The life of Commodus
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Birth name:
Other names: Born: Died: Cause of death: Reign: Co-emperor: Dynasty: Predecessor: Successor: |
Lucius Aurelius Commodus
Caesar Lucius Aurelius Commodus (as Caesar) Imperator Caesar Lucius Aurelius Commodus Augustus (as Emperor) 31 August, 161 - Lanuvium, Italy 31 December, 192 - Rome, Italy (aged 31) Assassinated 177 - 31 December, 192 (15 years) Marcus Aurelius Nerva-Antonine Marcus Aurelius Pertinax |
Early Life (161-175)
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Lucius Aurelius Commodus was born 31 August 161 in Lanuvium - not far from Rome. He was born during the first year of the reign of Marcus Aurelius - his father. Commodus had two brothers, an elder brother, Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus, who died in 165, and a younger brother, Marcus Annius Verus, who died in 169. Therefore after this date Commodus was the only remaining son of Marcus Aurelius.
Commodus was appointed as Caesar in 166 at the age of 4. He received a good education and was tutored by many great intellectuals, probably in an attempt by his father to follow the more noble pursuits such as philosophy. In 172 Commodus accompanied his father to Carnuntum, located in modern-day Austria, where the Marcomannic Wars were then taking place. Following victory over the Marcomanni he was granted the title of Germanicus, despite probably doing nothing to contribute to his father's victory. Joint reign with Marcus Aurelius
By 175 Commodus had begun his career of public offices, starting by joining the College of Pontiffs. In preparation for his future duties he embarked on a tour of the Eastern provinces the same year, journeying to Antioch and then up to Athens before returning to Rome in late 176. Marcus Aurelius was intent on naming Commodus as his heir, which is shown by the care he took in preparing him from a young age. This broke the recent trend set by Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian and Antoninus Pius who had not had biological heirs and instead adopted their successors based on proven merit.
Commodus was granted the title of Augustus in 177, making him co-emperor with his father. He was also given the consulship for that year, being only 15 years old at the time, making Commodus the youngest consul ever. Around this time he celebrated a triumph with his father and also married Bruttia Crispina. He left Rome and accompanied his father to the Danube again in 178. After campaigning for two years his father died on 17 March 180, leaving Commodus as the sole ruler of Rome at the age of 18. |
Bust of Commodus. By © José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=53838928
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Solo Reign (180)
While he reigned for a long time, not much of this period is documented. Most sources tend to focus on the conspiracies and latter part of his reign, rather than his administration or other key events.
He only stayed in the Danube region for a short while before suing for peace and returning to Rome. Commodus' first act was to devalue the Roman currency in order to make domestic production cheaper, the largest drop since the reign of Nero over 100 years before. He then celebrated his 'victory' in the Danube, or rather the conclusion of war, with a triumph on 22 October 180.
While Commodus would experience a more peaceful reign than his father, his reign it was the beginning of the downfall of internal politics that lead to numerous conspiracies against him. He showed early on that he had no care for the fundamentals of ruling the empire, and most administrative duties were left to others, such as Saoterus, a freedman who was his close friend.
The Senate soon grow to hate Commodus as he taxed them excessively in order to pay for grand celebrations and games in order to win public support. Commodus for his part did not particularly like the Senate either, he even reversed the phrase Senatus Populusque Romanus (The Senate and People of Rome) to Populus Senatusque Romanus, placing the people before the Senate. This won him great praise from the public, who saw him as their champion and enjoyed the spectacles put on for him.
He only stayed in the Danube region for a short while before suing for peace and returning to Rome. Commodus' first act was to devalue the Roman currency in order to make domestic production cheaper, the largest drop since the reign of Nero over 100 years before. He then celebrated his 'victory' in the Danube, or rather the conclusion of war, with a triumph on 22 October 180.
While Commodus would experience a more peaceful reign than his father, his reign it was the beginning of the downfall of internal politics that lead to numerous conspiracies against him. He showed early on that he had no care for the fundamentals of ruling the empire, and most administrative duties were left to others, such as Saoterus, a freedman who was his close friend.
The Senate soon grow to hate Commodus as he taxed them excessively in order to pay for grand celebrations and games in order to win public support. Commodus for his part did not particularly like the Senate either, he even reversed the phrase Senatus Populusque Romanus (The Senate and People of Rome) to Populus Senatusque Romanus, placing the people before the Senate. This won him great praise from the public, who saw him as their champion and enjoyed the spectacles put on for him.
Conspiracies (182)
His repeated slights against Rome's elite resulted in a number of conspiracies against him, the first of which was instigated in 182 by Lucilla, his eldest sister. Two men who were in league with her attempted to kill Commodus at a theatre, but he was saved by his bodyguards. Both men were executed and Commodus had his sister exiled to Capri - the island where the emperor Tiberius spent much of his later reign.
