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[[File<youtube>https: Commodus one//www.jpg|200px|thumb|left| A bust of Commodus]]__NOTOC__Emperor Commodus (161 -192 AD) was one of the most despicable rulers in Rome’s long and violent historyyoutube. He has been portrayed in many popular movies and tv series. Joaquin Phoenix even played a fictionalized version of Commodus in the movie <i>Gladiatorcom/watch?v=5yxX5bFa2uk</iyoutube>. Commodus's reign was a complete disaster.

====Background====The era of the ‘Five Good Emperors’ is often seen as the high point of Rome and Roman civilization. Gibbon claimed that the period of their rule was the happiest period in human existence.<ref>Gibbon, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Hamondsworth, Penguin, 1984), p 17</ref> The Roman Empire was largely peaceful and well-governed[[File: Commodus one. The provinces had become more urbanized and Romanized, and a host jpg|250px|thumbnail|left| A bust of religions and minorities generally lived in peaceful harmony. The economy was generally buoyant, and long-distance trade flourished. Foreign invaders rarely breached the frontiers of the Empire. Commodus]]__NOTOC__

The German tribes were an occasional threat, but Emperor Commodus (161 -192 AD) was one of the Parthians most despicable rulers in the east had been humbled Rome’s long and weakened by Trajanviolent history. However, this era was not quite the golden age as depicted by Gibbon. There was a great deal of poverty, inequality, banditry, He has been portrayed in many popular movies and rebellions were not unknowntv series. The Macromannic War, when Marcus Aurelius after many hard battles defeated Joaquin Phoenix even played a powerful confederation fictionalized version of German tribes, was an indication that the Romans were not invincible. Moreover, Commodus in the so-called Antonine Plague had decimated the population of the Empire, and this demographic disaster was to have long-term consequences for Rome.movie <refi> Gilliam, J. F. "The Plague under Marcus Aurelius". American Journal of Philology 82.3 (July 1961), pp. 225–251 Gladiator</refi> However, . Commodus 's reign was to inherit a realm that was stable and secure after the achievements of his father, Marcus Aureliuscomplete disaster.

====Life of Commodus====[[File: Commodus 2.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Bust of Marcus Aurelius]]Commodus was born on August 31, 161 AD. His father cruelty was Emperor Marcus Aurelius, who was revered by his subjects legendary and comparable to Nero and who was also Caligula. On a great philosopher. The young Commodus received an excellent educationpositive note, based on Stoic principles and from an early age accompanied his father on his campaigns in he did successfully end the Marcomanni Wars.<ref>Geoff W Adams Still, Emperor Commodus: gladiator's gross mismanagement and madness led to instability and civil war in the short term and, Hercules or a tyrant? (Boca Raton, Brown Walker Press, 2013), p 17</ref> In 177 ADin the longer term, he was made the joint ruler of undermined the Empire with his fatherImperial system.

In 180 AD, Marcus Aurelius died while on campaign beyond ==The Five Good Emperor era ends with Commodus==The ‘Five Good Emperors’ era is often seen as Rome and Roman civilization's high point. Gibbon claimed that the period of their rule was the Danubehappiest in human existence. Commodus became sole <ref>Gibbon, The Decline and absolute ruler Fall of the Roman worldEmpire (Hamondsworth, Penguin, 1984), p 17</ref> The Roman Empire was largely peaceful and well-governed. He immediately paid The provinces had become more urbanized and Romanized, and a donative to the legionshost of religions and minorities generally lived in peaceful harmony. To fund thisThe economy was generally buoyant, he devalued the coinage for and long-distance trade flourished. Foreign invaders rarely breached the first time since the reign frontiers of Nero. Commodus continued the campaign against the German tribes on the Danube but soon entered into negotiations with the enemy. He signed a peace treaty that ended the Macromannic Wars, that had lasted almost 18 yearsEmpire.

