Emperor Commodus Strangled: Rome's Decline Begins
Commodus was strangled in his bath by a wrestler named Narcissus, ending a reign that historians regard as the beginning of Rome's long decline. His obsession with gladiatorial combat, megalomania, and neglect of governance squandered the stability his father Marcus Aurelius had preserved, ushering in the Year of the Five Emperors and decades of civil war.
December 31, 192
1834 years ago
What Else Happened on December 31
A coalition of Vandals, Alans, and Suebians shattered the frozen Rhine, surging into Gaul to dismantle Roman authority in the West. This breach proved irreversi…
Belisarius took Syracuse without a siege. The Ostrogothic garrison saw his fleet, counted the soldiers, and simply surrendered the keys. He'd conquered the enti…
Vikings crash into Berkshire's forces at Englefield, only to stumble back toward Reading after Æthelwulf's men slaughter many Danes. This sharp defeat buys Wess…
Henry IV surrendered his crown at Ingelheim after his own son, Henry V, led a successful rebellion against him. This forced abdication ended the elder Henry’s d…
The boy emperor Tran Thai Tong took the Vietnamese throne through marriage to the last Ly monarch, ending 216 years of Ly Dynasty rule. The new Tran Dynasty wou…
The Muslim defenders had held out for three months behind Palma's walls. When they finally opened the gates on December 31, James I rode in with 16,000 men — ne…
Talk to History
Have a conversation with historical figures who witnessed this era. Ask questions, explore perspectives, and bring history to life.