Why was Maximus betrayed in Gladiator?

Maximus had been labelled a traitor to the empire: now led by Commodus, after the death of Marcus Aurelius. Maximus had been tasked by Marcus Aurelius to reform the Roman state as a republic, handing rule over to the people; this removed Commodus' birthright, hence his slating Maximus for execution.

How was Maximus betrayed?

Maximus was offered the title of Caesar by Marcus, who knew that Commodus was too weak to rule Rome. He accepted the post, but Commodus killed his Father in secret and later became the Emperor. He was betrayed by Quintus, and was sent to be executed in the woods.

Did Lucilla betray Maximus in Gladiator?

Cicero was the servant of Roman General Maximus Meridius and his friend. He was later betrayed by Lucilla and was killed as a result. He was portrayed by Tommy Flanagan in the 2000 film Gladiator.

Why did the emperor fight Maximus?

Emperor of Rome

Commodus was angry at all the lists of demands given to him by the senators, but he wanted the people to love him because he was never loved. He seemed to fall in love with Lucilla, though his sister, and took her as his consort empress. His hatred for Maximus did not extinguish.

Who killed Maximus family in Gladiator?

Maximus' Wife is the wife of the great Roman General Maximus Meridius. She was killed and crucified by the Roman Cavalrymen sent by Emperor Commodus to burn their farm.

Gladiator - betrayed



What is the famous line from Gladiator?

I shall sacrifice a hundred bulls to honor your triumph. Marcus Aurelius: Save the bulls. Honor Maximus. He won the battle.

Why did they call Maximus Spaniard?

They call him The Spaniard because as far as they are aware, he was captured by slave traders in Spain (after his family is killed).

What killed Maximus in Gladiator?

Shortly before the film's final sequence—a battle to the death between Commodus and Maximus in the arena—Commodus visits Maximus beneath the Colosseum. He stabs him in the back (yes, literally) and then orders Quintus to cover up the wound.

How was Gladiator supposed to end?

Despite the nefarious tactics, Maximus is able to slay Commodus before succumbing to his wounds and joining his family in the afterlife. The original screenplay, however, did not see the Gladiator movie finish with a death scene, but rather allowed Maximus to live on, having completed his quest for revenge.

What is Maximus goal in Gladiator?

Maximus achieves his noble goals at the end of Gladiator

He wanted to avenge the deaths of his wife and son, as well as clear the way for the Senate to restore order in Rome. Conveniently, both of these goals are achieved by killing Commodus.

Who snitched on Maximus?

Tomas Arana as General Quintus: A Roman legatus, commander of the Praetorian Guard, who betrays Maximus by allying with Commodus.

Why did Quintus turn on Maximus?

TL:DR My theory is Quintus betrayed Maximus because as his second in command he got tired of Maximus's disregard of human life. He would have been there for every decision Maximus has made and he finally got fed up with it.

Why was Lucilla killed?

She was the wife of her father's co-ruler and adoptive brother Lucius Verus and an elder sister to later Emperor Commodus. Commodus ordered Lucilla's execution after a failed assassination and coup attempt when she was about 33 years old.

How did Lucilla betray Maximus?

She tells no one that he killed their father and voluntarily comforts him when he is upset. Lucilla later conspires with Senator Gracchus to remove Commodus from power after he grows more unbalanced and dictatorial. She personally goes to Maximus and convinces him to lead his army into Rome against Commodus.

How much of Gladiator is true?

Although the dramatic value of the film is top-notch, its historical accuracy is highly questionable. Artistic merit is one thing, but when it comes at the cost of historical accuracy, problems ensue. Gladiator gets a lot of things right about Roman history while botching a few key truths in the process.

Why does Maximus grab dirt?

In the same sequence, Maximus tells a mocking Quintus "dirt cleans off a lot easier than blood." Rubbing and smelling the dirt before each fight connects Maximus to his home and his family. Moreover, the ritual pushes Maximus through each deadly conflict.

Is Lucius Maximus son?

Maximus was the son of another Lucius Laberius Maximus, who served as an aedile of Lanuvium.

Does Maximus survive Gladiator?

One of the better aspects of Gladiator is that Maximus (Russell Crowe) doesn't survive. The film positions his revenge story as part of something bigger in terms of the Roman republic, but he's not going to be its leader or a player in what's to come.

Why did Commodus stab Maximus?

When Maximus attempts to make his escape, Roman praetorians kill Proximo and the other gladiators assisting him and recapture Maximus. Commodus declares that he will meet Maximus in single combat in the arena, but he first stabs Maximus to weaken him.

What happens to Maximus at the end of Gladiator?

The ending of Ridley Scott's Oscar-winning epic “Gladiator” has tugged at the heartstrings for the last 20 years thanks to the death of Maximus (Russell Crowe) during his climactic duel in the Colosseum against Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix).

Was Maximus a real Gladiator?

Maximus wasn't known as Maximus originally

Some of the characters in “Gladiator” are real people from history, such as Commodus and Marcus Aurelius. Maximus, the main character, is not one of those. Originally, though, the character was called Narcissus in the script.

Were any tigers hurt in Gladiator?

When the tiger appears to be stabbed and then lies dead, a fake “stuffie” tiger was substituted for the live animal. Production states that a veterinarian was on set at all times during the scenes using the tigers. There are many birds, vultures, eagles and falcons, seen in various scenes in the film.

Are the Gladiator tigers real?

The sequence relied partly on real tigers that were, for a couple of shots, filmed against a bluescreen and composited by Mill Film to appear closer to the characters for a number of 'near misses'. In addition, a prosthetic tiger was utilized for a few interactive shots, particularly when it launches on top of Maximus.

What happened to the dog in Gladiator?

During the first battle scene in Gladiator, Maximus had a beloved pet wolf (Wolf of Rome) fighting at his side. According to the script, the wolf was later to be killed in a tent, but Ridley Scott decided that would be too depressing for audiences so the wolf's fate is left unmentioned.