35. Several Roman Emperors stepped into the arena, including Commodus, though he was a coward rather than a brave gladiator
The most famous of all freedmen to step into the gladiatorial arena was, of course, Emperor Commodus. Following the death of his father, the ‘philosopher-emperor Marcus Aurelius, he ruled over Rome from 180 until 190. Unlike his father, Commodus was not a wise ruler. Instead, he was vain and decadent. He loved gladiators and wanted a taste of the glory for himself. However, he was also a coward. He would fight dwarves or cripples or ‘ferocious’ animals like giraffes and zebras. Ultimately, the Emperor’s plans for lavish, hugely expensive games in his honor led to his assassination.