It would later be discovered that one of Commodus' praetorian prefects, Tarrutenius Paternus, had also been involved as part of the conspiracy. He had Commodus' friend Saoterus killed with the help of Sextus Tigidius Perennius, the other praetorian prefect. Perennius betrayed Paternus however, and handed him over to Commodus who was still enraged at his friend's murder. Paternus was executed, along with a number of other senior ranking senators and public officials also discovered to be part of the conspiracy.
It would later be discovered that one of Commodus' praetorian prefects, Tarrutenius Paternus, had also been involved as part of the conspiracy. He had Commodus' friend Saoterus killed with the help of Sextus Tigidius Perennius, the other praetorian prefect. Perennius betrayed Paternus however, and handed him over to Commodus who was still enraged at his friend's murder. Paternus was executed, along with a number of other senior ranking senators and public officials also discovered to be part of the conspiracy.
Rise and fall of Cleander
Shortly after the death of Saoterus, many of his responsibilities were replaced by another freedman and close friend of Commodus, Cleander. Commodus was unaware that it was actually Cleander who had killed Saoterus on the orders of Perennius and Paternus. Leaving him to take care of Rome's day-to-day ruling, Commodus often spent much of his time at his villas away from Rome.
Cleander organised for Perennius to be killed, as he saw him as one of the few people capable of stopping his rise to power. He encouraged people to come forth with evidence of his corruption and betrayal, but Commodus would not believe it. Perennius was ambitious but not a corrupt individual, and he also had an aptitude for managing state affairs, thus Commodus had little reason to suspect him of any wrong doing. However Cleander would continue to push for his rival's demise and kept sending more people to Commodus with confessions of Perennius' treasonous activities. Eventually the fabricated evidence was too strong and Commodus had Perennius and his family executed.
Cleander was rewarded with more power and responsibilities, but his actions lead to increased instability across the empire. He sold many positions in the Senate and other high ranking public offices such as governorships and suffect consulships to those willing to pay. Eventually uprisings sprung up across Gaul and Germany and soldiers began to desert the army. Two distinguished generals, Clodius Albinus and Pescennius Niger had been successfully keeping the peace and putting down revolts, but the situation was now starting to grow out of control.
Assassination attempts on both Commodus and Cleander had been discovered and thwarted in the year 187. Commodus now, fearing for his life, spent even more time away from Rome. Cleander on the other hand saw this as a chance to consolidate power and appointed himself as supreme commander of the Praetorian Guard. He continued to abuse his power and sell public offices to the highest bidder.
During a grain shortage the public of Rome rose up in revolt against him, blaming him for their current misfortune. A stand-off occurred in Rome between Cleander's Praetorian Guard and the Vigiles Urbani, the city watch, commanded by Pertinax. Cleander now feared for his life and fled to one of Commodus' estates outside Rome. Commodus was persuaded by his advisors to execute Cleander in order to restore the peace, which he did.
After the loss of Saoterus and now Cleander, as well as other high ranking officials and the increasing threat of conspiracies, Commodus was forced to take a more central role in the administration of the Roman Empire, although his methods of ruling were harsh and authoritarian, leading to more issues further down the line.
Cleander organised for Perennius to be killed, as he saw him as one of the few people capable of stopping his rise to power. He encouraged people to come forth with evidence of his corruption and betrayal, but Commodus would not believe it. Perennius was ambitious but not a corrupt individual, and he also had an aptitude for managing state affairs, thus Commodus had little reason to suspect him of any wrong doing. However Cleander would continue to push for his rival's demise and kept sending more people to Commodus with confessions of Perennius' treasonous activities. Eventually the fabricated evidence was too strong and Commodus had Perennius and his family executed.
Cleander was rewarded with more power and responsibilities, but his actions lead to increased instability across the empire. He sold many positions in the Senate and other high ranking public offices such as governorships and suffect consulships to those willing to pay. Eventually uprisings sprung up across Gaul and Germany and soldiers began to desert the army. Two distinguished generals, Clodius Albinus and Pescennius Niger had been successfully keeping the peace and putting down revolts, but the situation was now starting to grow out of control.
Assassination attempts on both Commodus and Cleander had been discovered and thwarted in the year 187. Commodus now, fearing for his life, spent even more time away from Rome. Cleander on the other hand saw this as a chance to consolidate power and appointed himself as supreme commander of the Praetorian Guard. He continued to abuse his power and sell public offices to the highest bidder.
