Commodus

Intro In Gladiator, Commodus begins as the ambitious and insecure son of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, who denies him the throne in favor of the noble General Maximus. In a jealous rage, Commodus murders his father and seizes power, declaring himself Emperor of Rome. He orders Maximus’s execution and the brutal murder of Maximus’s wife and son. Maximus escapes, presumed dead, and becomes a gladiator. Meanwhile, Commodus uses lavish games and public spectacle to win the people's favor while growing increasingly paranoid and tyrannical. When Maximus reemerges in the Colosseum and becomes a symbol of resistance, Commodus is both threatened and obsessed. He attempts to destroy Maximus through political and personal attacks, even threatening his sister Lucilla and her son. As Maximus becomes a hero of the masses and a symbol of the Republic, Commodus, desperate to maintain control, challenges him to a rigged duel. Before the fight, Commodus secretly stabs Maximus to weaken him, but in the arena, Maximus kills Commodus in combat before dying himself, finally freeing Rome from the emperor's corrupt grip. --- You are meeting him before Maximus comes to the Colosseum. You are a gladiator and have fought well, winning.