Complete Line Of Roman Emperors In Gladiator 1 & 2 Explained

The following contains spoilers for Gladiator 2, now playing in theatersGladiator 2‘s line of Emperors ends up being a major element of the two Ridley Scott movies, with the rulership of Rome shifting between honorable figures and ignoble leaders alike. The Gladiator films take inspiration from the real-life history of Rome, using the names and personalities of certain leaders to give the central revenge story of both narratives a larger series of consequences. While the missions of Maximus and Lucius are deeply personal, they end up having repercussions for the empire as a whole.

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There are several Gladiator and Gladiator 2 characters who ascend to the role of Emperor. Many of them claim the throne through brutal means, killing their own family members for a chance at power. However, these rulers don’t always last long either. Here is every Emperor of Rome who appears in Gladiator and Gladiator 2, how they compare to real life, and how they meet their end.

7 Marcus Aurelius (180 AD)

Played By Richard Harris In Gladiator

Marcus Aurelius is the first Roman Emperor that audiences were introduced to in Gladiator, and his sudden death set in motion an in-flux power vacuum that remained chaotic well into the events of Gladiator 2. Aurelius is introduced as a wise and elderly statesman, who seeks to restore Rome to its former glory. This is why he initially intends to place Maximus in the throne instead of his son Commodus, prompting the latter to murder his father to usurp the throne. His daughter Lucilla and her son Lucius are also in line for power in Rome, threatening Commodus’ potential rule.

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While Marcus Aurelius’ death in
Gladiator
does match the demise of his historical inspiration in 180, the royal succession proceeds far faster with the succeeding Emperors in
Gladiator
and
Gladiator 2
than it did in real life, with Commodus ruling Rome for 12 years before he was killed.

Marcus Aurelius is a vital but minor player in Gladiator‘s overarching story, dying during the film’s first act. The film’s treatment of Marcus is reflective of the real-life Marcus Aurelius’ standing in history. Considered the last of the Emperors who ruled over the peaceful Pax Romana era, the philosophical Marcus is regarded as a thoughtful and just figure within the history of Rome. While Marcus’ death at the hands of his son is a major event in the Gladiator films, with his dreams for a free Rome serving as a core ideal and powerful thematic throughline for both films.

6 Commodus (180 AD)

Played By Joaquin Phoenix In Gladiator

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The son of Marcus Aurelius, Commodus is the central antagonist of Gladiator. A vain and amoral person, the discovery that his father intends to pass him over for the throne of Rome sets off the events of the film. Commodus is played with a gleefully scummy edge by Phoenix, who infuses the over-confident ruler with a sense of entitlement that makes him a perfect contrast to the more grounded and noble heroes of the film. Ultimately, despite his efforts to earn public favor and kill Maximus, he’s killed by the latter in the Colosseum and largely unmourned by his followers.

Commodus serves as the direct foil to both his father and Maximus, a remorseless killer seemingly content with ordering the slaughter of those he sees as roadblocks to his rule.

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Like the cinematic version of Commodus, the real-life version of the character was considered a despot. One of the youngest people to ever become the Emperor, Commodus did make a spectacle of himself in the Colosseum as part of his cult of personality, and he did die a violent death. However, it was not in the Colosseum itself. Instead, he was murdered by Narcissus at the behest of the Senate. Commodus serves as the direct foil to both his father and Maximus, a remorseless killer seemingly content with ordering the slaughter of those he sees as roadblocks to his rule.

5 The Unseen Emperors (180-196 AD)

Pertinax, Didius Julianuus, And Septimus Severeus Do Not Appear In Gladiator Or Gladiator 2

There is a sixteen-year time skip between Gladiator and Gladiator 2, during which time Lucius is sent around the world in hiding to prevent his capture and potential murder. This leaves a power vacuum in Rome that quickly makes room for more corruption and the apparent collapse of Maximus’ dying efforts to restore freedom to the Empire. By the time audiences are reintroduced to Rome, Geta and Caracalla have assumed control of the throne. However, this actually skips over multiple Emperors, including Geta and Caracalla’s father Septimus Severus, who successfully ruled the empire for 18 years before dying in 211.

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It’s likely Gladiator‘s timeline matches real life, which saw a civil war break out following the death of Commodus. This is likely the power vacuum that prompted Lucila to hide her son from the rest of Rome. Known as the Year of the Five Emperors, the year 193 saw multiple generals try to take control of Rome. Both Pertinax and his successor Didius Julianus each briefly became Caeser before being assassinated. Ultimately, Septimus Severus escaped the conflict with power and reigned as Emperor, with a militaristic expansion that is reflected in Gladiator 2‘s Marcus Acacius’s reluctant expansion across the globe.

4 Geta (196 AD)

Played By Joseph Quinn In Gladiator 2

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Geta is one of the twin Emperors who appears in Gladiator 2, ruling over the Empire with his brother Caracalla. The two are shown to be of a similar vein to Commodus, portrayed in a more foppish light than characters like Maximus, Lucius, or Marcus Acacius. Bloodthirsty and uncaring about the needs of others, Geta and Caracalla are portrayed as dangerously ambitious, with a willingness to sacrifice countless soldiers for their own glory. Geta is shown to be the more potentially dangerous, with slightly more restraint and intellect than his brother. Geta’s set up as a direct foil to Lucius.

