Commodus: Emperor, Gladiator, Madman

The only person that loved Commodus more than Ridley Scott was... Commodus.

→ Subscribe for new videos four times per week.

TopTenz Properties

Source/Further reading:

[LuvsicVI]

Imagine failing an assassination because you decided to make an entire speech like an anime villain..

[MrTmack]

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.

[grantwalter]

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: sword goes swish swish. hErCuLeS”

[jeffreyruttibaker]

When Commodus looked over the Senate and exclaimed "Baby, I'm a gangsta too, but it takes 2 to I got shivers up my spine. Such a powerful moment in history!

[madsb.]

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 😂

[Joe-poxn]

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.

[dlee]

"You have to be lucky every time your enemies try to kill you. Your enemies only have to be lucky once."

[wajidhussain]

Senate: ‘Who killed Commodus?’

Narcissis: ‘it was me!’ 😆

[artemisarrow]

It’s a good day when Biographics releases a new Roman emperor video

[garrick]

"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

[Temujin]

I'll never understand why someone as wise as Marcus Aurelius couldn't see that his son was an incompetent psychopath.

[artydomi]

"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."

[LECAPITAINEJACK]

Commodus had a twin brother who died at the age of 4. I wonder how many people knew that.

[OhioOwns]

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

[chasityeverett]

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

[TetsuShima]

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?"

[retiredcolonel]

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.

[qwellen]

A Roman emperor killed by a guy called narcissis. Oh the irony.

[bwalker]

Choosing Commodus as his heir should really go against Aurelius’ record. It was his duty to pick someone sensible and he failed spectacularly.

[alfredthegreatkingofwessex]

Lol at the fact that Quintianus had the opportunity to kill Commodus but he started monologuing