Gladiator’s Unexplained Ending Betrayal Is Surprisingly Accurate To Real-Life History

Ridley Scott’s Gladiator culminates in an epic battle between Maximus and Commodus in the arena, with the former general eventually triumphing – yet his victory is only possible after a surprising betrayal with real historical roots. Despite vividly bringing the world of Ancient Rome to life, Gladiator plays fast and loose with history. Many characters are created specifically for the film, while others are distorted reflections of their historical counterparts. Despite this, however, the movie does provide some accurate insights – especially in its dramatic ending.

Throughout the movie, some of the most enigmatic figures are the emperor’s Praetorian guard. A formidable fighting force, they are shown to be constantly at the emperor’s side – accompanying Marcus Aurelius when he arrives in Germania and chaperoning Commodus whenever he enters the arena. They are even shown to carry out underhand missions, such as executing Maximus and murdering his family, making them seem fiercely loyal. In Gladiator‘s ending, however, the real nature of the Praetorians is revealed.

Commodus’ Praetorians Betraying Him Reflects Real History

After Maximus disarms Commodus, the panicked emperor begs his assembled guards for a new sword. However, at the command of Quintus – Maximus’ former friend, the soldiers refuse, sheathing their weapons instead. At first glance, this betrayal seems bizarre, as it seems much more likely that the soldiers would listen to their emperor ahead of their commander. However, the truth is that this seemingly unexplained moment is a fair reflection of how the Praetorian Guard often behaved throughout Roman history.

Despite serving as elite bodyguards since the reign of Augustus, the Praetorians frequently betrayed their emperors – often being directly involved in their deaths. In total, the Praetorians are believed to be responsible for the deaths of 13 emperors, including notorious figures like Commodus and Caligula. While the soldiers’ actions in Gladiator‘s ending might seem surprising, having the Praetorians betray the emperor is actually one of the most historically accurate details in the entire movie.

Why The Praetorians Ignore Commodus In Gladiator’s Ending

Historically, the Praetorians would murder emperors out of political expediency or if their rule became too tyrannical. However, for all Commodus’ shortcomings in Gladiator, neither of these explanations justify their response in the film’s final scene on their own. Instead, it is a combination of Commodus’ character and the actions of Quintus that provide an answer.

As commander of the Praetorians, Quintus has considerable sway over the unit. It is he who takes direct action against Commodus, rather than the troops acting spontaneously, with the movie suggesting it is his bond with Maximus that prompts his change of heart. While the Praetorians may have spontaneously rebelled, Gladiator suggests that their treachery would not have manifested in the same way without Quintus.