Commodus: Emperor, Gladiator, Madman
2020 ж. 15 Қар.
831 590 Рет қаралды
The only person that loved Commodus more than Ridley Scott was... Commodus.
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Imagine failing an assassination because you decided to make an entire speech like an anime villain..
“ You sly dog, you got me monologuing!”
Ha, lmao
lol! you are not wrong! life is stranger then fiction!
Just plain dumb.
Yeah, that's why you stab *first* and gloat afterward.
"Your faults as a son, was my failure as a father" Proceeds to get hugged to death.
@Jakub Michalak-Palarz but they did get the wise father/degenerate son part right.
Richard Harris was a great great actor. His portrayal of Dumbledore in The Philosopher's Stone and Chamber of Secrets are two of my personal favorite performances of all time.
@@nicolainielsen7700 if you think his act in those was good then watch the Count of Monte Cristo. He was actually good in that one. This Napoleonic era story is on par with Shakespeare's works.
@@jeffborders5526 I've read the book several times, but somehow completely missed that there was a movie. Off to watch this second.
It is Kind of ironic that Commodus is the one that actually got strangled
Lol at the fact that Quintianus had the opportunity to kill Commodus but he started monologuing
"You sly dog you got me monologuing"
Maybe he thought he was in a Movie
If only his parents had named him Bigus Monologius
If you gotta shoot... shoot - don’t talk
@@mikebaum5301 -Tuco ❤️
Marcus Aurelius: “May the Empire be blessed to be ruled by my son. May he be better than me and influence a new era of stoic fulfillment in the Empire.” Commodus: “haaaaaa!! sword goes swish swish. hErCuLeS”
😂
I wasn't there, but i think this is incredibly accurate
Aurelius - great leader, brilliant philosopher, naïve and indulgent father. Commodus is just lucky we already had the story of Narcissus or we'd be diagnosing people today with 'Commodian Personality Disorder'.
Is this the origin of the word "commode?" 🤔
One wonders what the offspring of Nietzsche, Schopenhauer and Cioran would've been like: "Screw you, dad! Life in itself is meaningful and beautiful and I'm going to do my best to help as many as I can. I'll also convert to Catholicism, because God is real and he rules!"
The movie Gladiator would have been improved immeasurably by this detail. Imagine Joachin Phoenix in a bearskin bellowing "I AM HERCULES!" at a perplexed Russell Crowe.
Tim McGaha It would need to be a lion skin, not a bear, to be Hercules. Russell Crowe would still be just as perplexed.
There's a videogame called Colosseum: Road to Freedom that portraits a more historical accurate version of Commodus in both visual and personality ways. And spoiler alert... Narcissus is there and Laetus and the multiple assassination attempts. There a prequel called Gladiator Begins that revolves around commodus raising to power too
Probably bc it would have taken too many takes for Russell crowe. He wouldn't have been able to keep a straight face! Lol
nah, it's fantastic in of itself.
Phoenix actually made him seem graceful lol
I'll never understand why someone as wise as Marcus Aurelius couldn't see that his son was an incompetent psychopath.
Love makes you blind, or he just wanted to make a dynasty.
He tried to mold him as much as he could but remember, Marcus Aurelius died when Commodus was 18
That's plenty of time to mold him
For starters he was the first emperor since Titus who had a clear biological heir. He might have feared for Commodus' safety since if he chose someone else, they could end up getting Commodus killed due to percieving him as a threat. Finally he gave him co-emperorship at 16. Marcus might've thought he'd live another decade and have Commodus mature under his tutelage. Remember; Commodus was the youngest emperor since Nero
@Billy Mayes You’re not Commodus and he you. Different time, setting, culture.
A Roman emperor killed by a guy called narcissis. Oh the irony.
Ikr?! 😅
Evil is a choice, not a personality trait.
😡⁉️
@@stockholm1752 You're wondering what I meant? We too often weaken our condemnation of "bad" people by tacitly accepting the idea that a trait like narcissism is the cause of many of their faults. However, it seems to me that the evil intentions are what produce the rotten fruit of this trait. I was just pointing it out as an opinion.
