Commodus

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Some claim that Commodus was the worse emperor in the history of Rome. The fact that his father, Marcus Aurelius, was a popular and successful ruler may have raised the precedent that Commodus had to live up to. But for whatever reason, Commodus proved a disconnected and self indulgent leader.

At the age of five Commodus was named Caesar, and at the age of seventeen he became co-Augustus with his father. He spent his childhood accompanying Marcus Aurelius on political campaigns, and learned a lot on how to run an empire. However, after the death of his father the people of Rome found that the years under Marcus Aurelius had not impacted Commodus' leadership skills. Commodus' reign was filled with bad decisions, causing the people of Rome to suffer.

Commodus' first bad move took place immediately following his father's death. The new emperor made a treaty with the German tribe of Marcomanni, his father's enemies. From then on Commodus gradually lost favor in the eyes of his subjects. Thinking himself equal to the gods, the emperor began dressing like Hercules, son of the god Jupiter. His clothes consisted of lion's skin, and he carried around a club.

Commodus also enjoyed gladiatorial combat. He even went as far as fighting in arenas. This did not impress his subjects. In fact, they could not believe that their emperor willingly reduced himself to the lowest human being on earth. The emperor's gladiator career seemed like a joke to the citizen. And though he claimed to have killed 12,000 men in his numerous combats, the people of Rome knew it had nothing to do with his skill as a gladiator. The men and beasts Commodus fought were not adequately armed. The emperor had the most modern weaponry, and his opposition was lucky if the...

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...renamed all the months on the calendar after each of his many titles as well he renamed the legions ,Rome, and the senate after himself. Commodus even declared himself the founder of a new Rome, a new Romulus.

Though nothing worthwhile occurred during the reign of Commodus, he did not persecute the Christians like previous emperors and a few conversions were said to have taken place during his reign. This tolerance to Christians did not help the emperor's popularity rating and there were numerous attempts made on his life. Commodus was finally struck down in the year 192 AD. He was strangled by a Greek athlete while bathing and had ruled for 12 years.. Commodus was the last Antoinne emperor and, after him, the Roman empire began it's long decline. He had failed the empire at the time it needed a strong and capable ruler to deal with the threat of impending barbarian

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