Commodus was born in 161 and was son of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. At 15 years old; Commodus become co-emperor with his father in 177; making Marcus Aurelius the first emperor to have a legitimate biological heir since Vespasian. He became sole emperor three years later; when his father died in 180.

One of his first acts was to devalue the Roman currecy; the largest reduction since Nero's reign. Unlike his father's reign of almost continuous warfare; Commodus ruled over a relatively peaceful Empire; though it was marked by political strife and increasingly megalomaniacal behaviour by Commodus himself. Roman historian Dio Cassius stated that Commodus' reign marked the decline 'from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust'; with many claiming that Commodus' terrible rule began the decline of the Roman Empire

Commodus was extremely proud of his physical prowess; and often compared himself to Hercules; seeing himself as a reincarnation of the demigod. He also sometimes fought in scandalous gladiatorial games. His despotic and disgraceful rule was eventually ended with his assassination on the 31st of December; 192; when he was strangled by his wrestling partner Narcissus after a previous poisoning attempt had failed. He was declared a public enemy by the Senate after his death and his statues were thrown down.