As in the movie Gladiator, did the real Marcus Aurelius ban gladiatorial combat?

Question

The movie Gladiator (2000) is based upon history, but many parts are fiction. In the movie, the emporer Marcus Aurelius banned gladiatorial combat for five years. His son Commodus lifted the ban.

Is there any historical evidence to suggest the real Marcus Aurelius banned gladiators, or is this just fiction? Was the ban on gladiators just inside Rome, or all of the Roman Empire?

Please cite any references used.

Answer 1

Actually there is insufficient evidence to say so either way as the life of Marcus Aurelius is not that well documented and biographies of Roman emperors are notoriously biased and to be treated warily. However, unusually for a US film, there is some historical accuracy in Gladiator. Commodus was actually killed by a gladiator and Marcus Aurelius was considered "the philosopher". However, the film makes no claim to be "based on a true story" which is also unusual as it has more truth in it than many history movies such as "Braveheart", "Pearl Harbour" and "U571: Battle for the Atlantic" to name but three. More information on Roman emperors (Marcus Aurelius) can be found here: http://www.roman-emperors.org/marcaur.htm

Answer 2

There is no historical evidence that I can find about gladiatorial fights being banned during Marcus Aurelius's reign. I suspect that they just fell to the wayside during his reign because he was busy with the wars. The only reference to a gladiator ban was from Constantine I in 325 AD, but was not actually enforced until 404 AD.

Answer 3

Yes he did.
He was a philosopher as well as the head of gouvernment.
He wrote a book "ta eis heautòn" = "self reflections"and was a follower of the Stoic philosophy.
I can't tell you about how far the ban did extend or was followed.