Guide Note: Lucius Aurelius Commodus, son of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina, ruled the Roman Empire jointly with his father from 177 to 180 AD and, after his father's death, solely from 180 to 192 AD. Commodus' rule was characterized not by battle, as his father's had been, but by internal strife and indifferent administration. According to historian Edward Gibbon's book The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Emperor Commodus' rule marked the downward turn in Empire. Commodus is popular today as the villain in the 2000 film Gladiator with Joaquin Phoenix and Russell Crowe. The film indicates that Commodus died in the gladitorial arena, but he was actually strangled while taking a bath. Fast Facts:

1. Full name: Lucius Aurelius Commodus Antonius
2. Date of birth: August 31, 161 AD
3. Date of death: December 31, 192 AD
4. Officially made joint emperor by his father Augusts in 177 AD
5. Ruled solely from March 17, 180 AD to December 31, 192 AD
6. Initially, his accession was considered favorably
7. He was the only son in his family to survive childhood
8. His reign is characterized by political strife
9. Some historians, such as Edward Gibbon, consider Commodus' reign the start of The Roman Empire's decline
10. Commodus thought that he was Hercules reincarnated
11. Commodus did fight in the gladiatorial arena, but all of his opponents submitted
12. A wrestler named Narcissus strangled Commodus in his bath
13. Commodus was buried at the Mausoleum of Hadrian
14. Commodus was the last of the Nervan-Antonian Dynasty
15. Actor Joaquin Phoenix portrayed Commodus in the 2000 film Gladiator
16. Phoenix was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance