old Pertinax, who was the son of a former slave, emperor. Pertinax thus became emperor on January 1st, but he was murdered by a group of soldiers the following March, after less than three months in power.
WHAT WAS MAXIMUS REALLY LIKE Maximus Decimus Meridius (his full name is stated only once in the film) is a fictitious character! Although he did not exist, his character seems to be a collection of actual historical figures. In the film, Maximus was Marcus Aurelius' general. There was in fact a general by the name of Avidius Cassius, who was involved in the military campaign in Germania shown in the film (first scene), and, upon hearing a rumor of Marcus Aurelius' death, declared himself emperor. He however, was assassinated by his own soldiers. It is true that there was, in the later Empire, a General by the name of Maximus who appears to have had revolutionary intentions. He is most likely an inspiration as well for the main character as well! Commodus, in reality, was not murdered in the arena by Maximus. He was however murdered by a wrestler. So the character Maximus, while fictitious, is not that far-fetched. He appears to be collage of other, real, historical figures. As for his personality, he was definitely a stoic, as evidenced by his sense of obligation to the state, and concern for duty and virtue. This makes sense, given his admiration for Marcus Aurelius, who was a stoic philosopher. One difficulty is, even though many Romans (and not just Christians) believed in an afterlife, stoics usually did not. So this is problematic with regards to his character in the film.
Questions… Answer in YOUR OWN WORDS!
1) While the movie isn’t entirely historically accurate, what does it show us that is based in fact?
2) What did people writing about Commodus during his time think about him?
3) Who did Commodus claim to be related to? (“descended from”)
4) Did Commodus really kill his father?
5) Who actually killed Commodus in real life?
6) Was the Roman Republic restored after Commodus was killed in real life?
The Roman Colosseum Today