OPPapers.com Essay Index >> Biographies >> Commodus
We have many free term papers and essays on Commodus. We also have a wide variety of research papers and book reports available to you for free. You can browse our collection of term papers or use our search engine.
Commodus. Some claim that Commodus was the worse emperor in the history of Rome. ...
Commodus' first bad move took place immediately following his father's death. ...
... The emperor tells the general that Maximus will rule Rome after Emperor
Aurelius?s death instead of Aurelius? son Commodus. ...
Gladiator. The film Gladiator took place in the time period of the reign of Marcus
Aurelius (161-180 AD) and the reign of Commodus (180-192 AD). ...
... The emperor is dying, and because he trusts Maximus over his only son Commodus
(played by Joaquin Phoenix), the emperor appoints temporary leadership to ...
... For example, he combined the characteristics of generalities of Roman generals,
gladiators, and Commodus?? assassin in one person, which is Maximus. ...
Submitted by zerablast on February 11, 2007
Category: Biographies
Words: 1440 | Pages: 6
Views: 209
Popularity Rank: 36,909
Average Member Grade: N/A (Add a Comment / Grade this Paper)
Some claim that Commodus was the worse emperor in the history of Rome. The fact that his father, Marcus Aurelius, was a popular and successful ruler may have raised the precedent that Commodus had to live up to. But for whatever reason, Commodus proved a disconnected and self indulgent leader.
At the age of five Commodus was named Caesar, and at the age of seventeen he became co-Augustus with his father. He spent his childhood accompanying Marcus Aurelius on political campaigns, and learned a lot on how to run an empire. However, after the death of his father the people of Rome found that the years under Marcus Aurelius had not impacted Commodus' leadership skills. Commodus' reign was filled with bad decisions, causing the people of Rome to suffer.
Commodus' first bad move took place immediately following his father's death. The new emperor made a treaty with the German tribe of Marcomanni, his father's enemies. From then on Commodus gradually lost favor in the eyes of his subjects. Thinking himself equal to the gods, the emperor began dressing like Hercules, son of the god Jupiter. His clothes consisted of lion's skin, and he carried around a club.
Commodus also enjoyed gladiatorial combat. He even went as far as fighting in arenas. This did not impress his subjects. In fact, they could not believe that their emperor willingly reduced himself to the lowest human being on earth. The emperor's gladiator career seemed like a joke to the citizen. And though he claimed to have killed 12,000 men in his numerous combats, the people of Rome knew it had nothing to do with his skill as a gladiator. The men and beasts Commodus fought were not adequately armed. The emperor had the most modern weaponry, and his opposition was lucky if they received wooden weapons to fight with. It is even said that some of the spectators had to keep themselves from laughing, under penalty of death, while watching these combats.
As Commodus' reign continued it...
You must Login to view the entire paper.
If you are not a member yet, Sign Up for free!