Commodus returned to RomeThe German tribes were an occasional threat, but the Parthians in the east had been humbled and after securing weakened by Trajan. However, this era was not quite the loyalty golden age, as depicted by Gibbon. There was a great deal of poverty, inequality, banditry, and rebellions that were not unknown. During the SenateMarcomannic Wars, he held Marcus Aurelius, after many hard battles, defeated a spectacular Triumphpowerful confederation of German tribes. It soon became apparent But it was an indication that Commodus did the Romans were not have any interest in ruling and invincible. Moreover, the dayso-to-day administration and soon he invested a favorite freedman with called Antonine Plague had decimated the management population of the Imperial government. Commodus lived a very lavish existenceEmpire, and he provided many mass entertainments and regularly gave the army donativesthis demographic disaster was to have long-term consequences for Rome.<ref>AdamsGilliam, p 119J. F. "The Plague under Marcus Aurelius." American Journal of Philology 82.3 (July 1961), pp. 225–251 </ref> However, Commodus inherited a stable and secure realm after the achievements of his father, Marcus Aurelius. Commodus quickly destabilized the Roman Empire and brought an to the era of The Five Good Emperors to a disastrous end.

The elites quickly became dissatisfied with his rule and arbitrary tax demands on the senatorial elite. ==How did Commodus become Emperor?==[[File: Commodus used the taxes to fund his extravagant spending2. In 182 AD, a conspiracy organized by jpg|250px|thumbnail|left|Bust of Marcus Aurelius]]Commodus' sister was discoveredborn on August 31, 161 AD. Not only His father was she executedEmperor Marcus Aurelius, but the people who assisted herwas revered by his subjects and was also a great philosopher. After this The young Commodus became increasingly brutal and unpredictable received an excellent education based on Stoic principles and , from an early age, accompanied his mental health deteriorated. However, opposition was growing. He then had father on his chief minister executed to appease campaigns in the legionsMarcomannic War. <ref>HerodianGeoff W Adams, Emperor Commodus: Gladiator, Hercules or a tyrant? (Boca Raton, History of the Roman Empire since the Death of Marcus AureliusBrown Walker Press, Book I2013), Ch. 1p 17</ref> In 177 AD, he was made the joint ruler of the Empire with his father.

Later Commodus came under In 180 AD, Marcus Aurelius died while on a campaign beyond the complete influence of his mistress and her circleDanube. Commodus increasingly became derangedthe sole and absolute ruler of the Roman world. He was obsessed with gladiatorial games and even took part in combat. His participation was scandalous for an Emperorimmediately paid a donative to the legions. He fought and killed many gladiatorsTo fund this, whom he only armed with wooden weaponsdevalued the coinage for the first time since the reign of Nero. Commodus later participated in continued the Games and killed many wild and exotic animals and numerous gladiatorscampaign against the German tribes on the Danube but soon entered into negotiations with the enemy. In one inscription Commodus claimed to have killed hundreds of men in He signed a peace treaty that ended the arena. <ref> Dio CassiusMacromannic Wars, Roman History 73which had lasted almost 18 years.22.3 </ref>

The ruler of Commodus returned to Rome began to portray himself as , and after securing the demi-god Heracles. This was more than just propaganda; he appeared to believe that Senate's loyalty, he was held a manifestation of the legendary herospectacular Triumph. It is claimed by Roman authors, soon became apparent that he believed that he was Commodus did not have any interest in ruling and the God when day-to-day administration. Soon, he was killing lions invested a favorite freedman with a bow and arrow in the arena, just as management of the demigod had in the mythsImperial government. Some believe that his identification with the divinity was Commodus lived a strategy to strengthen his rule very lavish existence, and he provided many mass entertainments and to secure regularly gave the obedience of the populationarmy donatives. <ref>Adams, p 119</ref>

No one in ==Which of Commodus's character traits made him a terrible emperor? ==The elites quickly became dissatisfied with his rule and arbitrary tax demands on the senatorial elite and . Commodus used the taxes to fund his government was safeextravagant spending. By 190In 182 AD, a conspiracy organized by Commodus ' sister was completely paranoiddiscovered. The Emperor personally killed citizens Not only was she executed, but the people who refused to attend the Gamesassisted her. <ref>AdamsAfter this, Commodus became increasingly brutal and unpredictable, p 118and his mental health deteriorated. </ref> On December 31, 192However, the Prefect of Rome and some members of the Emperor ’s inner circle had him strangled while he opposition was bathing with the champion wrestler, Narcissusgrowing. The Senate immediately proclaimed Pertinax, He then had his chief minister executed to appease the city prefect, one of Commodus's assassins, the new Emperorlegions. <ref>Herodian, chpHistory of the Roman Empire since the Death of Marcus Aurelius, Book I, Ch. 1</ref> His death marked the end of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty.

