commodus

Birth of Commodus

161

Caesar Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antonius Augustus, which is Commodus's full name, was born on August 31, 161 CE. Commodus was born in Lanuviam, Italy, known as Lanuvio today. He was born an heir to his father, Marcus Areluis. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Commodus

Caesar at age 5

166

In 166 CE at the age of only 5, Commodus was made Caesar. Caesar is basically a junior emperor before he takes the throne. His father Marcus Aurelius, reigned from 161-180. In total he had the throne for 19 years! As Commodus was growing up he was learning how to become a great emperor like his father.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Commodus

Commodus becoming Emperor

180

In 180 CE, Marcus Aurelius Commodus's father passed away. When he passed away Commodus took the throne and became emperor. While his father was a great emperor, Commodus soon proved to be one of the worst. He was only a mere 19 years old when he took the throne. Commodus was one fo 14 siblings and the reason he made it to the throne, was because he was the only one to survive. https://www.ancient.eu/commodus/

Assassination Ateempt

182

Commodus's sister, Annia Lucilla planned an attempt to kill Commodus. This was because he was a really bad leader and no one liked him. The plan was as soon as Commodus enters the collosuem, a man goes in and stabs him. This plan was foiled almost immedialty as when he reached up for the dagger, Commodus's Royal guard stopped him and he was executed. https://www.unrv.com/decline-of-empire/commodus.php

The first years of Emperor Commodus

183

In the first few years, Commodus made peace with the Marcomanni and Quadi tribes, who is father had been warring for years. His reason for making peace with them was that so he could go back to Rome quickly and leave wherever he was at that point. After those three years he quickly made many many enemies and it was not good at all for Rome. All the assassination plots were beginning to stir up. https://www.heritage-history.com/index.php?c=resources&s=char-dir&f=commodus

Gladiators

187

Commodus would enter the arena and take advantage by fighting the crippled and weak and killing wild beasts. This could have lead to his assassination He believed and told the people that he was a reincarnation of Hercules. Everyone found this disgraceful as an Emperor saying that and fighting in the Arena as a Gladiator. He loved the games and never wanted them to stop.
https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-famous-people/commodus-outrageous-emperor-who-fought-gladiator-002713
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The Fire

190

In 190 CE, a huge fire broke out and burnt a big part of Rome. Commodus took advantage of this by trying to rename it under his name since he is rebuilding and funding the process. He also tried to name every month of the year under his name. As you can see Commodus was a bad Emperor. https://www.heritage-history.com/index.php?c=resources&s=char-dir&f=commodus

The Death of Commodus

192

Commodus's wife, Marcia had a big role in his assassination. She tried to poison his food in an attempt but failed as he threw up the meal. The other attempt was to fetch his wrestling partner and choke him out, while in the bath. In 192, Commodus was strangled to death in his bath and there ended his life and his throne and Rome under his reign.
https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-famous-people/commodus-outrageous-emperor-who-fought-gladiator-002713