Commodus: The Mad Emperor Who Ended Rome's Golden Age (Part 1)

[00:00:00]For almost a century, Rome was ruled by men remembered as the five good emperors: Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus [music] Aurelius.

[00:00:13]Together, they led an age of order, strength, and prosperity.

[00:00:18]The empire stretched from Britannia to Egypt, from the Atlantic to the eastern frontiers.

[00:00:24]For generations, Rome's throne passed not by blood, but by judgment.

[00:00:31]Each emperor chose [music] a successor believed worthy of ruling. But Marcus Aurelius made a different choice.

[00:00:38]He chose not the wisest man, but his own son, Commodus.

[00:00:45]>> The [music] emperors before me chose heirs by wisdom and merit, but I am a father before I am a philosopher.

[00:00:49][music] I shall appoint my son Commodus as my heir, and entrust Rome to my blood.

[00:00:56]>> [music] [music] >> I am not merely emperor, I am Hercules reborn. Rome itself [music] shall kneel before MY STRENGTH.

[00:01:21]>> [laughter] [laughter] [laughter] [music] >> BUT MARCUS AURELIUS was not only a philosopher, he was also an emperor forced to spend much of his reign at war.

[00:01:56]Far far from the marble halls of Rome, Marcus found himself on the cold northern frontier, where the empire faced one of its greatest threats.

[00:02:07]Across the Danube, powerful Germanic tribes pressed against Rome's borders.

[00:02:13]The Marcomanni, the Quadi, and other peoples driven by hunger, pressure, [screaming] and opportunity.

[00:02:21]The Roman world had known peace and prosperity under the five good emperors, but now that golden age was being tested in the forests, rivers, and frozen camps of Germania.

[00:02:33]Marcus Aurelius spent years away from Rome, [music] leading his armies through harsh winters, disease, mud, and endless warfare.

[00:02:44]The emperor who wrote about self-control, duty, and the weakness of anger was surrounded by violence.

[00:02:52]While his soldiers fought to hold the frontier, Marcus carried the burden of an empire that seemed to be cracking under pressure.

[00:03:01]These campaigns would become known as the Marcomannic Wars.

[00:03:05]They were not wars of conquest for glory.

[00:03:09]They were wars of survival, a desperate effort to defend Rome from enemies pushing through its northern gates.

[00:03:18]And it was during these bitter years in military camps far from home that Marcus wrote many of the thoughts we now know as Meditations.

[00:03:26]>> power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find [music] strength.

[00:03:33]Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be.

[00:03:37]Be one.

[00:03:39]>> A philosopher emperor surrounded [music] by snow, steel, and death, trying to remind himself what it meant to remain human.

[00:03:53]Marcus carefully prepared him for [music] power.

[00:03:56]Commodus accompanied his father during military campaigns and was elevated to the rank of co-emperor while still a teenager.

[00:04:05]When Marcus died in 180, the 19-year-old Commodus became [music] sole ruler of one of the largest and most powerful empires the world had ever known.

[00:04:19]>> [music] >> At that moment, Rome expected continuity.

[00:04:28]But the new emperor did not possess his father's discipline.

[00:04:32]Commodus quickly negotiated peace and returned to Rome.

[00:04:37]Ancient writers condemned this as weakness, though the settlement recovered captives, received hostages, and imposed restrictions upon Rome's enemies.

[00:04:50]The decision was not necessarily disastrous, but it revealed that Commodus had little desire to continue his father's exhausting military life.

[00:04:59]He preferred Rome.

[00:05:01]He preferred the palace, public spectacles, chariot racing, hunting, and gladiatorial combat.

[00:05:10]At first, the young emperor could still appear generous and popular.

[00:05:15]He celebrated his return and enjoyed the affection that came from being the son of Marcus Aurelius.

[00:05:23]The empire did not collapse and the frontiers did not immediately crumble.

[00:05:29]But beneath the celebrations, fear was growing.

[00:05:33]>> Please, Christ, save [music] me. Please.

[00:05:35]Please.

[00:05:43]>> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Look at them. So brave, [music] so heroic.

[00:07:02]Do not fear, woman.

[00:07:06]We are here to save you from those bloodthirsty beasts.

[00:07:10]>> Then hurry.

[00:07:12]The gate will not hold them much longer.

[00:07:14]Please, cut me free.

[00:07:16]>> Have faith.

[00:07:17]>> [cheering] >> Before this battle is over, the sands will drink the blood of beasts, not yours.

[00:07:30]>> [bell and music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music and singing] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Three gladiators remain standing.

[00:09:30]While three others lay dead beside the fallen lions.

[00:09:35]The crowd roared in [music] celebration, indifferent to the bloodshed as Commodus applauded from his throne and the unconscious woman remained chained to the post.

[00:09:47]But the spectacle was only the beginning.

[00:09:49]As the emperor departed, an assassin suddenly struck.

[00:09:54]Commodus' guards subdued the attacker before he could reach him.

[00:09:58]The first failed attempt on the emperor's life in 182.

[00:10:04]From that moment, suspicion and fear would begin to consume Commodus.

[00:10:15]Thank you for watching the story of Emperor Commodus.

[00:10:19]This reconstruction was created with historical accuracy in mind, drawing visual inspiration >> [music] >> from the column of Marcus Aurelius and surviving Roman mosaics and wall paintings depicting gladiators [music] and arena combat.

[00:10:37]Please like the video, subscribe to the channel, and stay tuned for part [music] two as Commodus descends further into fear, paranoia, and tyranny.

[00:10:51]>> [music] [music]