Birth of Commodus
Commodus is born at Lanuvium as a son of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina the Younger.
Role range: 0177-0192
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Lucius Aurelius Commodus Biography and Timeline
Follow Lucius Aurelius Commodus through 69 dated historical records for Roman Empire.
Lucius Aurelius Commodus, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
69Distinct records
1 of 2Page
161–185Years on this page
161
Twin Brother
Commodus is born with a twin brother, Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus, who dies in childhood.
Role range: 0177-0192
166
Created Caesar
Marcus Aurelius grants Commodus the title Caesar, formally marking him as an imperial heir.
Role range: 0177-0192
172
Germanicus Title
Commodus receives the victory title Germanicus during Marcus Aurelius's Danubian wars.
Role range: 0177-0192
175
Priestly Colleges Admission
Commodus was admitted to the principal Roman priestly colleges while still a young imperial heir.
Role range: 0177-0192
Toga Virilis
Marcus Aurelius formally presented Commodus with the toga virilis and recommended him to the army.
Role range: 0177-0192
Eastern Journey with Marcus Aurelius
Commodus accompanies Marcus Aurelius on an imperial journey through the eastern provinces after the revolt of Avidius Cassius.
Role range: 0177-0192
Princeps Iuventutis
Commodus received the title princeps iuventutis, publicly identifying him as the leading youth of the imperial house.
Role range: 0177-0192
Sarmaticus Title
Commodus receives the victory title Sarmaticus following Roman successes on the Danube frontier.
Role range: 0177-0192
176
Germanic and Sarmatian Triumph
Commodus joined Marcus Aurelius in a triumph celebrating Roman victories over Germanic and Sarmatian peoples.
Role range: 0177-0192
Eleusinian Initiation
Commodus accompanies Marcus Aurelius to Greece and is initiated into the Eleusinian Mysteries.
Role range: 0177-0192
First Imperial Acclamation
Commodus received his first imperial acclamation before his elevation to full co-emperor.
Role range: 0177-0192
Germanic Triumph
Commodus participates in a Roman triumph celebrating victories won in the Germanic wars.
Role range: 0177-0192
Visit to Alexandria
Commodus visits Alexandria during the imperial family's eastern journey.
Role range: 0177-0192
177
Co-Emperor
Commodus becomes co-emperor with his father Marcus Aurelius.
Role range: 0177-0192
Title Augustus
Marcus Aurelius raises Commodus to the rank of Augustus in 177.
Role range: 0177-0192
First Consulship
Commodus serves as consul for the first time while still a teenager.
Role range: 0177-0192
Tribunician Power
Commodus received tribunician power as his formal participation in imperial authority expanded.
Role range: 0177-0192
178
Marriage to Bruttia Crispina
Commodus marries Bruttia Crispina, who receives the rank of Augusta.
Role range: 0177-0192
Return to the Danube Front
Commodus accompanies Marcus Aurelius when renewed fighting draws the imperial court back to the Danube frontier.
Role range: 0177-0192
179
Second Consulship
Commodus holds the consulship for a second time during the continuing Danubian wars.
Role range: 0177-0192
180
Sole Rule
Commodus becomes sole emperor after the death of Marcus Aurelius.
Role range: 0180-0192
Danube Peace
Commodus concludes peace with several peoples along the Danube after the death of Marcus Aurelius.
Role range: 0180-0192
Imperial Adventus
Commodus receives a formal imperial welcome on his return to Rome after leaving the Danube frontier.
Role range: 0180-0192
Peace with Buri
Commodus concluded a favorable settlement with the Buri during the closing phase of the northern conflict.
Role range: 0180-0192
Peace with Iazyges
Commodus reached a peace settlement with the Iazyges after the death of Marcus Aurelius.
Role range: 0180-0192
Peace with Quadi
Commodus concluded peace with the Quadi as part of the settlement ending the northern war.
Role range: 0180-0192
Pontifex Maximus
Commodus assumed the office of pontifex maximus after becoming sole emperor.
Role range: 0180-0192
Return to Rome
After settling the northern war, Commodus returns to Rome and begins ruling from the capital.
Role range: 0180-0192
181
Quinquennalia Celebration
Commodus celebrated quinquennial vows marking five years since his elevation into imperial power.
Role range: 0180-0192
Third Consulship
Commodus serves his third consulship during the first full year of his sole reign.
Role range: 0180-0192
182
Germanicus Maximus Title
Commodus adopts the title Germanicus Maximus after victories attributed to Roman forces on the northern frontier.
Role range: 0180-0192
Lucilla Exiled
After the failed conspiracy against Commodus, his sister Lucilla is exiled to Capri.
Role range: 0180-0192
Lucilla Plot
Commodus survives a conspiracy involving his sister Lucilla and several aristocratic associates.
Role range: 0180-0192
Paternus Removed
The praetorian prefect Tarrutenius Paternus is removed and later executed after becoming implicated in the political aftermath of Lucilla's conspiracy.
Role range: 0180-0192
183
Fourth Consulship
Commodus serves as consul for the fourth time.
Role range: 0180-0192
Title Pius
Commodus incorporated the honorific title Pius into his increasingly elaborate imperial titulature.
Role range: 0180-0192
184
Britannicus Maximus Title
Commodus accepts the title Britannicus Maximus after Roman successes against unrest in Britain.
Role range: 0180-0192
185
British Soldiers Denounce Perennis
A delegation of soldiers from Britain reaches Rome and accuses the praetorian prefect Perennis of plotting against Commodus.
Role range: 0180-0192
Cleander as Chamberlain
The freedman Cleander became a dominant court figure and chamberlain during the middle years of Commodus's reign.
Role range: 0180-0192
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.