@@stockholm1752 Orange men often take umbrage at facts. Truth is, I was referencing the Roman dictator, but if the shoe fits the Orange Man, such is life.
Senate: ‘Who killed Commodus?’ Narcissis: ‘it was me!’ 😆
U know he wanted credit for the assassination
Oh! Joy!! Killed by a sword made of beautiful red rose's & poesies...ahhh yesss, the horror...the beautiful, lovely horror.
To put Commodus's "gladiator career" into perspective: Picture a President participating in MMA, but solely against puppies, kittens, and handicapped children. After a clearly scripted fight where he really does beat the crap out of a paraplegic kid, he holds up their limp, almost lifeless, body to the crowd of Congresspeople forced to attend and says, "Cheer and clap or you'll be next. In fact, you'll probably be next anyways." Commodus wasn't just crazy in terms of being perverted, paranoid, or irrational. Even by often callous and brutal Roman standards he was a cruel, remorseless, sadistic motherfucker. Which is saying something.
I agree. An absolute coward and an embarrassment to the legacy of Rome and his father.
Sounds like a current leader who shall go unnamed.
@@murdelabop Trump
Ah but just because you are crazy... doesn't mean they aren't out to get you. lol
ok boomer
"My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, Commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next."
“My name is Iñigo Montoya you killed my father, prepare to die”
What was that from again?
@@grantwalter2243 first quote was Gladiator and the second was Princess Bride.
Original.
At my command unleash Hell😃
"The senators took to chewing laurel leaves so they would not burst out laughing in front of the Emperor" ... because the Emperor had invited his friend, Biggus Dickus
I was thinking how much that guy's name "Tigidius Perennis" looks like "Turgidus Perennis"
He hasth a wife, you know…
@@JamesTAdams incontenentia ...buttocks?
@@mta4562 WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THITH? TO THE AWENA, ALL OF YOU
My thought exactly!!
"You have to be lucky every time your enemies try to kill you. Your enemies only have to be lucky once."
Commodus had a twin brother who died at the age of 4. I wonder how many people knew that.
When Commodus looked over the Senate and exclaimed "Baby, I'm a gangsta too, but it takes 2 to tangooooo", I got shivers up my spine. Such a powerful moment in history!
15:06 i love how nonchalantly he says "the dead bodies were turned over to the ravenous mob so they could desecrate and mutilate them to their hearts desire" like it's an everyday thing
Simon is probably used to saying stuff like that, just like in the Edmund Kemper video where after he killed his mom Simon said "and then he cut off her head, sexualy violated her face, and then threw darts at it"
He’s so ridiculously silly, I wish we got this accurate portrayal more? The idea of his advisors suppressing their laughter with laurel or groaning internally is such a good image 😂
It’s a good day when Biographics releases a new Roman emperor video
I made a villain named Commodus
I clicked right away
Yes
Yeeeees
:D
It's important to keep in mind that almost all historical accounts of Commodus' reign were written by senators, who all hated him. There's no telling how accurate they are, but they are most likely full of exaggerations and lies to make Commodus look bad. True, Commodus was most likely an inept, inattentive emperor, but I don't think he was nearly as vain or as foolish as these accounts make him seem.
Yeah its a sad thing that alot of history is written by people who hated the figure they are writing about
i watched another video on him and it was pointed out that the sources was people who hated him and the narrator was also giving an alternative eplanation on why did Commodus did what he did. So i don't believe he was that crazy or vain.
I'll always remember Commodus as the guy that designed an arrow with the sole purpose of decapitating ostriches.
...what?
@@jaysmith1685 Its believed he designed a crescent shaped arrowhead to kill ostriches
What a bizarrely specific endeavor
Yup! He did this because he was amused by the fact that they would continue to run headless for a short time… 😅
Choosing Commodus as his heir should really go against Aurelius’ record. It was his duty to pick someone sensible and he failed spectacularly.
He's a fallable human like we all are, shocking
should havw picked the 🇪🇸
Well, he did try to give him the best tutors to prepare him for the role. Even Dio, who was unsympathetic, acknowledged that he wasn't born evil.
