A question repeats online: Was a Roman “Caesar” ever a gladiator?
In this hour, we follow the trail that points to Commodus, the emperor who ruled 180 to 192 CE, and who stepped into the Colosseum not as a patron, but as a performer.
Ancient writers Herodian and Cassius Dio describe Commodus taking up arms in the amphitheatre and staging his own shows, which shocked Rome’s elite and thrilled the crowd.
First off, let's clear up the word "Caesar" itself. “Caesar” began as Julius Caesar’s name, then became an imperial title used by emperors and heirs. So, when people ask which “Caesar” was a gladiator, the evidence points to Commodus, not Julius Caesar.
And as for Commodus’ public image, it blended theatre and power. Sources show him posing as a new Hercules and staging fights that were safe for him yet costly for others, including hunts against caged animals and one-sided bouts arranged to flatter the emperor. We will see how the Historia Augusta amplified the spectacle.
Interestingly, interest in gladiators surged again with Gladiator II in 2024 and Roland Emmerich’s Those About to Die in 2024.
For now, enjoy this hour of thrilling Roman history.
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