10 Biggest Historical Inaccuracies In Gladiator 2

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Gladiator 2.

Gladiator II never leaves a dull moment with its gripping battle scenes and political period drama, but it seems to have a little too many inaccuracies compared with real historical events. Directed by Ridley Scott, Gladiator II‘s timeline is set close to two decades after the first film’s events. Like its predecessor, Gladiator II was never expected to be historically accurate. Since Ridley Scott’s historical dramas like Napoleon have never shied away from taking massive creative liberties, Gladiator II was also expected to tread a similar path and only borrow a few names and facts from real life.

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Owing to this expectation, many historical inaccuracies in Gladiator II can be overlooked. However, when it comes to several other facts, the Ridley Scott movie seems to stretch the bounds of plausibility too far. It delivers stunning visuals and memorable performances, but its fabrication of real historical events to enhance dramatic tension often crosses the line, holding it back from being as epic and highly acclaimed as its predecessor.

10 The Real Caracalla And Geta Hated Each Other

Their Real-Life Rivalry Was More Intense And Less Subtle

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In Gladiator II‘s early arcs, Caracalla and Geta are portrayed as joint rulers of Rome who peacefully share the throne with one another instead of fighting over it. Macrinus later plays a key role in pitting Caracalla against Geta, but the two remain on relatively amicable terms for much of the early part of the film. In truth, however, Caracalla and Geta, the sons of Emperor Septimius Severus, were notoriously known for the intensity of their rivalry from the beginning.

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While Gladiator II portrays Caracalla and Geta as twins, the real Caracalla was about 11 months older than Geta.

After their father’s demise, the two brothers became the joint inheritors of the throne and the empire. However, even while making their way from Britain to Rome with their father’s ashes, they could not help but argue with one another. Their hostility even reached a point where they considered splitting the empire in half to separately rule their respective regions.

9 Caracalla And Geta Were Historically Far Mightier

They Are Weak And Easily Pliable In The Movie

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Gladiator II‘s versions of Caracalla and Geta get easily swayed by external forces and seemingly share a childish dynamic marked by petty power struggles. The movie tries to establish them as antagonists by portraying them as stark contrasts to the virtuous and mighty gladiators like Lucius. However, in real life, Caracalla and Geta were no less driven and ruthless before and during their reign. When their father was alive, they not only spent years on the frontiers but also displayed immense political ambition.

Caracalla was also infamous for emulating Alexander the Great to a degree where he not only adopted his style but also tried to recreate his legends.

Unlike their movie counterparts, they were not passive, waiting to be influenced by other figures. Instead, they were actively involved in the military and political affairs of the empire even before they became emperors. To gain his military’s trust, Caracalla also spent a lot of time with his soldiers and even adopted their mannerisms. Caracalla was also infamous for emulating Alexander the Great to a degree where he not only adopted his style but also tried to recreate his legends.

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8 Gladiator 2’s Portrayal Of Rome Has Many Modern Elements

The Ridley Scott Movie Features Many Modern Inventions

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Many modern inventions, which do not seem in tandem with Gladiator II‘s timeline, appear in the sequel. For instance, characters drink coffee in cafés in Gladiator II even though the beverage did not reach Italy until the 17th century. In another scene from the film, a Roman noble reads a folding newspaper, which also does not make sense since the printing press was invented in the 1400s, over a millennium after the movie’s events. While the Romans did have access to daily news — “Acta Diuma” — it was presented to them in the form of carvings on stone or written on papyrus.

7 Gladiator 2’s Timeline Makes The Opening Numidia Conquest Nonsensical

Rome & Numidia Went To War Long Before The Movie’s Events

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Gladiator II‘s opening sequence features a vicious war between Rome and Numidia, which paves the way for the events of the rest of the film. According to real history, an armed war did ensue between Rome and Numidia between 112–106 BCE. Known as the Jugurthine War, the conflict happened when Jugurtha and his brothers were supposed to rule the kingdom by splitting it into equal parts but, instead, chose to fight with one another to establish full control.

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Related What Happened To Numidia In Real-Life & What Gladiator 2 Gets Wrong

Gladiator 2 features the kingdom of Numidia, a real kingdom that had a complicated history with Rome, although the film takes some creative liberties.

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When the Roman Senate intervened and tried to divide the kingdom between the brothers, Jugurtha went against Rome and continued the war. As a result, Rome was drawn into a prolonged conflict against Numidia. However, as the war’s timeline suggests, it took place long before Geta and Caracalla took the throne as Rome’s emperors.

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6 The Depiction Of Sharks In Gladiator 2’s Naval Battle Is A Little Too Far Fetched

While The Naval Battles Actually Happened, The Movie’s Portrayal Is Too Over-The-Top

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As unrealistic as Gladiator II‘s portrayal of the naval battles in the Colosseum may seem, it has some basis in real history. Referred to as “naumachia”, naval warfare was staged for the entertainment of the public in Ancient Rome. The Colosseum was also believed to have a basin underneath the arena’s floor, allowing the rapid flooding and removal of water for naval conflicts. However, unlike the movie, which portrays a serious nautical war between the Gladiators and the Romans in the Colosseum, the real water-borne naumachiae were staged mock battles.