==== Ending Later Commodus came under the Macromannic War====[[File: Comm 3complete influence of his mistress and her circle. Commodus increasingly became deranged.jpg|300px|thumb|left| The Colosseum He was obsessed with gladiatorial games and even took part in Romecombat. His participation was scandalous for an Emperor. He fought and killed many gladiators, where whom he only armed with wooden weapons. Commodus later participated in the Games and killed many wild and exotic animals and numerous gladiators]]By 180 AD. In one inscription, the legions had been at war for eighteen years. It seemed that Rome was on the verge of a complete victory and was about Commodus claimed to annex the territory have killed hundreds of the Marcomanni and their allies the Qadi. Marcus Aurelius hoped that one more campaign season would result men in a complete and total victory and the expansion of his Rome into central Europearena. His death changed all of this<ref> Dio Cassius, Roman History 73. Soon after his death Commodus ended the war, and many ancient writers regretted this, and later historians echoed this until recent times22. 3 </ref>

The ruler of Rome began to portray himself as the demi-god Heracles. This was more than just propaganda; he appeared to believe that he was a manifestation of the legendary hero. It is claimed by Roman authors that he believed that he was the God when he was killing lions with a bow and arrow in the arena, just as the demigod had in the myths. Some believe that his identification with divinity was a strategy to strengthen his rule and secure the population's obedience.  No one in the elite and his government were safe. By 190, Commodus was completely paranoid. The Emperor personally killed citizens who refused to attend the Games. <ref>Adams, p 118. </ref> On December 31, 192, the Prefect of Rome and some members of the Emperor’s inner circle had him strangled while he was bathing with the champion wrestler, Narcissus. The Senate immediately proclaimed Pertinax, the city prefect, one of Commodus's assassins, the new Emperor. <ref>Herodian, CHP. 1</ref> His death marked the end of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty.  ==Why did Commodus end the Macromannic War?==[[File: Comm 3.jpg|250px|thumb|left| The Colosseum in Rome, where Commodus killed animals and gladiators]] By 180 AD, the legions had been at war for eighteen years. It seemed that Rome was on the verge of a complete victory and was about to annex the Marcomanni and their allies' territory, the Qadi. Marcus Aurelius hoped that one more campaign season would result in a complete and total victory and expand Rome into central Europe. His death changed all of this. Soon after his death, Commodus ended the war, and many ancient writers regretted this, and later historians echoed this until recent times.  The wars of Marcus Aurelius on the Danube had strained the provinces' resources of the provinces, and the German tribes during their raids had devastated large parts of the Balkans and even Northern Italy. Many contemporary historians believe that Commodus was correct to end the wars. Rome was exhausted by war and also by the plague. The teenage ruler of much of the known world , possibly guided by his father’s advisors , ended the conflict.

If he had continued the policy of his father 's policy and was successful in the wars, it is highly likely that the conquered lands would have only been a drain on the Imperial treasury and would have been impossible to defend.<ref>McLynn, Frank, Marcus Aurelius, Warrior, Philosopher, Emperor (Vintage Books, London, 2009), p 279</ref> Commodus by ending the war, on favorable terms, had probably taken the correct strategic decision. He can be seen as continuing the policy of Augustus , which warned against further expansion.

