Gladiator: How Commodus Died In Real Life & Who Killed Him

Maximus’ defeat of Commodus provides a dramatic conclusion to Gladiator, but the depiction of the malevolent emperor’s death is historically inaccurate. The scene portrays the extent of Commodus’ malice and provides a realization of the vengeance sought by Maximus, following the crucifixion of his wife and child. Commodus’ death, therefore, is a pertinent conclusion to Maximus’ storyline in Gladiator, but it consequentially abstracts the film’s historical basis.

The 2000 film, directed by Ridley Scott, is steeped in the culture of ancient Rome. Gladiator is clearly influenced by aspects of history, but its specific storyline is definitively imaginative. Commodus, who is portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, was indeed the son of Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) and an emperor of Rome. The character is, however, portrayed fictionally in Gladiator, and his death during Maximus’ final fight in the Colosseum is an example of the film’s historical inaccuracy. In the contest, Maximus is a victim of foul play as Commodus preemptively wounds him, then later produces a blade. Despite the unfair circumstances, Maximus is victorious, killing Commodus with the very blade the emperor had concealed.

Contrary to the plot of Gladiator – where Commodus is portrayed as having killed Marcus Aurelius – the two ruled together, from 177 until the latter’s death in 180. Commodus is commonly regarded as being an inadequate and megalomaniacal emperor, but Gladiator’s distortion of history portrays him as exclusively and resolutely evil. Gladiator is somewhat accurate in its final scenes, as historically Commodus did perform as a gladiator. His death, however, was the result of an assassination plot in 192, culminating with Narcissus killing him in the bath. It is the type of death indicative of Commodus’ notoriety as an emperor, which is fundamental to Gladiator’s plot, but the film is imaginative in its depiction of his death to provide closure to the character of Maximus.

Despite Maximus being a fictional character, the athlete Narcissus is one of the multiple historical figures that the protagonist of Gladiator is considered to be influenced by. Being critically wounded, and having sought his vengeance, Maximus dies moments after Commodus. While the film’s fictional account maintains that the killing of Commodus was motivated by the nature of the emperor’s actions, it is more personal and emotionally charged in the film than in history.

Gladiator is a film invested in the concept of retribution. The film portrays a fictionalized account of historical events, and it illuminates aspects of the culture of ancient Rome. The character of Commodus is an example of how the film has historical references but often distorts them to create its narrative. Commodus’ reign is commonly regarded as the beginning of the Roman empire’s decline, and he is a natural choice for the primary antagonist of Gladiator. His death in history marks the end of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty; his death in Gladiator marks the retributive conclusion of Maximus’ story.

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