How historically accurate is the Gladiator?

This article contains spoilers.

The Gladiator was a film released in 2000 starring Russell Crowe that focused on General Maximus Decimus Meridius, who was enslaved after escaping his execution for not supporting the new Roman emperor Commodus (staring Joaquin Phoenix). Maximus rises as a well skilled gladiator, eventually making it to Rome where he participates in the gladiator games sponsored by Commodus. After Commodus learns of Maximus, both characters want to kill the other. Maximus attempts to conspire with those in the Senate who dislike Commodus, while Commodus attempts to have Maximus killed in the gladiator battles.

Battles in Germania

The movie begins with the ailing Marcus Aurelius, the emperor of Rome, watching Maximus leading a battle against a Germany tribe, where the battle is portrayed as crucial in bringing peace to Roman Empire's northern frontier. During the reign of Aurelius, there were prolonged wars in Germania. Wars there were largely inconclusive, although they were close to annexing Moravia and West Slovakia during his reign. The movie depicts the emperor being killed by his son Commodus, although in reality Commodus was already co-emperor. In fact, there is no evidence that Commodus had any difficult relationship with his father. Furthermore, although Maximus is mostly a fictional character, it is not likely Marcus Aurelius would appoint a general as protector of the empire, as suggested in the movie where shortly before his death the fictional Marcus Aurelius asked Maximus to lead the empire. In fact, a conflict in Marcus Aurlieus' mind was whether to return power to the Senate rather than have it mostly be with the emperor. This is unlikely as Marcus Aurlieus, although often considered a wise emperor and even called the "philosopher king," as suggested in the film, he still believed in holding power closely and even passed power to his son, something a Roman Emperor had not done for about a century.

In fact, Marcus Aurlieus appointed his son as successor long before he died in 166 (he died in 180 CE), making it clear that Comodus was his choice all along. He also died in Vienna (ancient Vindobona), but the film showed him dying in Germania during the campaign. His appoint of his son was controversial, as shown in the film, as Commodus was considered erratic and likely had mental problems, as indicated in the film. However, from historical documents, mainly in the writings of Cassius Dio, there is indication that Marcus Aurlieus was disappointed in his son, suggesting he had some trepidation about him.

In the film, after Maximus was taken as a slave, not before he discovered that his wife and son were killed by Commodus, he was shown as being transported and eventually enslaved as a gladiator in a far away eastern province in the Roman Empire (somewhere in the Middle East).

The Gladiator Contests

While the circumstances of how Commodus became emperor in the film are largely not true, there is greater truth in some of the gladiator fights. For instance, gladiator contests did often reconstruct famous battles or scenes using characters from history or legends. Gladiator contests did take place in many places around the empire. Animals, such as tigers, were often used in arenas, where gladiators might fight each other as well as animals. In fact, excavations at the Colosseum showed a variety of exotic animals were present there. This included: bears, lions, hyena, elephant, wild boar, buffalo, tigers, bulls, wolves, and leopards.

Gladiators, as suggested in the film, were treated like rock starts. Those who were successful could gain favors, such as having access to women and even earn their freedom. However, unlike the film, often contests did not result in the death of contestants. Animals, in fact, were often killed in contests. This may have been de-emphasized in the film.

The Colosseum was the premier event for gladiator contests after its construction in 70-80 CE. Ambitious trainers, similar to how the film depicts it, would try to situate themselves so they could compete in main events that promised large financial rewards. Similar to sport today, the gladiator games had a lot of money that would exchange hands around the event. This revolved around gambling on the events but also rewards earned by the owners of the gladiator slaves.

In the film, after Maximus was capture trying to revolt against the emperor. He was shown as fighting the emperor as a one on one contest. This would have certainly never happened. First, Commodus died in a coup event in 192 rather than at the hand of Maximus, as shown in the final combat scene in the film. Second, Commodus, as shown in the film, did fight in the arena, although he probably only fought in events where he was assured victory such as against animals or crippled captives. The film does suggest this as Commodus does mortally wound Maximus before their fight, when Maximus was tied and unable to defend himself.