Gladiator has a great mix of characters, some being fictional creations for the film and others based on real-life historical figures. The actors in Gladiator bring the film’s many excellent characters to life, from Russell Crowe leading the story as Maximus Decimus Meridius to Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of the villainous Roman emperor, Commodus. Since the film was released in 2000 Gladiatorthe historical accuracy of has been a major point of discussion; Some dismiss the film due to its exaggerated aspects, while others insist that the true story should not impact the way epic cinema is perceived.
Interestingly, this debate has also spread Gladiator IIthe story. In the run-up to the sequel’s release, many historians criticized it, and director Ridley Scott, for not remaining firmly committed to historical accuracy in every sense. Regardless of these arguments, Gladiator has stood the test of time as one of the strongest films of the 2000s and one of the best of Scott’s career. At the time of GladiatorWith the film’s bittersweet ending, it proved so resonant that many wondered which characters were based on real history and which were fictional, tying into debates over the film’s historical accuracy.
Maximus Decimus Meridius is based on several real people
Russell Crowe’s character has several influences
The leadership of Gladiator is Maximus Decimus Meridius, his journey being the central point of the entire story. As such, one of the burning questions for many after the film’s completion is whether he was a real historical figure. It turns out that Gladiatorof Maximus Decimus Meridius is not based on any person. Instead, the character of Maximus was inspired by several real people from Roman history, with different aspects of people’s lives being combined into the central character of Gladiator.
Perhaps the most notable influence on the creation of the character Maximus was Marcus Nonius Macrinus. The latter not only shares the former’s triple-barreled name, but he was alive at about the same time that Maximus is in Gladiator. Likewise, Marcus Nonius Macrinus was a Roman general under the rule of Marcus Aurelius. Marcus Nonius Macrinus was said to be someone dear to Marcus Aurelius, with the latter often using the former as an advisor. In GladiatorMaximus is also a Roman general who Marcus Aurelius views as a son, often providing his advisory opinion on political matters.
The final influence on the character of Maximus was Narcissus, Commodus’s wrestling partner…
One of the other real Roman figures who inspired Maximus’ character was Avidius Cassius, a general who once declared himself emperor after receiving unfair reports of Marcus Aurelius’ death. This is somewhat linked to Marcus Aurelius asking Maximus to be his successor in Gladiator. The final influence on Maximus’ character was Narcissus, Commodus’s wrestling partner, who ended up killing the real-life emperor. In the first drafts of GladiatorMaximus was called Narcissus.
Marcus Aurelius, Commodus and Lucilla are based on real people
Three gladiator characters have real-life stories
Three of GladiatorThe main characters were based on real people: Marcus Aurelius, Commodus and Lucilla. Starting with Marcus Aurelius, this character was based on the real Roman emperor who ruled the empire between 161 and 180 AD. The real-life story of Marcus Aurelius, or at least the last few sections, is somewhat consistent with Richard Harris’s depiction of him in Gladiator. In 180 AD, Marcus Aurelius de facto led the Roman army in a campaign against the Germanic tribes of northern, eastern and central Europe.
At the end of these conflicts, Marcus Aurelius died and left the Roman Empire to his son, Commodus. This means that Phoenix’s Commodus was also based on a real-life figure. Commodus became emperor in 180 AD, with his reign lasting until 192 AD. Commodus’ legacy was a negative one for Rome, with the emperor’s narcissistic ways leading him to attempt to reshape almost everything in Rome in his image. This ties into the representation of Commodus in Gladiator.
In the film, Commodus is also portrayed as a narcissistic character. He considers himself worthy of being Marcus Aurelius’ successor, despite the latter choosing Maximus as the next emperor. Commodus’ murder of Marcus Aurelius has been theorized as a possible cause of the latter’s death in real history, and his tendency to fight in the Colosseum as a gladiator is steeped in historical truth. Eventually, Commodus’s harsh and brutal reign over Rome caused many to wish for his death, culminating in his assassination and leading to the Year of the Five Emperors, in which many vied for the throne.
Just as Commodus was real, so was Lucilla. One of the similarities between the real Lucilla and Connie Nielsen’s character in Gladiator is that she conspired against Commodus. In real life, Lucilla tried to have Commodus killed by two men upon entering the theater. The attempt failed and Lucilla fled Rome, being found and killed by Commodus’ men. In GladiatorLucilla’s plot against Commodus still fails, but she survives after Maximus kills him.
Lucius Verus from Gladiator & Gladiator 2 is also based on a real person
Lucila’s son has a very different story than his real-life counterpart
The final character in Gladiator – and Gladiator II – who is based on a real person is Lucius Verus. Unlike Commodus, Marcus Aurelius, and Lucilla, however, Lucius’s differences between Gladiator and the real story are the biggest. In real life, Lucius Verus II was born to Lucius Verus and Lucilla. That said, he died very young, even before Emperor Commodus’ reign began in 180 AD. This marks a big change Gladiatorthe story of Lucius, with Lucius still young in the film.
Gladiator II makes this change even bigger thanks to the recasting of Paul Mescal as the character. Lucius not only lives to be 20 thanks to the story of Gladiator II but the relationship between Lucius and Maximus is confirmed. Gladiator II reveals that Maximus is Lucius’ real father, contrary to true Roman history.
Other Gladiator Characters Who Were Real
Some of the supporting characters in Gladiator they were also real people. One of them is Senator Falco, the politician who helps Commodus consolidate his power. This character was probably based on the real Roman politician Quintus Pompeius Falco. There are also several senators throughout Roman history known by the name Gaius, another of the Gladiatorof the senators who side with Máximo and Lucila.
One of the secondary villains of Gladiator is Quintus, the leader of the Praetorian Guard who betrays Commodus at the end of the film. In real life, the leader of the Praetorian Guard known as Quintus Aemilius Laetus was thought to be heavily involved in Commodus’ murder. GladiatorThe film’s Quintus refuses to help Commodus in the film’s final battle scene, leading to the latter’s death and solidifying the loose historical bond.
Gladiator characters that are completely fictional
Just as there are many Gladiator characters based on real people, there are also many that were entirely fictional. One of the most prominent characters in the made-up film was Oliver Reed’s Antonius Proximo, the owner of Maximus and his slave comrades who took them from North Africa to Rome. Another fictional character in Rome’s political scene is Derek Jacobi’s Senator Gracchus, the main politician who helps Maximus and Lucilla in their attempts to overthrow Commodus.
Then there are the two gladiators allied with Maximus, Juba and Hagen. The first, played by Djimon Hounsou, is an African slave who was taken from his home to fight in the gladiatorial arena. The second, played by Ralf MÇ’ller, was a Germanic warrior and the main gladiator of Proximo’s possessions until the arrival of Máximo. Finally, Tommy Flanagan’s Cicero, Maximus’s loyal ally in the Roman Army, was also fictionalized in Gladiatorproving that the film has as many real-life characters as it does imaginary.