He had no choice but to pick his son. Any Roman emperor would have done the same. Not picking him means condemning him to a quick death.
@@thechosenone1533 He very much had the choice. Since Roman Emperors were picked and not passed by birth rights, Commodus would’ve had zero claim to the title if he hadn’t been chosen. No claim means no reason to be murdered by anyone. Commodus was picked and was terrible, and he ended up paying it with his life. So in the end, Aurelius doomed him when he picked him.
Looks like Sextus Condianus escaped by a hare! I'll show myself out now.
Yep! Rode it for approx fifty miles before the great beast died from exhaustion.
🤣🤣🤣
Commodus to his sister: "...And as for you, you will love...as I loved you. You will provide me with an heir of pure blood, so that Commodus and his progine will rule for a thousand years..." *Meanwhile, in Hell* Caligula: "Sniff. That boy really fills my heart with pride and nostalgia, you know, Drusilla?"
I knew a man once who said, "Death smiles at us all. All a man can do is smile back."
You knew Marcus Aurelius?
@@thejudgmentalcat No, but he touched me on the shoulder once.
@@yourstruly4817 👏👏👏👏
Strength and honor
Smile for me now, brother
Even Daenerys Targaryen looks at all those titles and says that’s a bit much
*and this coming from someone who had dragons*
@@scottmantooth8785 😂
And follows it w "I am not my father, I am the merciful Queen", followed by "Dracarys"!!
Wait so you mean to tell me the Hollywood movie Gladiator wasn’t an accurate portrayal?? So I guess next you’re going to start telling us that politicians aren’t honest? Oh the lies..lol
Haha
The former is closer to the truth than the later.
They should include a disclaimer so people don't form erroneus ideas about the past.
*next you'll tell us that the Titanic movie was not at all accurate as to how it was not an iceberg that sunk the ship but those sneaky aliens and their E-Vil™ technology*
You be surprised how many ignorant people there in the world.
What's always crazy to me is such a great man like Marcus Aurelius can have a son like Commodus.
In the great race to reach the ovum-the best sperms don't always beat the rest. Sometimes th flawed or moronic sperms get there first.
He was 18, inexperienced, born into wealth and power(born under purple), rich, spoilt, arrogant and did not like being a soldier. Thus got surrounded by sycophants! I blame his father- who should have chosen a general to run Rome FOR his son.
Is it? How? This still happens, there are many great and successful people out there and their kids come out as completely irresponsible and a massive superiority complex which results in all the parent’s accomplishments being thrown away for selfish reasons.
@@htoodoh5770 Stupid fool never suffered under hardship other than a cold day at camp.
Imagine being 18 and then suddenly you are LITERALLY the King of the world, with life and death power over anyone. Probably 99% of people would become a Nero or a Commodus. Marcus Aurelius probably feared for his son's life if another man inherited the throne, who knows.
was everyone wandering the halls a potential assassin? "hey! you! there's...a guy...puking in that room, can you kill him for me? i'll make it worth your while ;-)" "sure"
I mean, given Commodus staged fights to look cool, I'm sure most gladiators would've been up for the job.
If I recall correctly, Narcissus was Commodus' gladiator trainer. As to the question about assassins behind every corner, if you are the emperor then, yes. Everybody wants your job and the people most acceptable for that job are among your friends and family. It is no wonder that these Romans are the men that the Mafia looked to for inspiration.
m m...your sarcasm is noted 😏! No honor among thieves, but in the Romans' case, the means used to get to power (except those born into wealth) would be their undoing, pretty much...that's why they were all weary of everyone else.
@@marinazagrai1623 oh that's true..i guess things we think of as extremely shocking or corrupt is really defined by our society..perhaps to people far removed in space and time (or..sadly people not that far removed at all) might have a different norm and see it as a career/business decision, albeit with certain risks. i guess imagining experiencing such a different world is part of the fun/horror of history (the funrror? :) especially with the romans where they had so many things similar to us too
It is one of the largest unanswered question of Roman history. Why, did Marcus Aurelius, unquestionably one of the more astute emperors, and last of the so-called “Good Emperors,”, not see the monster that Commodus was and how poor an emperor he would be. I’ve read that Commodus even as a child was cruel and this was known to the emperor. If a competent emperor had succeeded Marcus Aurelius, the curve of the late Roman Empire may have been different. The late 3rd century AD melt down of the empire may have been avoided and succeeding emperors would have had a more secure empire with which to face the Germanic and Hunnic invasions of the 5th century. Who knows.
