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Commodus

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Commodus

Commodus (; Latin: [ˈkɔmmɔdʊs]; 31 August 161 – 31 December 192) was Roman emperor from 177 to 192, first serving as nominal co-emperor under his father Marcus Aurelius and then ruling alone from 180. Commodus's sole reign is commonly thought to mark the end of the Pax Romana, a golden age of peace and prosperity in the history of the Roman Empire. Commodus accompanied his father during the Marcomannic Wars in 172 and on a tour of the Eastern provinces in 176. The following year, he became the youngest emperor and consul up to that point, at the age of 16. His solo reign saw less military conflict than that of Marcus Aurelius, but internal intrigues and conspiracies abounded, goading Commodus to an increasingly dictatorial style of leadership. This culminated in his creating a deific personality cult, including his performances as a gladiator in the Colosseum. Throughout his reign, Commodus entrusted the management of affairs to his palace chamberlain and praetorian prefects, namely Saoterus, Perennis, and Cleander. Commodus was assassinated by the wrestler Narcissus in 192, ending the Nerva–Antonine dynasty. He was succeeded by Pertinax, the first claimant in the tumultuous Year of the Five Emperors.

Infobox

Reign
early 177 – 31 December 192(senior from 17 March 180)
Predecessor
Marcus Aurelius
Successor
Pertinax
Co-emperor
Marcus Aurelius (177–180)
Born
31 August 161Lanuvium, near Rome, Italy
Died
31 December 192 (aged 31)Rome, Italy
Burial
Hadrian's Mausoleum
Spouse
Bruttia Crispina
Names
NamesLucius Aelius Aurelius CommodusMarcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus
Dynasty
Nerva–Antonine
Father
Marcus Aurelius
Mother
Faustina the Younger

