November
27
/ 2021
Roman Emperor Lucius Aurelius Commodus was a corrupt ruler who was not well-received by the Roman people during his reign. He also believed himself to be a reincarnation of Hercules and enjoyed fighting in an arena as a gladiator. His outrageous tactics, such as slaying people with disabilities and slaughtering wild beasts in the arena, brought much negative attention, and were believed to have played a role in his eventual assassination. His tumultuous reign as emperor was the starting point for a period of Roman history that is viewed as having been filled with chaos and decline. Commodus was Raised to be an Emperor Commodus was born on August 31, 161 AD in Lanuvium, 14 miles (22.5 km) southeast of
