Commodus, << KAHM uh duhs >> (A.D. 161-192), was a Roman emperor who reigned from A.D. 180 to 192. He was the first Roman emperor born in the purple—that is, born to a reigning emperor. His father was the emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius. According to tradition, Commodus was cruel and insane. But historians continue to debate his character and the motives for his behavior.
Commodus was born Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus in Lanuvium, southeast of Rome, on Aug. 31, 161. His father made him co-emperor in 177. Commodus joined his father’s military campaigns to defend the borders of the Roman Empire in Europe and to extend the empire into lands held by Germanic peoples north of the Danube River. Marcus died in 180, and Commodus became sole emperor. Commodus abandoned his father’s efforts at expansion. Instead, he made peace treaties with the Germanic peoples to the north and launched no further campaigns against them.
Commodus cared little for the responsibilities of government. Plots and struggles developed that involved groups or individuals eager to rule on his behalf or replace him. Gradually, Commodus removed Rome’s senators and other upper-class administrators from office and had many of them executed. He then placed his trust in lower-class servants, particularly his manservant Cleander and, later, his mistress Marcia.
Commodus became obsessed with assuming the character of Hercules and often dressed up like him. Hercules was a hero and god of Greek mythology. Commodus also began fighting as a beast-hunter and gladiator in the Colosseum. Commodus renamed the months of the year after titles associated with him, such as Pius and Augustus. He also renamed himself after Hercules and gave Rome the new name of Colonia Commodiana (Colony of Commodus). Such behavior led the emperor’s household to have him assassinated on Dec. 31, 192.
See also Hercules ; Lugdunum, Battle of ; Marcus Aurelius .
