Son of Marcus Aurelius, emperor from 180, he was a tyrant. In 182 he discovered a conspiration of his sister Lucilla and his cousin Ummidius Quadratus and Commodus sentenced both to death.

He then sent to death his wife Chrispina, accused of adultery. Later he killed also his lover, Cleander, a young man he previously gave public powers.

He loved to exhibit himself as an athelete and a wild beasts hunter in the arena.

At last a new conspiration of his concubine Marcia, his majordomo Eclectus and the prefect of the praetorians Aemilius Laetus, was successful, and Commodus was strangled by the gladiator Narcissus.