Was Marcus Aurelius Murdered?
<p><em>Gladiator</em>, of course, is a work of fiction, only loosely based on the historical evidence. For example, in the movie, Commodus is Caesar, and only becomes emperor as a result of his father’s death. In reality, Commodus was appointed co-emperor three years <em>before</em> Marcus Aurelius died, and they ruled side-by-side during this time.</p>
<p>Most modern historians believe that Marcus died from some contagious disease, perhaps the Antonine Plague, a devastating pandemic named after his imperial dynasty, the Antonines. This broke out in 166 CE and claimed many lives, probably including several people close to Marcus. Some modern scholars believe it may have been a form of the smallpox virus, although it’s difficult to know for certain.</p>
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