alternatehistory.com

Thoughts on the Reign of Lucius, Aelius, Aurelius, Commodus, Augustus, Herculeus, Romanus, Exsuperatorius, Amazonius, Invictus, Felix, Pius :biggrin:



Commodus is certainly a controversial figure and his reign has been viewed by the likes of Gibbon as the beginning of the decline of the Roman Empire. Dio as well marks his rule as the point where Rome went from a "kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust." I have came across number of threads that take up the POD of Commodus never becoming emperor as a solution to the empire's problems. Is this a fair assessment?

From what I've read the Empire had already been put under great strain from the Antonine Plague and the Macromannic Wars. The empire was already "rusting" by the time Commodus took the throne. In my view Commodus even managed to improve the situation by bringing the wars to a conclusion. He is accused of giving up Aurelius gains but I'm unsure if making new provinces over the Danube would have been worth it? They were sapping the empire's strength and were very unpopular in the eastern provinces example Cassius' revolt. Commodus' reign, unlike his predecessor, looks to have been a period of peace and stability.

Commodus is also criticized for his disputes with the Senate. Commodus' conflict from the Senate seems to have stemmed from his failure to acknowledge Senatorial authority. This was largely caused by his use of freeman and equites. In a similar manner to Claudius, Commodus tended to trust these men because unlike the Senatorial class they had no aspirations for the throne. This would have uneven results during his reign as some proved efficient administrators and others failures.

His erratic behavior and megalomania is a valid criticism. He saw plots everywhere, some like Lucilla's were real, but others its less clear. His love for gladiatorial combat was also not ideal for an emperor. However Emperor Severus, from Dio, gives us an interesting defense of his behavior and points out the sports popularity with many in the Senatorial class ""But, you will say, Commodus actually fought as a gladiator. And does none of you fight as a gladiator? If not, how and why is it that some of you have bought his shields and those famous."

On one final point is that Commodus was always popular with the masses. The constant games he put on were largely for their benefit. He seems to have at times genuinely cared for the people of Rome, according to Dio when a fire broke out in the city, Commodus in person to arrived to help "For the conflagration could not be extinguished by human power, though vast numbers both of civilians and soldiers carried water, and Commodus himself came in from the suburb and encouraged them. Only when it had destroyed everything on which it had laid hold did it spend its force and die out."

To conclude, what are your thoughts on Commodus? Was he a great, good, bad or terrible emperor? Was the assassination of Commodus actually a positive development for the empire? With the benefits of hindsight we can see his death was followed by civil war and the reign of Severan Dynasty who fought many more wars and killed far more Senators than Commodus.

Eager to hear your thoughts on Commodus.
Top