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Commodus rises to power as Rome's new emperor, but not everyone supports his ascent. Among those conspiring against him: his older sister Lucilla.

Commodus rises to power as Rome's new emperor, but not everyone supports his ascent. Among those conspiring against him: his older sister Lucilla.

Commodus returns to ROme in 180 AD and is crowned Emperor in a public ceremony. Lucilla begins to seduce members of the senate (in bed) to gain influence. As the elder sister, she believed she had a better claim to the throne as compared to Commodus. Commodus realizes the politics at play to keep the throne. The demands of the Crown begin to weigh on him. Commodus plans to buy the loyalty of the military with a lavish gift. Historically, new emperors have given gifts like money, land and slaves to the soldiers to buy their support. But now, the treasury is controlled by the senate.

Senators Quintianus and Cassius Dio (Edwin Wright) support the plan in senate, but Commodus has no clue which lands to give to the military. So, Cassius and Quintianus take the allocation and distribution of land in their own hands. Quintianus was under Lucilla and planned to undermine Commodus by getting the senate to take credit for the gifts to the military. Cleander and Saoterus inform Commodus about the notification from Senate to the military, announcing the gift on the behalf of the Senate and not the emperor. Cleander wants to kill some senators to send a message, but Saoterus convinces Commodus to strike where it will hurt more, money. Commodus asks the senate to host a day of gladiator games (Starting with public executions, shows of wild exotic beasts, beast vs man or beast, and finally gladiatorial contests) as a gift to the people. When Senators say that games are expensive, and people cant be taxed for games, Commodus devises a plan to tax the senators to pay for the full cost of games

Quintianus is furious. And Cleander feels slighted when Commodus favors Saoterus's opinion more than his. Saoterus advises Commodus to focus on gaining support of the people. Commodus issues coins with his profile and launches statues of himself all over Rome. Lucilla and the senate's resentment peak at the same time and she plots with Quintianus to assassinate Commodus. Quintianus refuses to partake in this plot, of murdering a sitting emperor. Meanwhile Commodus rewards Saoterus with a signet ring, one of the highest honors in the palace (the signet ring was used to certify all documents from the emperor and now Saoterus had this power). This further alienates Cleander. Commodus appoints Saoterus to represent him in the senate, which the senate takes as an insult (Since Saoterus was formerly a slave). Not including the Senate in his inner circle was a major decision that Commodus made during his reign. Quintianus decides to partner with Lucilla to kill Commodus.

Cleander seduces Lucilla's chambermaid and finds out about her plot to kill Commodus. Cleander meets Lucilla and aligns with her in the plot to kill Commodus. Quintianus plans to kill Commodus at the games. Cleander promises to take out Saoterus, to eliminate any obstacles in their way. On the day of the games, Cleander takes Saoterus to a whore house. Saoterus falls asleep drunk and Cleander kills him in his sleep. Meanwhile Quintianus attacks Commodus when he comes to the basement of the Coliseum, after the games have begun.