Commodus succeeded his father. Trump was helped out with a cool million to get his real estate business going. Commodus laid stress on his unique status as a source of god-like power, liberality and physical prowess. Innumerable statues around the empire were set up portraying him in the guise of Hercules, reinforcing the image of him as a demigod, a physical giant, a protector and a battler against beasts and men. Trump hotels.
“not naturally wicked but, on the contrary, as guileless as any man that ever lived. His great simplicity, however, together with his cowardice, made him the slave of his companions, and it was through them that he at first, out of ignorance, missed the better life and then was led on into lustful and cruel habits, which soon became second nature.” – Cassius Dio on Commodus
The Democrats did try to point this out.
Commodus changed the name of Rome to Colonia Lucia Annia Commodiana. Meeting at Trump Tower isn’t so bad.
After repeated attempts on Commodus’ life, Roman citizens were often killed for making him angry. I guess tweets aren’t so bad either.
In the end Commodus was murdered. Upon his death, the Senate declared him a public enemy and restored the original name to the city of Rome and its institutions. Commodus’ statues were thrown down.