I followed the podcast "History of Rome" and according to Mike Duncan, his thoughts mind you, that Marcus Aurelius was put into a dilemma in regards to what he should do to Commodus. He could disinherit him, but that will create a succession crisis because there will be people lobbying for Commodus to rule. And the alternative was that Marcus killed Commodus, but regardless of Commodus' cruel behavior, he was still his son and Marcus couldn't just make himself order the death of his son. And undoubtly, ordering the death of his heir would create more chaos in a time where Marcus was warring against aggressive Germanic tribes and dealing with a plague ravaging the empire. Given the huge list of immediate issues that Marcus had to deal with during his lifetime, I believe that dealing with succession issue was on the lower bottom of his list. I think if Marcus had more time to consider and prepare, he might have handled the succession differently such as putting Commodus with a more capable co-ruler. But we never really know, because that would also create potential problems such as a power struggle if both rulers couldn't agree. Marcus Aurelius is among my favorites of the Roman Emperors and it is such a tragedy that he had to rule during such a turbulent era.
Where did you read that say Commodus was a cruel child?
Aurelius was busy on that opium
@@davi1415 Exactly. And he wasn't as bad as he later became at the time Marcus died. Spoilt but not a monster. Yet
Commodus was 18 when Marcus died. I don't think even marcus could see the future. Marcus groomed him while he was alive but there's no real telling how your 18 yr old son is going to be as an emporer when you're gone
This is hilarious. This man giving people wands to fight while he’s got swords has me weak weak. That and the fact the he has 27 names is just the best thing ever.
It’s what they did to Christians. Romans REALLY hates Christians.
@@joecoastie99 I’m just hoping it was at least the elder wand 🤣😭
Wands and SPONGES!! I laughed my head off on that one!
@@Cry.For.Ukraine just in case they are too dangerous with that wand 🤣😭
And sponges, to be fair.
I guess that saying goes both ways then. “We don’t choose our parents” and in this context, “We don’t choose our children... to be mad” lol
Very true, sometimes what one brings into the world are just a bunch of enemies which should never have been born.
You can't choose your family.
".... the year of the 5 emperors ..., but we can talk about that in another episode ..." What!!!!!! We'll have to wait for the sequel???????
I suggest The History of Rome podcast or the recent Extra History series on the Third Century Crisis, which features the Year of the Five Emperors in song form!
The year of "The 5 good emperors" is the actual term.
“The emperor... suddenly died!” *furious stabbing sounds*
"No, wait, I'm alright. In fact, I think I'm getting better." *multiple stab wounds later* "Oh, yep, that'll do it."
*thumbs up* Scrotum!
Full marks to the narrator for speaking all those Roman names without hesitation & with great articulation.
I'm surprised Commodus made it that far. Even Caligula and Nero only lasted 4 years
Nero was Emperor for 14 years. 54-68 AD
I purposely stopped watching your channel for almost a year ... So I could binge watch everything you've done. Great job Simon
5:50 So...Quintianus is the role model for Hollywood villains who feel compelled to say what they plan to do first, instead of just acting. Trend setter by 2000 years.
Sounds a bit like Mr Evil... dr ...DR Evil
@@mrwdpkr5851 And most Bond movie villains.
He took the society that Marcus Aurelius built and flushed it down the toilet, which is why to this day we call it the commode.
Marcus Aurelius was the first of the 5 good emperors to be succeeded by his son, but that’s because none of the other 5 good emperors had sons who could follow them
You would have thought that the emperors had figured out that it was best to choose a capable man and not just your son to be the emperor...
