Gladiator 2: Did the Emperor Brothers Exist? The historian explains

Warning, spoilers! This article is about several plot elements of Gladiator II.

After the ruthless Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix in Gladiator, the emperor brothers Caracalla and Geta are the villains of the second part. Starring Joseph Quinn (Geta) and Fred Hechinger (Caracala) on screen, they are portrayed as dirty children of ancient Rome, consumed by corruption and violence.

These two emperors really existed. If Ridley Scott’s film is not always faithful to historical reality, it follows the sequence of reigns at the head of Rome quite well. After the death of Commodus in 192, Septimius Severus became emperor. He is none other than the father of the brothers Caracalla and Geta. The duo ascended the throne in 211 AD.

The sequel varies with the events of the film. As in Gladiator II, Caracalla kills his own brother Geta a year into his reign. But unlike Ridley Scott’s version, McCreen (Denzel Washington) plays no part in this fratricidal act. “Caracalla suspects his brother of conspiracy and kills him alone at the hands of his mother“explains Jérôme France, professor emeritus of Roman history at the University of Bordeaux Montaigne.

How did Caracalla die?

In Gladiator II, Emperor Geta reveals that his brother has mental retardation, which is partially worsened by syphilis. “We do not know exactly what illness he was suffering from.– adds the historian. Nevertheless, Caracalla frequented healing sanctuaries, implying an advanced disease..”

As for the end of Caracalla’s reign, he was assassinated in a coup led by Macrinus – Denzel Washington in the film. On the subject of Macrinus, expert Jerome Francis adds: “When Caracalla is killed, he becomes the first knight to become emperor.”

Commentary collected by Laëtitia Forhan, Paris, November 2024.

You can see Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II in theaters.