Tables

· External links
Regnal titles
Regnal titles
Commodus Nerva–Antonine dynastyBorn: 31 August 161 Died: 31 December 192
Regnal titles
Preceded byMarcus Aurelius
Preceded byMarcus Aurelius
Commodus Nerva–Antonine dynastyBorn: 31 August 161 Died: 31 December 192
Preceded byMarcus Aurelius
Commodus Nerva–Antonine dynastyBorn: 31 August 161 Died: 31 December 192
Roman emperor 180–192
Commodus Nerva–Antonine dynastyBorn: 31 August 161 Died: 31 December 192
Succeeded byPertinax
Political offices
Political offices
Commodus Nerva–Antonine dynastyBorn: 31 August 161 Died: 31 December 192
Political offices
Preceded byT. Pomponius Proculus Vitrasius PollioM. Flavius Aper IIas ordinary consuls
Preceded byT. Pomponius Proculus Vitrasius PollioM. Flavius Aper IIas ordinary consuls
Commodus Nerva–Antonine dynastyBorn: 31 August 161 Died: 31 December 192
Preceded byT. Pomponius Proculus Vitrasius PollioM. Flavius Aper IIas ordinary consuls
Commodus Nerva–Antonine dynastyBorn: 31 August 161 Died: 31 December 192
Roman consul 177with Marcus Peducaeus Plautius Quintillus
Commodus Nerva–Antonine dynastyBorn: 31 August 161 Died: 31 December 192
Succeeded bySer. Cornelius Scipio Salvidienus Orfitus,Domitius Velius Rufusas ordinary consuls
Preceded bySer. Cornelius Scipio Salvidienus Orfitus,Domitius Velius Rufusas ordinary consuls
Preceded bySer. Cornelius Scipio Salvidienus Orfitus,Domitius Velius Rufusas ordinary consuls
Commodus Nerva–Antonine dynastyBorn: 31 August 161 Died: 31 December 192
Preceded bySer. Cornelius Scipio Salvidienus Orfitus,Domitius Velius Rufusas ordinary consuls
Commodus Nerva–Antonine dynastyBorn: 31 August 161 Died: 31 December 192
Roman consul 179with Publius Martius Verus
Commodus Nerva–Antonine dynastyBorn: 31 August 161 Died: 31 December 192
Succeeded byT. Flavius Claudianus,L. Aemilius Iuncusas suffect consuls
Preceded byL. Fulvius Rusticus G. Bruttius Praesens II,Sex. Quintilius Condianusas ordinary consuls
Preceded byL. Fulvius Rusticus G. Bruttius Praesens II,Sex. Quintilius Condianusas ordinary consuls
Commodus Nerva–Antonine dynastyBorn: 31 August 161 Died: 31 December 192
Preceded byL. Fulvius Rusticus G. Bruttius Praesens II,Sex. Quintilius Condianusas ordinary consuls
Commodus Nerva–Antonine dynastyBorn: 31 August 161 Died: 31 December 192
Roman consul 181with Lucius Antistius Burrus
Commodus Nerva–Antonine dynastyBorn: 31 August 161 Died: 31 December 192
Succeeded byM. Petronius Sura Mamertinus,Q. Tineius Rufusas ordinary consuls
Preceded byMarcus Petronius Sura Mamertinus,Q. Tineius Rufusas ordinary consuls
Preceded byMarcus Petronius Sura Mamertinus,Q. Tineius Rufusas ordinary consuls
Commodus Nerva–Antonine dynastyBorn: 31 August 161 Died: 31 December 192
Preceded byMarcus Petronius Sura Mamertinus,Q. Tineius Rufusas ordinary consuls
Commodus Nerva–Antonine dynastyBorn: 31 August 161 Died: 31 December 192
Roman consul 183with Gaius Aufidius Victorinus
Commodus Nerva–Antonine dynastyBorn: 31 August 161 Died: 31 December 192
Succeeded byL. Tutilius Pontianus Gentianus,ignotusas suffect consuls
Preceded byTriarius Maternus,Ti. Claudius M. Appius AtiliusBradua Regillus Atticus
Preceded byTriarius Maternus,Ti. Claudius M. Appius AtiliusBradua Regillus Atticus