@@Pikkabuu Yeah you would think... But that was a really novel idea in their world/culture. It was natural for your son to inherit your estates and your client network. Power was an obvious thing to pass on (especially given it was mostly just a consequence of the network of influence at the beginning)
@@johnkeefer8760 But it was very common that the emperor would choose the best man to be his successor and then adopt the person as his son. Just look at how the Five Good Emperors chose their successors and then look how things went when Marcus Aurelius just decided that his son would be his successor...
@@Pikkabuu he was the first of the 5 Good Emperors to have a son who could succeed him. I doubt the others would have passed over their sons. To be fair, if an emperor passes over his son, the son will be a natural rallying point and you risk civil war (very common in those days)
Maybe that’s why they were good. They weren’t born with money and royalty. Commodus was rich and pampered from birth, and didn’t have military service. And like pleasure more than governing.
These videos are brilliant. It's amazing that we can be given these little lectures for free and in such digestible portions. Love this channel
All of these Roman names reminded me of the Python classic, Life of Brian😂
Biggus dickus isn't it?
@@likelyladsss what's so funny?
Thank you Simon! I enjoyed my way through Latin class, I, Claudius, Caligula, etc. and actually learned something today!
I SHRIEKED when Simon recited all the names Commodus declared himself to be! Halfway through the names, I was already saying " KILL COMMODUS ALREADY! "
Junior
Ah, Commodus. You know he had a thing with the god Apollo? It was a super messy breakup.
"so you think you're a comedian, huh?" "no i'm a commodian :-)"
Not funny
@@MrSmokincodz it is...
@@alextombagaa Maybe if you have the iq of 10
*"Tomato Tomahto -George Gershwin* *"It's not a toomah" -Arnold Schwarzenegger*
A commodian tells jokes that kill
Commodus had the coolest salute with the lion cloak and the club.
It still rules.
Hard to imagine that a whole Empire of people became Comedians. How times have changed.
Thank you for making a video about this guy!
Nero and Calligula: Who are you Commodus: I am you, but worse
I didn't think you would ever make a video on Joaquin Phoenix
As Joker?
@@annescholey6546 lol 👎🏿
_"My son the very day you were born the hills of Rome whispered the name..... Commodus"_ _"My child, I watched with pride as you grew into a weapon, of righteousness."_ _"Remember our line had always ruled with wisdom and strength, and I know that you will show restraint when exercising your great power."_ _"But the truest victory my son is stirring the hearts of your people, I tell you this because when my days are gone, you shall be emperor"_ - Marcus Aurelius *World of Rome, Wrath of the **-Lich king-** Gladiator*
Thanks for the dedication and awesome content. Let me request you cover a Byzantine like Justinian! I think it would be interesting
I have to say thanks to your lovely Channel. I stumbled across it, because of my interest for history. But i soon realized watching your Videos not just improves my knowledge in figures in (ancient) history, but also my english. Im from Germany and at the Moment i have my highschool-finals. In your Videos you speak such magnificant Englisch (beautiful sentences, wide variaty of words), so that by watching your Videos my english improved severly. Thanks a lot for that. Greetings from Germany.
I don't think it's necessary to point out that Roman emperors were mad... It was kind of a pre requisite for most of them at this point. --'
Well presented. Thanks. Having a Classics minor has made me appreciate the Greek/Roman influences from Western Civilization.
Greatest commander of the ancient world by far. Never lost a land battle and he always employed electronic warfare smartly and efficiently.
With a name like Commodus, who would have guessed that he'd flush the country down the toilet?
Still one of the most satisfying death scenes in movie history.
Marcus Aurelius - the end of the beginning, Commodus - the beginning of the end
Excellent video!! Great quality.
Great video. Informative. In depth.
The historian Ridley Scott already told me everything I need to know about Commodus.
His mother was also his cousin once removed.
When you see assassination plot one but there’s still 20 minutes left in the video “sweats”
So enlightening!🙏🏼🙏🏼 I’d love to see one of Caracalla
First of all.. Love the videos and content.. We would love to see a BioGraphic on Filippo Brunelleschi or maybe a MegaProject for the Duomo or Florence Cathedral. Isn't that a mega project if there ever was one! Anything like this in the works?? Keep up the great work!
