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"My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, Commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next."

Maximus was a general of the Army of the North, and a close friend of the ailing Emperor, Marcus Aurelius. The Emperor appointed him legatus of the revered Felix Legion and commander of the northern armies, which he led against the Marcomanni in Germania. He was away for two years, 264 days, and the morning after the final victory against the barbarians near the river Danube. After Marcus Aurelius's death in the camp at Vindobona, his son Commodus was declared Emperor. Suspecting Commodus of having killed his own father, Maximus refused to give allegiance to the new Emperor. Commodus then had Maximus arrested and ordered his family murdered. As he was about to be executed, however, Maximus overwhelmed his guards and escaped. Maximus returned home to his villa in Spain, and found his wife and son burned and crucified. He passed out from sorrow and his wounds, and was captured by slavers while asleep. He was sold to the aging ex-gladiator Proximo, and trained at his school, being given the name of "The Spaniard" for his national origin. Vowing revenge against Commodus, he competed in many gladiatorial battles in stadia, in which he fought completely without fear; he cared little about the possibility of death, having lost the will to live after losing his family. He was soon famed throughout all of Rome, and was brought to fight finally in the Colosseum — in front of the new Emperor. Proximo's gladiators first battle in the Colosseum was a historical recreation of the fall of Carthage. Leading the gladiators, Maximus won against the 'superior Roman legions', and comes to Commodus' attention. Maximus then reveals his true identity, and swears that he will kill him. An attempt to escape Rome to re-unite with his army fails, and Maximus is pitted against Commodus in a final match in the Colosseum with the title of Emperor going to the victor. While awaiting the contest as a bound prisoner, Commodus mortally wounds Maximus to ensure his own victory. His rage overpowers the wound, however, and Maximus kills Commodus in the arena. Moments later, as he himself is about to die, Maximus uses his newfound power to turn the leadership of Rome over to Gracchus, a moderate senator, and declares the rest of the slaves are to be freed. He is then given the final honors of a fallen imperial hero. ..