Commodus Nerva–Antonine dynastyBorn: 31 August 161 Died: 31 December 192
Preceded byTriarius Maternus,Ti. Claudius M. Appius AtiliusBradua Regillus Atticus
Commodus Nerva–Antonine dynastyBorn: 31 August 161 Died: 31 December 192
Roman consul 186with Marcus Acilius Glabrio II
Commodus Nerva–Antonine dynastyBorn: 31 August 161 Died: 31 December 192
Succeeded byL. Novius Rufus,L. Annius Ravusas suffect consuls
Preceded byDomitius Iulius Silanus,Q. Servilius Silanusas suffect consuls
Preceded byDomitius Iulius Silanus,Q. Servilius Silanusas suffect consuls
Commodus Nerva–Antonine dynastyBorn: 31 August 161 Died: 31 December 192
Preceded byDomitius Iulius Silanus,Q. Servilius Silanusas suffect consuls
Commodus Nerva–Antonine dynastyBorn: 31 August 161 Died: 31 December 192
Roman consul 190with Marcus Petronius Sura Septimianus
Commodus Nerva–Antonine dynastyBorn: 31 August 161 Died: 31 December 192
Succeeded byL. Septimius Severus,Apuleius Rufinusas suffect consuls
Preceded byPopilius Pedo Apronianus,M. Valerius Bradua Mauricusas ordinary consuls
Preceded byPopilius Pedo Apronianus,M. Valerius Bradua Mauricusas ordinary consuls
Commodus Nerva–Antonine dynastyBorn: 31 August 161 Died: 31 December 192
Preceded byPopilius Pedo Apronianus,M. Valerius Bradua Mauricusas ordinary consuls
Commodus Nerva–Antonine dynastyBorn: 31 August 161 Died: 31 December 192
Roman consul 192with Publius Helvius Pertinax
Commodus Nerva–Antonine dynastyBorn: 31 August 161 Died: 31 December 192
Succeeded byQ. Pompeius Sosius Falco,G. Julius Erucius Clarus Vibianusas ordinary consuls
Commodus Nerva–Antonine dynastyBorn: 31 August 161 Died: 31 December 192
Regnal titles
Preceded byMarcus Aurelius
Roman emperor 180–192
Succeeded byPertinax
Political offices
Preceded byT. Pomponius Proculus Vitrasius PollioM. Flavius Aper IIas ordinary consuls
Roman consul 177with Marcus Peducaeus Plautius Quintillus
Succeeded bySer. Cornelius Scipio Salvidienus Orfitus,Domitius Velius Rufusas ordinary consuls
Preceded bySer. Cornelius Scipio Salvidienus Orfitus,Domitius Velius Rufusas ordinary consuls
Roman consul 179with Publius Martius Verus
Succeeded byT. Flavius Claudianus,L. Aemilius Iuncusas suffect consuls
Preceded byL. Fulvius Rusticus G. Bruttius Praesens II,Sex. Quintilius Condianusas ordinary consuls
Roman consul 181with Lucius Antistius Burrus
Succeeded byM. Petronius Sura Mamertinus,Q. Tineius Rufusas ordinary consuls
Preceded byMarcus Petronius Sura Mamertinus,Q. Tineius Rufusas ordinary consuls
Roman consul 183with Gaius Aufidius Victorinus
Succeeded byL. Tutilius Pontianus Gentianus,ignotusas suffect consuls
Preceded byTriarius Maternus,Ti. Claudius M. Appius AtiliusBradua Regillus Atticus
Roman consul 186with Marcus Acilius Glabrio II
Succeeded byL. Novius Rufus,L. Annius Ravusas suffect consuls
Preceded byDomitius Iulius Silanus,Q. Servilius Silanusas suffect consuls
Roman consul 190with Marcus Petronius Sura Septimianus
Succeeded byL. Septimius Severus,Apuleius Rufinusas suffect consuls
Preceded byPopilius Pedo Apronianus,M. Valerius Bradua Mauricusas ordinary consuls
Roman consul 192with Publius Helvius Pertinax
Succeeded byQ. Pompeius Sosius Falco,G. Julius Erucius Clarus Vibianusas ordinary consuls

