From 180 to 192 C.E., Emperor Commodus ruled ancient Rome with an insatiable lust for power that brought an end to the fabled Pax Romana.

1. In the initial script, the main character was Narcissus, the real-life man who strangled Commodus to death. While most of the film's characters are real ancient figures, Maximus was fictional.

That’s why Commodus’ murder of his father hits harder than any sword fight. And now, years later, with Gladiator 2 just aired, it’s the perfect time to revisit this brutal classic.

Quintus really was appointed as prefect of the Praetorian Guard by Commodus, ... (Except for Narcissus, that is.) 5. Caracalla. Fred Hechinger as Emperor Caracalla in "Gladiator 2." ...

While Commodus’ reign was short-lived in Gladiator, the reality is that he ruled Rome for about 12 years. He was not killed in the Colosseum, but was instead murdered by a wrestler named Narcissus.

Son of the emperor Marcus Aurelius, Commodus ruled as sole emperor for 12 years (A.D. 180-192), his reign marred by perpetual scandal. ... Narcissus, at the urging of a group of conspirators.