Was Gladiator's Maximus A Real Person? Historical Influences Explained

July 08, 2024

While Gladiator is a historical film, the main character Maximus is fictional. Here's which Roman figures inspired & influenced the iconic character.

Summary

Gladiator is an epic film filled with historical depth, showcasing the world of gladiators, political games, and military campaigns in 180 AD.
Maximus Decimus Meridius, though fictional, is influenced by various historical Roman figures, including Roman generals, gladiators, and Spartacus.
The design of Maximus' armor and his fighting style suggest that he was a Hoplomachus gladiator, while other gladiators fought with different weapons and armor.

Released in 2000, Ridley Scott's Gladiator is an epic film about revenge, loss, and justice from the point of view of Maximus Decimus Meridius. It tells the story of Maximus, a Roman general turned gladiator, played by Russell Crowe, who seeks to avenge the death of his family after they were killed by the malicious son of the emperor, Commodus (played by Joaquin Phoenix). Though the film is based on historical events and even features real historical figures, the lead character Maximus was an amalgamation of several Roman historical figures.

Set in 180 AD, Gladiator showcases a well of historical depth. The film demonstrates the world of gladiators, the political games, and the military campaigns that were common during that time. The movie's key historical figures include the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, his aforementioned son Commodus, and his daughter Lucilla. The main character Maximus is not real, however. Instead, the creation of this character is influenced by several different historical people. The Maximus Gladiator character is mostly based on Roman generals, as well as the gladiators themselves and the life they led.

Maximus Isn't Real But He's Born From A Lot Of Influences

One of the biggest influences for Maximus Decimus Meridius was Roman general Marcus Nonius Macrinus. Marcus was a general, statesman, and advisor during the time of Marcus Aurelius' reign, similar to how Maximus was a general and advisor of Marcus Aurelius in the film. In addition, both Maximus and Marcus were admired and well-liked by the emperor. Another influence is Avidius Cassius, a Roman general who gained prominence under Marcus Aurelius and at one point, declared himself emperor after receiving reports - albeit false - of Aurelius' death.

A third influence, though minor, is wrestler Narcissus, who was the real-life killer of Commodus after he became emperor. Incidentally, in the first draft of Gladiator, Maximus was originally going to be named Narcissus. Of course, Maximus was also inspired by the great warrior Spartacus. Both Maximus and Spartacus were enslaved men who became well-known gladiators and both planned a revolt against the Roman state, seeking to overthrow corruption. The character of Maximus is also influenced by the lives of gladiators. As with Maximus, most gladiators were enslaved and prisoners of war or had criminal backgrounds.

Gladiators were classed into various groups according to what type of weapon they used and what armor they wore. Some of the most well-known include Samnites (singular: Samnite), who were the most heavily armored and carried the classic gladius short swords, Murmillones (singular: Myrmillo), or the "fish men," who were similarly armored and styled, Thraces (singular: Thraex), who wielded curved scimitar-like daggers called sica, and the Retiarii (singular: Retiarius), who used a large net and trident as weapons (via The Colosseum).

From the design of Maximus' armor to the small round shield and short sword he carried, it can be surmised that Maximus was a Hoplomachus gladiator. It was also common to see the different types of gladiators either paired together or set as opponents, as seen when Maximus was fighting against the Essedarius, gladiators who rode chariots. As shown in Maximus Decimus Meridius' first fight as a gladiator, some battles in the arena served as re-enactments of popular battles where the Roman army emerged victorious. Other combatants in the arena were the Bestiarii, who fought against wild animals, for example, lions and tigers.

Though he is a fictional character, it is clear that the Maximus gladiator is heavily inspired by several historical Roman figures and the life of a gladiator in ancient times. Through these influences, viewers are able to get a glimpse of what it was like for a person in Ancient Rome. Moreover, the characteristics that created Maximus in Gladiator also serve as a symbol of justice and righteousness amidst corruption.

Is The Gladiator 2 Protagonist Real?

Over two decades since Gladiator hit theaters and picked up Oscar recognition, a sequel is coming for the epic historical movie. While it might seem strange to see a movie arrive as a sequel to a story where the hero and villain both die, the movie is taking an interesting direction. The hero in this film is the villain Commodus' nephew, who watched his uncle die in the first movie. However, in the movie, his nephew Lucius (Paul Mescal) has taken inspiration from Maximus Decimus Meridius rather than his own father. He knew that what Maximus did as a gladiator was what was right.

However, is Lucius based on a real person? Indeed, Gladiator 2's Lucius is based on a real historical figure. Commodus was based on a real figure and Lucius Verus II is also based on a real person, but his story will change drastically in the movie. Lucius died young in real life and was dead before Commodus even became the emperor. If Lucius had lived, he might have become emperor, but instead, Septimus Severus became emperor. However, it is not yet clear if Severus is emperor in Gladiator 2. Much like how the first movie changed historical facts, such as Maximus Decimus Meridius and his inspirations, the second movie will also likely do the same.