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.

Gladiator dropped in 2000 — that’s over two decades ago. Ridley Scott directed the film, and Russell Crowe went full beast ...

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.

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.

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.

This made-in-Spain production is a giant-size, three-hour, sweepingly pictorial entertainment. It probably tells all that most film fans will want to know about the glory, grandeur and greed of Rome.

Maximus is forced to become a gladiator and is taken to Rome to fight in front of Commodus. Ultimately, Commodus and Maximus fight a duel and both of them — spoiler alert — die.

Rome is Burning November 11th, 2016 45 min Commodus defeats his sister's coup but withdraws from governing, allowing other to amass power while he engages in an affair and banishes his wife.