How was the Roman emperor Commodus assassinated?

Roman Emperor Commodus was assassinated on December 31, 192. His death ended the Nerva-Antonine dynasty and plunged Rome into political turmoil. Palace conspirators, including his mistress Marcia and Praetorian prefect Quintus Aemilius Laetus, orchestrated the plot, which was carried out by the wrestler Narcissus.

What we know

• Roman Emperor Commodus was assassinated in 192. [4]
• Commodus was assassinated by the wrestler Narcissus. [4]
• Marcia, the mistress of Commodus, was one of his alleged assassins. [2]
• Praetorian Guard prefect Quintus Aemilius Laetus played a key role in the assassination plot. [3]

Where to go next

• whoWho was Marcia, the mistress of Commodus?
• how we knowWhat role did Quintus Aemilius Laetus play in Roman politics?
• what followedHow did the Year of the Five Emperors begin?
• whenWhen did the Pax Romana end?
• compared withHow does historical fiction portray Commodus?
• an unexpected connectionHow does a 2000 Hollywood film portray the fall of Commodus?The blockbuster film Gladiator features Commodus and his father Marcus Aurelius, drawing inspiration from classical Roman history while dramatically altering the events surrounding the emperor's reign and death.

Sources

• [1]Marcia (Wikidata Q517507) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Marcia (mistress of Commodus) · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Quintus Aemilius Laetus · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Commodus · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Gladiator (2000 film) · CC BY-SA 4.0