References

  1. Sister of Trajan's father: Giacosa (1977), p. 7.
  2. Giacosa (1977), p. 8.
  3. Levick (2014), p. 161.
  4. Husband of Ulpia Marciana: Levick (2014), p. 161.
  5. Giacosa (1977), p. 7.
  6. DIR contributor (Herbert W. Benario, 2000), "Hadrian".
    http://www.roman-emperors.org/hadrian.htm
  7. Giacosa (1977), p. 9.
  8. Husband of Salonia Matidia: Levick (2014), p. 161.
  9. Smith (1870), "Julius Servianus".
    https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/moa/ACL3129.0003.001/800?rgn=full+text;view=image;q1=servianus
  10. Smith (1870), "Hadrian", pp. 319–322.
    https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/moa/acl3129.0002.001/329?page=root;rgn=full+text;size=100;view=image;q1=hadrian
  11. Lover of Hadrian: Lambert (1984), p. 99 and passim; deification: Lamber (1984), pp. 2–5, etc.
  12. Husband of Rupilia Faustina: Levick (2014), p. 163.
  13. Levick (2014), p. 163.
  14. It is uncertain whether Rupilia Faustina was Frugi's daughter by Salonia Matidia or another woman.
  15. Levick (2014), p. 162.
  16. Levick (2014), p. 164.
  17. Wife of M. Annius Verus: Giacosa (1977), p. 10.
  18. Wife of M. Annius Libo: Levick (2014), p. 163.
  19. Giacosa (1977), p. 10.
  20. The epitomator of Cassius Dio (72.22) gives the story that Faustina the Elder promised to marry Avidius Cassius. This is
    http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/72*.html
  21. Husband of Ceionia Fabia: Levick (2014), p. 164.
  22. Levick (2014), p. 117.
  23. Bust of Commodus as Hercules. Musei Capitolini
    https://www.museicapitolini.org/en/opera/busto-di-commodo-come-ercole#:~:text=The%20bust%20is%20one%20of,of%20the%20Greek%20hero's%20feats
  24. Hammond, pp. 32–33.
  25. RE Aurelius 89
    https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/de:RE:Aurelius_89
  26. The Cambridge Manual of Latin Epigraphy
    https://books.google.com/books?id=VlghAwAAQBAJ
  27. "Commodus". Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary.
    http://www.dictionary.com/browse/commodus
  28. Historia Augusta – Life of Commodus
    https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Historia_Augusta/Commodus*.html
  29. David L. Vagi Coinage and History of the Roman Empire Vol. One: History p. 248
  30. Mattern, Susan P., The Prince of Medicine: Galen in the Roman Empire, p. xx
  31. Dio, Cassius, Roman History, 71.33.1
  32. Birley, Anthony R., Marcus Aurelius: A Biography, p. 197
  33. Historia Augusta 1.6
  34. Inscription: "Imperator Lucius Aurelius Commodus Augustus Germanicus Sermaticus, (holder of the) tribunician power for t
  35. Römische Kaisertabelle: Grundzüge einer römischen Kaiserchronologie
    https://archive.org/details/romische-kaisertabelle
  36. A Companion to Marcus Aurelius
    https://books.google.com/books?id=yt78Z9GY8RgC&pg=PA234
  37. Historia Augusta 2.4
  38. Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome
    https://www.jstor.org/stable/4238599
  39. Greek Papyri in the British Museum
    https://books.google.com/books?id=RqgxAQAAMAAJ&pg=PR39
  40. Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome
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  41. A History of the Roman World from A.D. 138 to 337
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  42. Historia Augusta 12
  43. Historia Augusta, Marcus Aurelius, 22.12
  44. Dio, Cassius, 72.33.
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  45. "Tulane University "Roman Currency of the Principate""
    https://web.archive.org/web/20010210220413/http://www.tulane.edu/~august/handouts/601cprin.htm
  46. Dio, Cassius, 72.36.4, Loeb edition, translated E. Cary
    https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/72*.html#36
  47. Dio, Cassius, 73.10.2, Loeb edition, translated E. Cary
  48. Historia Augusta 17.3
  49. www.roman-emperors.org
    https://web.archive.org/web/20220321061813/http://www.roman-emperors.org/commod.htm
  50. Dio, Cassius, 73.22.3
  51. Dio, Cassius, 73.22
  52. To "accept kinship with Commodus ... the bluntly pragmatic decision was taken to deify the former emperor, thus legitimi
  53. Dio, Cassius, 73.1.2, Loeb edition, translated E. Cary
  54. Dio, Cassius, 73.5.3, Loeb edition, translated E. Cary
  55. Historia Augusta. C 1, 9.
  56. Heinz, W. (1986). Die ''Terme Taurine'' von Civitavecchia – ein römisches Heilbad. Antike Welt, 17(4), 22–43.
  57. Hammond, p. 32.
  58. Journal of Roman Studies
    https://doi.org/10.2307%2F300981
  59. Grant, Michael. The Roman Emperors (1985) p. 99.
  60. Dio, Cassius, Roman History: Epitome of Book LXXIII pp 111.
  61. Gibbon, Edward, The history of the decline and fall of the Roman Empire. Vol. 5. Methuen, 1898.
  62. Herodian's Roman History F.L. Muller Edition 1.15.7
  63. Echols, Edward C., "Herodian of Antioch's History of the Roman Empire", English translation, UCLA Press, Berkeley, CA (1
  64. Historia Augusta, Life of Marcus Aurelius, XIX. The film The Fall of the Roman Empire makes use of this story: one of th
  65. Dio, Cassius, 73.20.3, Loeb edition, translated E. Cary
  66. Cassius DIO, 73.10.3
  67. Wondrium Daily
    https://web.archive.org/web/20220526054623/https://www.wondriumdaily.com/intrigue-insanity-reign-commodus/
  68. Gibbon, p. 106: "disgorged at once a hundred lions; a hundred darts"
  69. Gibbon, Edward, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire: Volume I. Everyman's Library (Knopf) New York. 1910. p. 106: "
  70. Lane Fox, Robin, The Classical World: An Epic History from Homer to Hadrian, Basic Books, 2006, p. 446 "brandishing a sw
  71. Roman History by Cassius Dio penelope.uchicago.edu
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  72. Scullard, H. H., The Elephant in the Greek and Roman World, Thames and Hudson, 1974, p. 252
  73. Gibbon, p. 107: "*1 Commodus killed a camelopardalis or giraffe ... the most useless of the quadrupeds".
  74. "Commodus"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20150709123011/http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0002128/
  75. What's on TV
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  76. Decider
    https://decider.com/2016/11/15/roman-empire-reign-of-blood-lucilla-tai-berdinner-blades/
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