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In the movie Gladiator, the basic plot was Maximus trying to overthrow the new emperor of Rome, Commodus. Commodus became the emperor after Marcus Aurelius died, when really he was killed by his own son. Marcus Aurelius wanted Maximus to inherit his throne instead of his own son. He wanted to give him the power because he felt he would give the people back their power and end the corruption of politics, and he thought that Maximus was the only man that could do it. His own son wasn’t moral and “must not rule,” and the senators shouldn’t have ruled because they were corrupted by unethical politics. Maximus was the chief general of the Phoenix Legions, always fighting for Rome, and always by Marcus Aurelius’ side. No one ever found out that Commodus killed his father so that he could become the emperor.