When we thought Commodus was the craziest and most ruthless emperor in Roman history, Gladiator 2 comes along to show us that there’s always room for more drama.
In this sequel, Ridley Scott introduces Geta and Caracalla, the twin emperors who turned the Roman Empire into their personal battlefield. But how did they rise to power? Let’s delve into the true story behind this intense power struggle, which is even more brutal than what’s depicted on screen.
Who Were Geta and Caracalla in Gladiator 2?
Geta and Caracalla became co-emperors after the death of their father, Septimius Severus, in 211 AD. In an attempt to preserve familial harmony (spoiler: it didn’t work), Severus appointed his sons as joint rulers. However, the brothers were bitter rivals, and their reign was anything but peaceful.
In the movie, we’re told that Lucius (played by Paul Mescal) was the rightful heir to the throne following Commodus. So, how did the twin emperors end up in power? And what happened to Lucius?
The Chaotic Reality of Rome After Commodus
The historical events following Commodus’ death were chaotic. After his assassination, the Praetorian Guard—an elite unit of Roman soldiers with significant influence over imperial succession—installed Pertinax as emperor.
Unfortunately, Pertinax lasted only 86 days before being assassinated for failing to appease the Guard and manage the empire’s finances effectively.
What followed was even more bizarre: the Praetorian Guard auctioned off the throne to the highest bidder. A wealthy senator named Didius Julianus essentially bought the title of emperor, but his reign was short-lived, lasting just 66 days before he was overthrown and executed.
Finally, Septimius Severus seized power and ruled firmly until his death in 211 AD. Before passing, Severus made the fateful decision to name his two sons, Geta and Caracalla, as co-emperors.
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Severus’ dream of a united empire quickly unraveled. The relationship between Geta and Caracalla was fraught with animosity from the start, and their partnership disintegrated almost immediately. Caracalla, portrayed by Fred Hechinger in the film, ultimately betrayed and murdered his brother Geta (played by Joseph Quinn). This dramatic fratricide, though somewhat dramatized in Gladiator 2, mirrors the true brutality of Roman history.
After eliminating Geta, Caracalla ruled alone for six more years. His reign was marked by tyranny, paranoia, and widespread executions, solidifying his reputation as one of Rome’s most ruthless emperors.
This article was originally written in Spanish by Alan Cruz in Cultura Colectiva
