Gladiator II: The Reign and Murder of Roman Emperors Geta and Caracalla “`

Posted on by

Warning: This post contains spoilers for Gladiator II.

Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, released November 22nd, unfolds dramatically both in the arena and amongst the imperial audience, focusing on the emperors Geta and Caracalla (Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger). The film depicts their joint rule from 209-211 AD, a period about which little is known.

According to a classicist and author of *Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient Roman World*, much of this time was spent traveling from present-day York, UK, following the death of their father, Septimius Severus.

Historical accounts hint at their scheming. Andrew Scott, a professor of Classical Studies at Villanova University, notes, “One source even suggests they planned to divide the Empire; one brother taking the east, the other the west.”

This division never materialized. The film portrays their reign as a period of revelry and gladiatorial games in the Colosseum, culminating in Caracalla’s assassination of Geta and the public display of his head. This event, Caracalla’s murder of Geta in 211 AD, is historically confirmed.

Accounts suggest Geta was murdered in his mother’s presence, his last words reportedly being, “Mummy, mummy, I’m being killed.”

Caracalla’s motives remain unclear. Professor Scott explains, “All sources portray Caracalla as an evil tyrant responsible for his brother’s murder shortly after their ascension.” Historical evidence offers no justification for Geta’s demise.

The reasons for the apparent hatred between the brothers are unknown. The reliability of accounts of their relationship is questionable.

Caracalla is believed to have spent most of his reign outside of Rome. The film depicts him appointing a “first counsel,” a detail not historically supported but perhaps referencing Caligula’s legendary threat to appoint his horse to the same position before his assassination.

Caracalla’s reign ended violently; he was murdered in 217 AD amongst his troops during a campaign in the eastern Roman Empire. According to Beard, “he’s assassinated while urinating by the roadside.”