====How did Commodus and a new concept of Imperial authority==centralize power when he was the Emperor?==Marcus Aurelius and his predecessors had cultivated a good relationship with the Senate. They had secured the cooperation and support of the senatorial elite. Commodus rejected his predecessors’ policy , and after been proclaimed Emperor , he side-lined the senators . He taxed them very heavily, and this was regarded by many as an attempt to impoverish and weaken the senatorial elite, permanently. As his paranoia grew, he ordered the death of senators without even a treason trial.<ref> Historia Augusta, Life of Commodus, 6, 1</ref>

This had not been done since the reign of Caligula. The successor of the great Stoic Emperor who esteemed the Senate treated the institution with contempt. Commodus wanted to be an absolute ruler, and this was to which set the trend in the Roman government. His treatment of the traditional elite set a precedent and his . His successors, beginning with Septimius Severus , began to exclude the Roman nobility from government and did not even pretend to show them any deference. Commodus 's reign can be seen as initiating a new and more absolute concept of Imperial power and growing authoritarianism in the government of the Imperial domains' government. <ref>Gibbon; I chapter 8</ref>

====How did Commodus Misrule==weaken the Roman Empire? ==Except for a few years in the reigns of Nero and Caligula's reigns, the Imperial territories had been ruled relatively well for two centuries. Successive Imperial governments had been fiscally prudent and had been careful to control spending. However, Commodus began to spend extravagantly, and this resulted in a financial crisis. Commodus's spending led to runaway inflation , and inflation became a critical problem in the years ahead for the Roman Empire.

The last member of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty was a very insecure ruler, despite his claims to be the Hercules' reincarnation of Hercules. <ref> Speidel, Michael P. "Commodus the God-Emperor and the army." The Journal of Roman Studies 83 (1993): 109-114 </ref> He was very aware that he needed the legions' support of the legions. For the first time in decades, the Emperor sought to cultivate the army, to shore up his hold on power. It was another dangerous precedent, and it was one that was followed by his immediate successorsfollowed. The result of which was that the legions, began to become increasingly powerful , and this destabilized the Empire over the long term.

====Why did Commodus's Assassination lead to a Civil War and the Year of the Five Emperors==?==The Commodus's assassination of Commodus was the first time in almost a hundred years that a reigning ruler of the Roman world 's reigning ruler was murdered. Furthermore, the last of his dynasty left no heir and abandoned the practice of adopting a son as his heir. The adoption of heirs had prevented any succession problems for many decades. The death of the son of Marcus and his misgovernment meant that after his death that there was a great deal of instability.

In 193 AD, five different men held the title of Emperor. The Praetorian Guard assassinated Petrinax when he tried to reform the Imperial Bodyguard. His successor bought the Imperial throne before Septimius Severus overthrew him. <ref> Historia Augusta, Life of Petrinax, 8 2</ref> Severus fought two bitter civil wars to secure his claim to the throne. Commodus's disastrous reign led to the most protracted period of instability in the Imperial lands since 66 AD. However, Septimius Severus proved that he was an able leader, and stabilized the chaotic Empire a year after the Commodus's assassination of Commodus. The reign of the man who was obsessed with the Games and gladiators was one that ended the political stability that Rome had enjoyed for almost a century. <ref>Speidel, p 110</ref>

====Conclusion==Was Commodus the Worst Emperor?==Commodus Marcus Aurelius was the son of arguably one of the most respected Roman rulers and one of its greatest philosophers. The His son , Commodus, was completely unsuited by temperament and character to be the sole ruler of an extensive state. He revolted against the influence of his father 's influence and his Stoic education and acted contrary to what had been expected of him. He also became increasingly mentally unstable sometime during his reign. Commodus is arguably one of the worst emperors in its history.

He ended the Marcomanni War , which was arguably the right strategic decision. However, his extravagance led to the devaluation of the coinage and inflation. Commodus 's rule was bloody, and his executions of elite members of the elite were something that had not been seen in over a century. The ruler also had a new concept of the Emperor as an absolute ruler, unrestrained by the Senate or even the law. His government was chaotic, and this led to civil war and instability after his death. Commodus 's reign was undoubtedly the end of an era, after . After 100 years of good government, the Empire experienced over a decade of misrule. In the 3rd century, it became increasingly authoritarian and more unstable, and some of this can be attributed to the years of Commodus 's rule.

====Further Reading====

Palmer, R. E. A. "The" excusatio magisteri" and the administration of Rome under Commodus (prima parte)." Athenaeum 52 , (1974): 268.