Commodus’s reign was marked by an unprecedented degree of extravagance. He indulged in a lifestyle of luxury, debauchery, and excess that far exceeded the norms even among the Roman elite. His appetite for lavish banquets, exotic pets, and extravagant entertainments quickly drained the treasury and alienated many of the senators who had initially supported his rule.

Perhaps the most infamous of Commodus’s extravagances was his love for gladiatorial combat. He frequently entered the arena to fight as a gladiator, a practice that was seen as beneath the dignity of an emperor. This disregard for traditional Roman values and the degradation of the imperial office left a profound mark on his legacy.