Roman Emperor Commodus
Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus who was known more simply as Commodus was a Roman emperor who was in power from 180 AD to 192 AD. He was actually born Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus on August 31st in the year 161 AD in Lanuvium, to the then emperor Marcus Aurelius.
Commodus had a twin brother who was named Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus, although he lived only for four years, dying in the year 165 AD. Commodus still had another brother, the younger Marcus Annius Verus, with whom, he was bestowed the name of Caesar on October 12th, 166 AD.
Marcus Annius Verus also failed to survive into adulthood, dying in 169 AD after failing to recover from an operation. Commodus therefore remained Marcus Aurelius' only son and legitimate heir to the throne.
For a time, Commodus was placed under the care of his father's physician, a man named Galen. Marcus Aurelius placed a great importance in the intellectual development of Commodus, and clearly favoured such pursuits over military training. To this end, he employed many learned men to tutor Commodus from early on in his childhood.
Historians have determined that Commodus was present at Marcus Aurelius' headquarters in Carnuntum during the time of the Marcomannic Wars in the year 172 AD. It was there that he received the title of Germanicus to commemorate the victory of his father's army against the Marcomanni.
The title was supposed to have been bestowed upon Commodus with the army as witnesses on October 15 of that year. The granting of this title to Commodus is one of the most pressing evidences of his presence at the battlefield. His official entry into public office was placed at January 20th, 175 AD, which is the date when he entered the College of Pontiffs.
Around this same time, rumours of Marcus Aurelius' death began to circulate throughout the country. In the face of these rumours (which were since found to have been baseless), the governor of Syria, Avidius Cassius, saw fit to declare himself emperor and managed to obtain the support of not only his own country but also of Palestine and Egypt.
Cassius persisted in his bid for emperor even after it was confirmed that Marcus Aurelius was in fact still alive. While Aurelius' armies were gearing up for the impending confrontation with Cassius, Commodus assumed his toga virilis, which signified his entrance into adulthood, and therefore his readiness to enter into battle on the battlefront at Danube on July 7th, 175 AD. Before he could embark on this campaign however, Cassius was killed by one of his own men and the war was called off.
Commodus instead travelled with his father to the eastern provinces where he had the occasion to visit the Antioch. From there, the father and son proceeded to Athens where they were indoctrinated in the Eleusinian mysteries. They would finally return to Rome in 176 AD.
Commodus later became the youngest consul at the age of fifteen and when his father died on March 17th, 180 AD, he assumed sole control of the throne.
Commodus died on December 31st, 192 AD.
Original Authors: Doods Pangburn
Edit Update Authors: M.A.Harris
Updated On: 22/07/2008
