Commodus, full name, Lucius Aurelius Commodus, is one of the most illustrious figures born in Lanuvium on August 21, 160. Among the important historical figures, Commodus probably does not embody the human model that a Lanuvian can be proud of today, as there are many negative elements against him, however he still became Emperor of Rome, and as such he must be remembered and passed down. Commodus was born in the ancient "Lanuvium", from Faustina Minor and from Marco Aurelio. Faustina, while she was pregnant with Commodus and his brother Antoninus, dreamed to give birth to snakes, including a very cruel one. Antoninus died at the age of four, even though astrologers of the time had predicted the same future as Commodus. Marcus Aurelius tried to educate Commodus properly, but his evil nature got the better of him.
At only twelve years old he ordered a servant to be thrown into the oven for having heated his bath water too much.The future emperor had no intention of studying and spent his time in physical exercises, leaping, dancing, and games. A dark and terrible cloud thus fell over Rome when Marcus Aurelius died, and Commodus succeeded him.
Commodus born in Lanuvium towards Rome and the delirium
Commodus, after his father's death, decided to leave Vindobona and return to Rome; he accepted the peace conditions of the Marcomanni, the Quadi, and the Buri, against everyone's opinion. He dismissed his father's officials, sending them away. For Commodus, only his own amusements existed, fights against wild beasts and gladiators. He cared nothing for the Empire, living isolated in the palace, surrounded by girls for his pleasure. He went from one orgy to another, indifferent to the famine that afflicted the people during his reign, or to the misery that spread through Rome following a terrible epidemic.
He loved to present himself dressed up like Hercules, wearing a lion skin and carrying a club. When he performed in gladiatorial games, he charged a million sesterces; under his rule, Rome's coffers dried up. The senators, attending the shows and fearing his wrath, since he killed easily, praised him..
Revelries and prostitutes
While carousing among three hundred concubines and concubines, chosen for their beauty among the matrons, prostitutes and brothels, he did not govern, but delegated to shady characters like Perennial. The latter, despite having become extremely powerful, was killed. Commodus had no tolerance for morally upright people, while he held all the worst individuals dear. With him the orgies of Neronian memory returned, and power fell into the hands of ugly and cruel figures.Anyone who dared to mock him ended up as food for the beasts. Commodus had a passion for his concubine Marcia, whom he loved dressed of Amazon, and he also wanted to go down into the arena dressed like that.
However, despite his might, Commodus was sickly, partly because of a hernia, which was recognizable by the swelling visible through his clothing. His wife, caught cheating on him, was banished and then killed. Living among his prostitutes, sowing death for nothing, Commodus was unaware of the anger that was meanwhile creeping among his own subjects.
An owl, a dire omen
Among the atrocities was also the decision to kill carefully selected people, although the shameful plan failed because a tablet was found on which all the names of the unfortunate victims were written. Commodus also earned the title of Roman Hercules, for having killed wild beasts in the amphitheater of Lanuvio; he had a habit of killing wild beasts in his homeland. Inevitably, a conspiracy was hatched, but it failed. The attempt was followed by trials and convictions, and his sister Lucilla, confined to Capri, was later killed. Many dark omens dot his reign, like the statue of Hercules in the portico of Minucius that dripped sweat. His helmet rolled twice through the Porta Libitina, sacred to the goddess of funerals. Above his bedroom, both in Rome and Lanuvium, an owl was seen.
Commodus sent to govern the provinces individuals who were complicit in his vices and capable of any wickedness. He was so indolent that he responded to petitions by writing only "Vale," and this made him vulnerable.
His end came after thirteen years of reign. Quintus Aemilius Leto and his concubine planned to assassinate him, fearing that the emperor would kill them because they had so displeased him. On the night of December 31, 192, they fed him poisoned food, which, however, did not kill him. They then decided to have the athlete Narcissus strangle him while he was bathing.
The Senate and the people demanded that he be dragged with a hook and thrown into the Tiber, but after his death he was buried in Hadrian's tomb. Only faint traces of his public works remain. Thus, at the age of thirty-two, hated by all, the last of the Antonini.
