Commodo (M. Aurelius Commodus Antoninus), Roman Emperor

COMMODUS (Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus), ROMAN EMPEROR. - Born at Lanuvium on 31 Aug 161, died at Rome on 31 Dec 192. Associated in the empire as early as 176 by his father Marcus Aurelius, he succeeded him in March 180. Although educated wisely and despite the example of his father’s virtues, he proved a vulgar and terrible tyrant, bringing back to the throne the enormities and cruelties of Nero and Domitian.

He despised philosophers and studies, passionately loved the games of the circus, in which he did not disdain to take part personally. Yet he had the good sense to send trusted friends and able generals to govern the provinces. He was a bitter enemy of the Roman Senate, which he obstinately fought; but after a vain attempt at resistance,

the Senate prevailed over the tyrant, who was killed in his bath. A fanatical follower of Oriental mysteries, Commodus did not persecute Christians, especially after the arrival at the Palatine of his favourite Marcia, through whom even those deported to Sardinia were able to return in freedom. In the early years of his reign, however, the popular fury claimed as victims the Scillitan martyrs in Africa and the senator Apollonius in Rome.