During a grain shortage the public of Rome rose up in revolt against him, blaming him for their current misfortune. A stand-off occurred in Rome between Cleander's Praetorian Guard and the Vigiles Urbani, the city watch, commanded by Pertinax. Cleander now feared for his life and fled to one of Commodus' estates outside Rome. Commodus was persuaded by his advisors to execute Cleander in order to restore the peace, which he did.
After the loss of Saoterus and now Cleander, as well as other high ranking officials and the increasing threat of conspiracies, Commodus was forced to take a more central role in the administration of the Roman Empire, although his methods of ruling were harsh and authoritarian, leading to more issues further down the line.
Downfall (191-192)
Commodus began to display delusions of grandeur and megalomania. He would declare that he was emperor because of his divine attributes and god-like power. He portrayed himself as the son of Jupiter and often boasted about his superhuman strength and prowess in combat. In reality, he owed virtually everything to his father who had given him the opportunities to succeed from a very young age. If anything, Commodus had squandered the chances given to him and was a pale comparison to Marcus Aurelius.
Seeking to remake Rome in his own image, Commodus declared himself as Romulus reborn and re-founded the city following a fire that broke out in 191. His megalomania was now so severe that he even renamed the legions 'Commodianae', the Senate was now called the Commodian Fortunate Senate, and he replaced the Colossus of Nero with a statue of himself in the guise of Hercules.
This greatly troubled members of the Senate and other members of Rome's elite class as they now saw Commodus for what he really was, a tyrant.
Seeking to remake Rome in his own image, Commodus declared himself as Romulus reborn and re-founded the city following a fire that broke out in 191. His megalomania was now so severe that he even renamed the legions 'Commodianae', the Senate was now called the Commodian Fortunate Senate, and he replaced the Colossus of Nero with a statue of himself in the guise of Hercules.
This greatly troubled members of the Senate and other members of Rome's elite class as they now saw Commodus for what he really was, a tyrant.
Death & Legacy (192)
A final conspiracy was formed against Commodus in 192, after he announced his intention to become both a consul and a gladiator in the year 193. The Praetorian Prefect, Laetus, spearheaded the conspiracy and planned to assassinate Commodus and replace him with Pertinax. He approached Commodus' mistress Marcia with the plan, and she agreed to help.
On 31 December 192 she poisoned Commodus' food, but he was later sick and vomited up the food, and thus the poison. The conspirators changed their plan and instead had Commodus strangled to death while he bathed.
Pertinax was installed as the next Emperor of Rome and a damnatio memoriae was imposed against Commodus, with few people resisting this move. All of his statues were torn down and all the things he had named after himself reverted to their original titles. Commodus' body was taken to Hadrian's Mausoleum where it was buried, alongside the other members of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty.
If the people of Rome had hoped for peace after Commodus' death they would be sorely disappointed. The following year would be known as the Year of the Five Emperors. Pertinax would only rule for three months before being deposed. Following him would be Didius Julianus, who bought the throne from the Praetorian Guard. This sparked a civil war with three generals also vying for the throne, with Septimius Severus being the eventual victor and founding the Severan dynasty. He would be the one to remove the damnatio memoriae against Commodus and have him deified.
On 31 December 192 she poisoned Commodus' food, but he was later sick and vomited up the food, and thus the poison. The conspirators changed their plan and instead had Commodus strangled to death while he bathed.
Pertinax was installed as the next Emperor of Rome and a damnatio memoriae was imposed against Commodus, with few people resisting this move. All of his statues were torn down and all the things he had named after himself reverted to their original titles. Commodus' body was taken to Hadrian's Mausoleum where it was buried, alongside the other members of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty.
If the people of Rome had hoped for peace after Commodus' death they would be sorely disappointed. The following year would be known as the Year of the Five Emperors. Pertinax would only rule for three months before being deposed. Following him would be Didius Julianus, who bought the throne from the Praetorian Guard. This sparked a civil war with three generals also vying for the throne, with Septimius Severus being the eventual victor and founding the Severan dynasty. He would be the one to remove the damnatio memoriae against Commodus and have him deified.
Trivia
- Commodus was the last emperor of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty
- Cassius Dio remarked that Commodus turned the Roman Empire "from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust"
- Towards the end of his reign Commodus renamed the twelve calendar months after his own names; Lucius, Aelius, Aurelius, Commodus, Augustus, Herculeus, Romanus, Exsuperatorius, Amazonius, Invictus, Felix, and Pius. These were reverted after his death.
- Commodus entered the Plebeian Games in 192 as a gladiator, winning all of his fights. No challengers dared to actually fight to their best of their ability against him however, so they would often forfeit before any deaths occurred.
- Commodus enjoyed horse racing and chariot racing
- In the year 190 Rome had the most suffect consuls ever - 25 in it's 1,000-year history.