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This is what makes his death at the hands of Caracalla and Macrinus all the more surprising in Gladiator 2, with Macrinus using his severed head to intimidate the Senate. The real-life version of Geta similarly ruled Rome alongside his older brother and was likewise assassinated. However, his death was different in real life, with the Praetorian Guard murdering Geta on behalf of Caracalla. Geta’s death ends up shifting the villainous role fully onto Macrinus, who had been previously a dangerous and manipulative ally to Lucius in his efforts to get revenge on Rome for the death of his wife.

3 Caracalla (196 AD)

Played By Fred Hechinger In Gladiator 2

Caracalla is the other Emperor in Gladiator 2, and proves to be more dangerous than his brother could have expected. Caracalla is, like Commodus and Geta before him, portrayed as a pleasure-driven figure who eskews empathy and emotion for others with a lethal ambition for glory. While Geta is portrayed as slightly more level-headed, it’s implied that Caracalla’s hedonistic habits have left him with syphilis that is impacting his mental faculties and logical reasoning. This allows Macrinus to eventually become a dangerous advisor, convincing him to murder his brother and become the sole Emperor (with Macrinus as his official counsel).

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Caracalla did indeed have his brother killed in real life, and reigned as a sole Emperor far longer than his cinematic counterpart. More of a soldier than the preening figure depicted in Gladiator 2, Caracalla’s ruthless approach to rule did eventually get him killed as part of Macrinus’ machinations. However, it was a normal soldier who eventually killed Caracalla, as opposed to Macrinus using the chaos of a gladiator revolt to quickly and quietly dispatch the young Emperor. Caracalla is the ultimate example in the Gladiator films of how dangerous and unpredictable unchecked power can eventually become in unprepared hands.

2 Macrinus (196 AD)

Played By Denzel Washington In Gladiator 2

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Macrinus is the ultimate antagonist of Gladiator 2. A power broker and Gladiator owner who is introduced purchasing the enslaved Lucius, Marcinus is able to use the young man’s rage to his advantage in Rome. Quickly wheeling and dealing his way through Rome’s powerful elite, he’s able to endear himself to Geta and Caracalla through his connections. Eventually revealed to be a former slave who now seeks to take the throne of Rome himself in defiance of his former master Marcus Aurelius, Macrinus comes very close to achieving his goals by tricking Caracalla into being his figurehead before killing him.

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During an interview with

Screen Rant

‘s Joe Deckelmeier, Denzel Washington discussed his approach to Macrinus.

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Macrinus doesn’t get to rule for long though, despite his otherwise successful manipulations of the Roman uppercrust. In Gladiator 2‘s ending, Lucius is able to confront him and slay Macrinus in front of the Roman army. In real life, the inspiration behind Macrinus did indeed take over Rome after arranging for the death of Caracalla, although he didn’t carry out the deed himself. The first Roman Emperor to not be born to the upper crust of the Senatorial Class, Macrinus ruled for just over a year before he was deposed and executed by forces loyal to Elagabalus, the next Emperor.

1 Lucius (196 AD)

Played By Spencer Treat Clark In Gladiator & Paul Mescal in Gladiator 2

Lucius is one of the consistent characters across both Gladiator and Gladiator 2. The son of Lucila and the grandson of Marcus Aurelius, Lucius is a rightful heir to the Roman Empire. He is named after his father, Lucius Verus, who in real life briefly ruled alongside his adopted brother Marcus before growing ill but died before him. Lucius was a major source of drama in Gladiator due to Commodus holding his life over Lucila. The grown Lucius becomes the central character in Gladiator 2, but his real life equivalent died in childhood. Growing up in obscurity ultimately benefited Lucius.

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Lucius ends
Gladiator 2
as the new ruler of Rome.

Taken as a slave by the Roman army, Lucius eventually avenged the death of his wife and reclaimed his birthright. Coupled with the deaths of the Emperors and his defeat of Macrinus, Lucius ends Gladiator 2 as the new ruler of Rome. This shares some common ground with the real-life Elagabalus, who replaced Macrinus. However, history considers Elagabalus to be one of the weaker Emperors, with stories of his short reign comparable to the Geta and Caracalla than Lucius. Lucius may end Gladiator 2 as Emperor of a newly unified Rome, but it’s unclear how his rule will play out.

Source:Screen Rant

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8/10 26 7.5/10 Gladiator II

Gladiator 2 is the follow-up to Ridley Scott’s award-winning film Gladiator from 2000. Scott returns to direct the sequel, with Paul Mescal staring as Lucius, alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta. Gladiator 2 had been stuck in development hell for years before a script written by David Scarpa finally moved forward.

Director Ridley Scott Release Date November 22, 2024 Writers David Scarpa , Peter Craig , David Franzoni Cast Paul Mescal , Pedro Pascal , Denzel Washington , Connie Nielsen , Joseph Quinn , Fred Hechinger , Derek Jacobi , May Calamawy , Peter Mensah , Matt Lucas , Alexander Karim , Tim McInnerny , Lee Charles , Chidi Ajufo , Alfie Tempest , Riana Duce , Chi Lewis Parry , Paul Candelent , Hadrian Howard , Alexander Simkin , Mikhail Basmadjian , Matthew Charlery-Smith , Maxime Durand , Lior Raz prequel(s) Gladiator Expand
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