I first learned about Commodus on Horrible Histories' Bad Empowers song 😅
Year of the 5 Emperors; When your Reign ends because you are torn apart by Mobs, it is a bit late to try and improve your approval rating.
I appreciate your narrating..............Peace
Another great video, thank you
But did Russell Crowe punch anyone in the making of this video? Thats what I really want to know.
Ha! You evil bastard 😉
No, ETA threatened to but has no arms....
he didn't punch anyone in Gladiator. The editing was so fast you wouldn't have been able to tell who he putnched anyway if you were able to tell that he hit at all
What, were you not entertained? Isn't that why you are here?
🎵 Makin’ movies makin’ songs and fightin’ round the world! 🎵
I took a class in college called Fall Of The Roman Empire and we learned a great deal about Commodus. You clearly stayed away from his multiple non-political predilections. Perhaps that was intentional.
Great content as usual👌
Always great, thanks.
Just a suggestion for a possible future video, Cesare Borgia, a figure I think not too many people know and I think is one of the Late Medieval/Early Renaissance’s most interesting figures.
Cesare Borgia, born Cesar Borja.
Rodrigos son
Every body knows the borgias
@@diarradunlap9337 ???? Cesare borgia , born cesare borgia. What are you talking about, don't get it....
There's also widely popular (false) belief that modern image of Jesus is modeled after Cesare Borgia's facial features. While there might be some resemblance, it's just a coincidence: earliest paintings of Jesus are from 6th century.
Id love to see a series of videos about Mehmed II, Giovanni Giustiniani and Constantine XI snd their roles in the Fall of Constantinople
Great video! Simon, where’d you get those glasses!? Dope.
Oh I'm back on simontube.. must have mistyped As always great work team
You mentioned him in this vid - please do a biography of Emperor Caracalla - the meanest Roman Emperor, easily one of the worst, the worlds worst wedding guest . . . and he had great fashion sense!
You should make a video (if you haven't already) abour Cardinal Richelieu. I'm very interested about this man 😃
Ka pai Simon and Team! Love it.
8:29 Publius Tarrutenius Paternus. Kudos for keep a straight face, I know I never could
18:40 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣My Man!!!
Imagine today's teacher pronouncing 30 of those names every morning
*let's just call you "Bob" and be done with it shall we?*
It must be a blast researching these assignments.
The soundtrack for this video smacks, my dude
I would like to suggest a bio of Alcibiades, a metro-sexual fiend from Athens, which story says was so beautiful that attracted everyone in the realm, man, women, goats, furniture and even Socrates himself.
Furniture🤣?
@@jacobmorales1283 I'm more concerned about the goats
Marshal Suvorov please he's such an underrated military leader sidelined and undermined by that crazy emperor Paul the 1st
Love the Roman Emperor videos. Waiting for Augustus and Constantine.
“Tell me what you’ve been doing... *busy little bee* ...or I shall *strike down* those dearest to you...”
6:18 Modern historians: “oR mAyBe It WaS bEcAuSe He WaS gAy”
I always had wondered about commodus and his reign. Yours as well truly Reginald Tarantino Sanchez
Congrats on 1.5 Million subs!
Forever immortalized as the commode that people worldwide crap in each day.
Invented by a chap named Thomas Crapper, no less.
Very good as always! Me, who does not have English from birth, but from the teens I struggle to get a grip on who is who, and who kills who. The tempo is also very fast. That was my blod and guts for the evening. Good night.
Thank you for your great work. Can you be recorded without the light reflection in your glasses?
Commodus the madman - Has said to rename Rome to Commodiana - Has an appetite for gladiator fights
Commodus sounds like one of those funny names in the Asterix comics.
Watching this on the commode. Fitting.
How about a video on Cyril Richard Rescorla....please...... TY and staff for these great videos.
Didn't commodus have a couple boy lovers including narcissis who was a wrestler that ended up strangling him while at the bath house? That's what the "history of Rome podcast" said i believe.
I never heard that about him. But Caligula and Nero plus a few others did.
I have never heard he had bou lovers but he did had a Gladadiator that was his trainer and he killed Commodus.
Can you imagine just how much of a boss you would have been if you had managed to kill dude with a sponge tho?