Commodus Lucius Aelius Aurelius

(161-192)
His accession to the throne marked the end of the golden age 'five good emperors'. The son of Emperor Marcus Aurelius in 177 Commodus became co-regent with his father, acquired the title in August. Marcus Aurelius died in 180, fighting with the Germans. After becoming emperor, Commodus immediately concluded peace with them. His reign was remarkably unsuccessful. Individual ability Commodus proved inadequate duties of the emperor. Most vlitelnymi with him people were prefects Praetorian Guard, whom he alternately sacrificed disaffected army or the people's indignation. By the end of life of all the affairs run by a mistress and two advisers of the Emperor. Relations with the Emperor by the Senate were exacerbated. Dresser argued that is the embodiment of Hercules, in the guise of which, in lion's skin and with a club in his hands, he appeared before the people. Over time, his obsession turned into real madness. So, he changed the name of Rome, calling it Colony of Commodus. On the eve of January 1 193, when Commodus was going to act in the circus once in two aspects - the consul and the gladiator, was ordered to close professional wrestler strangle Emperor. He was succeeded by a protege of Praetorian Guard Pertinax, but soon the country's civil war broke out.
Years of reign of Commodus turned out to be prologue to the coming to power soldier emperors and chaos in the middle 3 in the. In addition, the refusal of Commodus from the continuation of the war with Germany might cut off from Rome's influence areas Romanization which could change the whole future course of European history.