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'''This table has not been published on the ''Gladiator'' page because ''ScreenRant'' is not a reliable source. In three different articles, the periodical makes three separate and conflicting claims about the death of Marcus Aurelius.'''
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!''Gladiator''
!Reality
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|Maximus Decimus Meridius was a Roman general and later gladiator
|Maximus did not exist<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Lealos |first=Shawn S. |last2=Beauvais |first2=Julian |date=November 8, 2023 |title=7 Ways Gladiator Was Historically Accurate (& 9 Ways It Wasn’t) |url=https://screenrant.com/ridley-scott-gladiator-movie-historical-accuracy-guide/ |access-date=February 13, 2024 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref>
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|Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius was murdered by his son Commodus
|Accounts differ on the circumstances of Aurelius's death, but he was not murdered by Commodus<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tombs |first=Jen |date=2023-08-21 |title=How Accurate Gladiator's Epic Opening Battle Is Compared To Real Life |url=https://screenrant.com/how-accurate-gladiator-opening-battle-real-life/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Curran |first=Brad |last2=Barker |first2=Stephen |date=January 15, 2022 |title=Gladiator True Story & Historical Accuracy: How Much Really Happened |url=https://screenrant.com/gladiator-movie-true-story-roman-history-accuracy-changes/ |access-date=February 13, 2024 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref>
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|Commodus became emperor by murdering his father and seizing the throne
|Commodus ruled the empire side-by-side with his father for three years until Aurelius's death<ref name=":1" />
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|The Marcommanic Wars, depicted in the opening scene, were over when Marcus Aurelius died
|The Marcommanic Wars were still ongoing when Aurelius died<ref name=":1" />
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|Lucilla's son, Lucius Verus, was a young boy during the reign of Commodus
|Lucius died before Commodus came to power<ref name=":1" />
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|Marcus Aurelius shut down gladiatorial games in Rome
|Aurelius did not ban the games, but he introduced reforms to make them safer<ref name=":0" />
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|Commodus was killed in gladitorial combat
|Commodus was assassinated by a wrestler named Narcissus<ref name=":0" />
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