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Gladiator 2 Key Facts Breakdown
Directed By	Ridley Scott
Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Score	71%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score	83%
Running Time	148 minutes
Budget	$210–250 million

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The movie seems to further push the suspension of disbelief with its portrayal of sharks in the naval battle. While some historians have argued that the Romans probably did not even know about the existence of sharks during the time, let alone have the means to feature them in staged naval battles, Ridley Scott defended the bizarre Gladiator II scene by calling the critics “dead wrong.” Regardless of whether sharks could have realistically been a part of real Roman spectacles, the scene undoubtedly pushes into the realm of fantastical exaggeration.

5 Caracalla Did Not Have A Pet Monkey In Real Life

Dondas Is An Entirely Fictional Character

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One of the most bizarre moments in Gladiator II is when Caracalla announces his pet monkey, Dondas, as a consul. No historical evidence suggests that the real emperor ever appointed a pet monkey, or any animal, to such a significant political position. Emperor Caracalla was known to keep a favorite lion, Acinaces, as a pet, but he never went as far as giving it an official position of power. However, Dondas could be based on Caligula’s horse, Incitatus. Caligula not only treated Incitatus as a member of the Roman upper class but also tried to have him as the official consul to the Emperor.

4 The Real Macrinus Did Not Play A Role In Geta’s Assassination

Caracalla Was Solely Believed To Be Responsible For Geta’s Murder

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Macrinus manipulates Caracalla into murdering his brother Geta in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II. However, as the real historical events suggest, Geta was assassinated by members of the Praetorian Guard, who were believed to be following Caracalla’s orders. Geta passed away in his mother’s arms, and his demise had nothing to do with Macrinus. His murder was the consequence of the brewing rivalry between him and his brother and the power struggles that characterized the Roman imperial family.

3 Lucius Had Nothing To Do With The Real Macrinus’ Death

Gladiator II Significantly Changes Macrinus’ Story

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Denzel Washinton’s Macrinus is portrayed as an arms dealer and former slave in Gladiator II, who secretly plots the Roman Empire’s downfall. As depicted in the movie, the real Macrinus conspired against Caracalla. He served as the Emperor’s praetorian prefect and got him killed after fearing for his own life when Caracalla’s wrath gradually consumed him. After Caracalla’s demise, Macrinus also took over as the Emperor and reigned for about a year. However, instead of trying to destroy the Roman Empire, he made efforts to improve the Italian capital.

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Toward Gladiator II’s ending moments, Lucius prevents Macrinus from executing his nefarious plan by killing him. In reality, Macrinus was first overthrown from his position of power after Caracalla’s aunt, Julia Maesa, declared her grandson, Elagabalus, the emperor, claiming that he was Caracalla’s natural-born son. After being overthrown, Macrinus attempted to flee to Rome. However, he was captured soon after in Chalcedon and executed with his son.

2 The Real Lucius Verus II Died At A Very Young Age

Lucius’ Story Is Inaccurate In Both Gladiator & Gladiator II

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While Gladiator II walks through Lucius’ cathartic journey as he sets out to bring back Rome’s glory, the real Lucius Verus II died long before the movie’s events. Lucilla and Lucius Verus had three children, one of them being Lucius Verus II. Like the couple’s other children, Lucius Verus II, too, died at a very young age, even before his uncle, Commodus, became the Roman Emperor in 180 AD. Owing to this, the fact that Gladiator introduces young Lucius as a character while Commodus is in power has no grounds in real history.

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1 The Circumstances Surrounding Real-Life Lucilla’s Death Were Different

Lucilla’s Death Holds Immense Narrative Significance In Gladiator II

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Lucilla dies in Gladiator II‘s ending arc when Macrinus shoots her with an arrow. Since Lucius’ wife, Arishat, was also killed by an arrow during the opening Numidia battle, Lucilla’s death highlights how the circles of violence remain unbroken as the cyclical power struggles in ancient Rome perpetuate more and more tragedy. In real life, Marcus Aurelius’ daughter and Lucius Verus’ wife, Annia Aurelia Galeria Lucilla, died when Commodus sent a centurion to execute her after learning that she was secretly planning a coup against him.

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8/10 107 7.5/10 Gladiator II RActionDramaEpicHistoryAdventure

Gladiator 2 is the follow-up to Ridley Scott’s award-winning film Gladiator from 2000. Scott returns to direct the sequel, with Paul Mescal staring as Lucius, alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta. Gladiator 2 had been stuck in development hell for years before a script written by David Scarpa finally moved forward.

Director Ridley Scott Release Date November 22, 2024 Studio(s) Paramount Pictures , Universal Pictures , Scott Free Productions , Red Wagon Entertainment Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Writers David Scarpa , Peter Craig , David Franzoni Cast Paul Mescal , Pedro Pascal , Denzel Washington , Connie Nielsen , Joseph Quinn , Fred Hechinger , Derek Jacobi , May Calamawy , Peter Mensah , Matt Lucas , Alexander Karim , Tim McInnerny , Lee Charles , Chidi Ajufo , Alfie Tempest , Riana Duce , Chi Lewis Parry , Paul Candelent , Hadrian Howard , Alexander Simkin , Mikhail Basmadjian , Matthew Charlery-Smith , Maxime Durand , Lior Raz Character(s) Lucius Verus , Marcus Acacius , Macrinus , Lucilla , Emperor Caracalla , Emperor Geta , Gracchus Runtime 148 minutes prequel(s) Gladiator Main Genre Adventure Expand
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Category: Entertainment