Maximus is a general in the professional Roman army (SPQR), but he was Spanish by birth. The Legions were open to any Roman citizen, not just native-born Romans. Since Spain was a Roman province at the time, it's very likely that Maximus was a Roman citizen as well as Spanish native.

Why did they think the Gladiator was a Spaniard?

They call him The Spaniard because as far as they are aware, he was captured by slave traders in Spain (after his family is killed). They only find out his true identity later on, cunning fellow that he is...

What ethnicity was Maximus in Gladiator?

Maximus was a Roman general, but he came from the Iberian peninsula. In the film you see him rushing back to his hometown, only to find his family brutally murdered.

Why does Maximus smell the dirt?

In the same sequence, Maximus tells a mocking Quintus "dirt cleans off a lot easier than blood." Rubbing and smelling the dirt before each fight connects Maximus to his home and his family. Moreover, the ritual pushes Maximus through each deadly conflict.

Why is Marcus Aurelius called Caesar in Gladiator?

However, it is important to note that the title of Caesar was not used in the film to refer to Marcus Aurelius. Instead, it was used to refer to his son, Commodus, who becomes the emperor after Marcus Aurelius' death [1].

Gladiator - The Spaniard

What does spqr mean in Rome?

Latin initialism for "The Senate and People of Rome" SPQR are the initials of a Latin phrase Senātus Populusque Rōmānus. It means "The Senate and People of Rome". It refers to the government of the ancient Roman Republic.

Was Commodus really Marcus Aurelius' son?

Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus was born on 31 August AD 161 in Lanuvium, near Rome. He was the son of the reigning emperor, Marcus Aurelius, and Aurelius' first cousin, Faustina the Younger, the youngest daughter of Emperor Antoninus Pius, who had died only a few months before.

What does the barbarian yell in Gladiator?

He yells "Ihr seid verfluchte hunde!," which means "You are damned dogs!" in English.

Why does Maximus laugh at Proximo?

Proximo then tells how Marcus Aurelius gave him a wooden sword—the symbol of his freedom—touched him on the shoulder, and freed him. Maximus laughs, and Proximo gets very defensive. He's proud of the fact that the wise emperor touched him on the shoulder.

Was Maximus actually Spaniard?

Maximus is a general in the professional Roman army (SPQR), but he was Spanish by birth. The Legions were open to any Roman citizen, not just native-born Romans. Since Spain was a Roman province at the time, it's very likely that Maximus was a Roman citizen as well as Spanish native.

How old was Russell Crowe in Gladiator?

Russell Crowe was 35 years old during the production of Gladiator, and his portrayal of Maximus Decimus Meridius garnered an Oscar win. The film featured a talented cast, including Joaquin Phoenix, who was 24 years old and received recognition for his role as Emperor Commodus.

Why did Quintus betray Maximus?

Soon after the battle, the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius was murdered by his own son and successor Commodus. Maximus realized this and declined to help Commodus leading the new Emperor to order Quintus to arrest and execute Maximus. Quintus had no choice but to obey and arrested Maximus telling him to not resist.

Why do they call Maximus Spaniard?

Because Maximus was supposed to be from Merida, in Spain/Hispania. That is supposed to be the location of his farm. The clue is in his full name: Maximus Decimus Meridius (which means: from Merida). There were Roman citizens from all over the Empire, and Spain/Hispania was one of the oldest Roman provinces.

What was inaccurate about gladiator?

Factual errors

In the film, the emperor and crowd put their thumbs up for "live" and down for "kill." In reality, the emperor would to cover his thumb with his four fingers for "live." The gladiator would also live if the emperor yelled the Latin word for "dismissed," or threw a piece of cloth, showing mercy.

How accurate was the Gladiator movie?

Where Gladiator Takes Historical License. Gladiator significantly fictionalizes elements of the reign of both Marcus Aurelius and Commodus, notably in the former's death. Commodus didn't actually murder his father, with Marcus Aurelius dying during the Antonine Plague.

What is the famous line in Gladiator?

I was not the best because I killed quickly. I was the best because the crowd loved me. Win the crowd and you will win your freedom.

What was the most famous line from Gladiator?

I was the best because the crowd loved me. Win the crowd and you'll win your freedom. Maximus : I will win the crowd. I will give them something they've never seen before.

What does Proximo say before he died in Gladiator?

As the troops burst in, he stood straight, repeated his motto "[Us mortals are but] Shadows and Dust.", and was butchered.

What does the German guy say at the beginning of gladiator?

What is the Germanic leader yelling prior to the battle? Most likely he means to say "Ihr seid verfluchte Hunde!", which means "You are (a bunch of) cursed dogs!" It is not the German language as we know it today.

What did Romans call gladiators?

So, who were these Roman Gladiators? Gladiators were 'swordsmen'. In Latin, the name Gladiator literally translates as 'swordsman'. They were professional fighters who fought in ancient Roman times, in front of a crowd, usually in large amphitheatres, including the Colosseum.

What was Maximus dog called in gladiator?

In GLADIATOR, Maximus has a pet wolf. The dog who played the wolf was called Kyte, and also played Robbie Jackson's dog, Wellard, in Eastenders.

How old was Commodus when Marcus died?

“Even from his earliest years he was base and dishonorable, and cruel and lewd, defiled of mouth, moreover, and debauched,” the early historian Aelius Lampridius wrote. When the widely loved Marcus died in 180, Commodus became the lone emperor at age 18.

Did Commodus love his sister gladiator?

Commodus was angry at all the lists of demands given to him by the senators, but he wanted the people to love him because he was never loved. He seemed to fall in love with Lucilla, though his sister, and took her as his consort empress. His hatred for Maximus did not extinguish.

Who is Lucius' dad in Gladiator?

His father, Lucius Verus, ruled as co-emperor alongside Marcus Aurelius, a story that isn't touched on in the original film. This means that Lucius II is the direct descendent of two emperors, being the grandson of Marcus Aurelius and son of Lucius Verus, which offers him the important power of a famous bloodline.