From 180 to 192 C.E., Emperor Commodus ruled ancient Rome with an insatiable lust for power that brought an end to the fabled Pax Romana.

That’s why Commodus’ murder of his father hits harder than any sword fight. And now, years later, with Gladiator 2 just aired, it’s the perfect time to revisit this brutal classic.

While Commodus’ reign was short-lived in Gladiator, the reality is that he ruled Rome for about 12 years. He was not killed in the Colosseum, but was instead murdered by a wrestler named Narcissus.

The Ridley Scott sequel Gladiator II weaves in and out of the historical record. Here’s what really happened to Lucius Verus, Lucilla, Macrinus, the twin emperors, and more.

The original film follows Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius, a Roman general betrayed by Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), the son of the emperor, who kills Meridius' wife and child.

Under Commodus’ rule, Rome’s political landscape becomes increasingly unstable. The new emperor controls the Senate with fear while eating away Rome’s resources to fund 150 days of Colosseum ...

Where can you stream “Gladiator?” There are a few places available to stream Ridley Scott’s first film about the Roman Empire. “Gladiator” is available on Prime Video as of Nov. 1.

Commodus was a gladiator manqué who may have acquired his taste for the sport during a period in his youth (A.D. 171 to 173), some of which was misspent in Carnuntum.

Scott has a specific reason as to why his Roman leaders in both 'Gladiator' and 'Gladiator II' were unhinged: "No wonder they were f--king crazy." By James Hibberd Writer-at-Large In Gladiator II ...