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Emperor Commodus (161 -192 AD) is regarded as one of the evilest rulers in Rome’s long and violent history. He has been portrayed in many popular movies and tv series. Joaquin Phoenix even played a fictionalized version of Commodus in the movie <i>Gladiator</i>. Commodus's reign was a complete disaster. His cruelty was legendary and comparable to Nero and Caligula. On a positive note, he did successfully end the Marcomanni Wars. Still, Commodus gross mismanagement, and madness led to instability and a civil war in the short term and in the longer term, undermined the Imperial system.