Commodus (Gladiator)

Commodus, the son of Marcus Aurelius, became Emperor of Rome following his father’s death. He was the brother of Princess Lucilla and the uncle of Lucius. Consumed by envy and ambition, Commodus murdered his father after learning that General Maximus Decimus Meridius had been chosen as Marcus’s successor. Assuming the throne as regent, his reign ended when Maximus killed him in the Colosseum, avenging Marcus Aurelius and restoring justice.

Joaquin Phoenix portrayed Commodus in the 2000 film Gladiator.

Names	Marcus Aurelius Commodus
Gender	Male
Race	Human
Occupation	Emperor of Rome
Origin	Gladiator (May 1, 2000)
Alignment	Evil
Age	20s
Created By	David Franzoni, John Logan, William Nicholson, Ridley Scott
Height	173 cm 5ft 8in
Weight	78.9 to 81.6kg (174-180 lbs)

Appearance

Commodus is portrayed as a lean, pale man with delicate features that contrast sharply with his role as emperor. His piercing eyes often reveal his insecurities and manipulative nature, while his posture and expressions exude arrogance and entitlement. He is frequently adorned in opulent Roman attire, favoring white and gold robes to emphasize his imperial status. His occasional appearances in gladiatorial armor, especially during his duel with Maximus, highlight his vain desire to be seen as a warrior despite lacking true courage or skill.

Personality

Commodus is defined by his narcissism, insecurity, and unquenchable desire for validation. Deeply envious of Maximus's strength, loyalty, and the love he receives from others, Commodus masks his feelings of inadequacy with cruelty and theatrics. He is a cunning manipulator, skilled in exploiting others' fears and weaknesses to maintain his grip on power.

While he craves love and admiration, his methods—ruling through fear, orchestrating spectacles in the Colosseum, and displaying a ruthless disregard for human life—undermine his quest for genuine connection. His obsession with control extends to his unhealthy fixation on his sister, Lucilla, whom he tries to dominate emotionally and politically.

Beneath his tyranny lies a fragile man consumed by paranoia and a need to prove himself. His cowardice is starkly evident in moments of confrontation, such as when he secretly wounds Maximus before their duel. Ultimately, Commodus’s personality is a tragic blend of ambition, weakness, and a hunger for power that alienates him from the love he so desperately seeks.

Biography

Coup d'État

Commodus was a cowardly and self-serving prince. He arrived to meet his father shortly after the Roman victory over the Barbarians, pleased to have avoided the dangers of war. Greeting Maximus with false camaraderie, he embraced the general as a brother while secretly harboring jealousy. Commodus introduced Maximus to senators Falco and Gaius, political allies loyal to him, and ominously hinted that when he became emperor, Maximus might be called back to service.

Later, Commodus visited Marcus Aurelius and declared his readiness to serve Rome. However, his father revealed his decision to name Maximus as his successor instead, believing Commodus lacked the moral integrity to rule. In private, Marcus confessed to Maximus that Commodus was unfit for leadership, calling him neither a good man nor a wise ruler.

Blinded by rage and rejection, Commodus suffocated his father in secret, claiming the throne for himself. Shortly afterward, he was crowned Emperor of Rome, setting in motion a tyrannical reign fueled by his insecurities and thirst for power.

Emperor of Rome

Upon ascending to the throne, Commodus struggled with the responsibilities of ruling. He dismissed warnings from Senator Gracchus about a plague spreading through the Greek Quarter and grew increasingly frustrated with the Senate's demands. Despite his disdain for governance, Commodus yearned for the love and admiration of the Roman people, a desire rooted in his own feelings of neglect. His obsession with power and control extended to his sister, Lucilla, whom he disturbingly took as his consort empress.

Commodus’s hatred for Maximus burned brightly. After learning his father intended for Maximus to succeed him, Commodus orchestrated the execution of both Maximus and his family. While Maximus escaped his would-be executioners, he arrived too late to save his wife and son, finding them brutally murdered by Commodus's forces. Captured by slave traders, Maximus was sold into servitude and became a gladiator.

As a gladiator, Maximus’s prowess led him to the Colosseum, where he participated in a reenactment of the Battle of Carthage. Victorious, Maximus removed his helmet, revealing his identity to a stunned Commodus, who believed him dead. Commodus sought to kill Maximus but was swayed by the adoration of the crowd, which demanded Maximus be spared.

Desperate to eliminate Maximus, Commodus devised increasingly cruel methods to defeat him. In one match, he unleashed tigers against Maximus, but the gladiator triumphed, sparing his opponent, Tigris of Gaul, and earning the moniker "Maximus the Merciful." Commodus later sought to break Maximus's spirit by recounting the agony endured by his family during their crucifixion.

When Maximus attempted to escape and stage a coup, Commodus thwarted the plan and confronted him in prison. In a final act of cowardice, Commodus stabbed Maximus in the side to weaken him before their duel in the Colosseum. Despite his injury, Maximus disarmed Commodus in the arena. When the emperor’s guards refused to intervene, Commodus drew a hidden dagger, but Maximus turned the weapon against him, delivering a fatal blow.

As Commodus's lifeless body lay in the arena, Maximus, though gravely wounded, called for the reinstatement of Senator Gracchus and the restoration of Rome’s Republic. He succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter, carried away by Lucilla, Gracchus, and the Roman people.

Commodus’s defeat became a symbol of resistance and justice, remembered by his nephew, Lucius. The young boy never forgot that even an enslaved man could challenge and overthrow an emperor.

Powers and Statistics

Tier: 10-A, up to 9-C with weapons

Powers and Abilities: Athletic Human strength, possibly Expert hand-to-hand combatant, Melee and firearms proficiency, Social Influencing

Attack Potency: Athlete level (Commodus as a future emperor was trained in combat since young age), up to Street level with weapons (Capable to briefly fight Maximus, though he was badly injured)

Speed: Athletic Human combat speed and reactions

Lifting Strength: Above Average Human

Striking Strength: Athlete level physically, up to Street level with weapons

Durability: Athlete level physically, up to Street level with shields

Stamina: Athletic (Can run and fight for long periods)

Range: Standard Melee Range, Extended Melee Range with weapons

Standard Equipment: Swords, shield, helmet

Intelligence: Gifted (He is an expert liar, manipulator, and deceiver)

Weaknesses: None notable

Trivia

• Commodus is based on the historical Roman emperor of the same name, who also had a fascination with gladiatorial combat and participated in the arena, although the film takes significant creative liberties with his life and reign.
• In history, Commodus ruled as emperor from 180 to 192 AD and declared himself the reincarnation of Hercules, often appearing in public dressed as the mythological hero.
• Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of Commodus in Gladiator earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. His chilling and layered performance was widely praised and remains one of his most iconic roles.
• Commodus’s fixation on gladiator games and his dramatic presence in the Colosseum reflects his historical counterpart’s obsession with spectacle, as the real Commodus reportedly fought in hundreds of staged gladiatorial bouts.
• The scene where Commodus strangles Marcus Aurelius deviates from history, as the actual cause of Marcus Aurelius's death remains unclear, though illness is the most accepted explanation.
• The character's unsettling relationship with his sister, Lucilla, echoes rumors about the historical Commodus, who was accused of plotting against her and eventually had her executed.
• Joaquin Phoenix improvised some of his character's most memorable moments, including Commodus’s trembling reaction during his father’s rejection. This added depth to his portrayal of the character’s vulnerability and rage.
• Ridley Scott drew inspiration for Commodus's personality from Shakespearean villains, such as Claudius in Hamlet and Iago in Othello, emphasizing his manipulative and treacherous traits.