Take your father's strength. His name was Maximus and I see him in you.—Lucilla, to Lucius Verus, Gladiator II
Lucilla was the beautiful second daughter of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. She was an elder sister to later Emperor Commodus. Lucilla did have a past romance with Maximus, when they were both young and had not yet married. The relationship ended, however, and Maximus married and had a son, while Lucilla married, had a son and later was widowed. There is still some tension between Lucilla and Maximus, more so on her part since she is now unattached.
History[]
A conspiracy[]
Lucilla also allows her brother Commodus to take liberties with her in a more amorous way than between most brothers and sisters. She later explains that she allows him to do so because she is trying to protect her son, Lucius, from Commodus' anger, although she seems to care for him in some small way. She tells no one that he killed their father and voluntarily comforts him when he is upset.
Lucilla, Empress of Rome
Lucilla later conspires with Senator Gracchus to remove Commodus from power after he grew more unbalanced and dictatorial. She personally goes to Maximus and convinced him to lead his army into Rome and overthrow Commodus. Commodus learns of the plot and has Lucius in his lap when Lucilla returns home. He threatens harm to Lucius and Lucilla backs out of the plot and when Maximus goes to escape, he sees Cicero hung to death.
After Commodus receives the news that Maximus was successfully captured, Commodus threatens Lucilla and tells her that if she doesn't comply and obey his order, he will kill her son Lucius. Commodus also informs Lucilla that she will sleep with him and provide him an heir of royal blood. Commodus then says, "Am I not merciful?" to which Lucilla doesn't give a reply. This enrages Commodus who grabs her chin and yells "Am I not merciful?!"
Survival and a son's exile[]
Commodus, angered at Maximus's continued survival despite having previously had his family killed and attempting to kill him, chooses to face Maximus personally in the Colosseum, but weakens him by stabbing him beforehand. He nevertheless losses the battle, but Maximus dies as well. Following the battle, Lucilla orders the people to honor Maximus as a soldier of Rome and not Commodus following their deaths. Maximus's final words to her are that "Lucius is safe."
In the immediate aftermath, Maximus's words are proven true, as Lucius runs over to Lucilla and the two are reunited. Lucilla, however, knows that with Lucius being the only surviving heir, he is in danger from those who would seek to assassinate him. She therefore makes the painful decision to send him away to the coastal town of Numidia in Africa. He pleads with her, asking why she cannot come too, but she tells him that she must remain behind for the future of Rome.
A bitter reunion[]
16 years later, Lucilla is married to Marcus Acacius, a general of Rome. Acacius leads the conquest of Numidia, resulting in Lucius being captured and brought back to Rome to fight as a Gladiator, as well as the death of his wife, Arishat. Lucilla is present in the royal box during one of Lucius's bouts and he is shocked to see her in the royal box beside the general who conquered his home. Meanwhile, Lucilla at first does not even recognize him. She comes to a realization when she overhears one of the Rome's new emperors quoting poetry by Virgil that he heard from Lucius and realizing that it is poetry that Lucius saw engraved on the wall of his former home.
Acacius, who once served under Maximus, reveals to Lucilla that he has tired of war and that he feels his conquests are not fulfilling the vision that her father had for Rome. Despite his desire to rest, Rome's twin emperors Caracalla and Geta, have aspirations for him to conquer even more territory, such as Persia. Together, the two of them hatch a plan to overthrow the two, using the forces that Acacius has gathered.
Meanwhile, Lucilla manages to arrange a visit with her son. He, however, refuses to even acknowledge her as his mother, sticking to the alias "Hanno" that he was known by during his time in Numidia. She pleads with him that she did what he must, but he shouts at her to get out. She tells him that if she will not acknowledge her as his mother, to at least remember his father: that he was Maximus Decimus Meridius and she sees him in him. He, however, again shouts at her to get out.
A son's love[]
Lucilla and Acacius's plot is discovered and the two of them are brought before Caracalla and Geta. Caracalla, in his brain-damaged rage, wishes to kill the both of them there and then, but Geta counsels caution, given that they are both loved by the people. It is thus decided to have Lucilla watch as Acacius is taken the Colosseum, where he is to face off against Lucius, who desires his death in retribution for the loss of his wife and Numidia. At first, Lucius is filled with rage and does indeed attempt to slay Acacius, but is swayed when Acacius tells him of his respect for Maximus and that he truly loves his mother.
To Lucilla's relief, Maximus lays down his sword. The emperors, still desiring his death, however, demand that Lucius again take up his sword. When he does not, enraged, they order Acacius's death at the hands of the Praetorian Guard and he is shot dead by numerous arrows. Lucius then stokes the crowd, asking if this is how Rome treats its heroes, and the Emperors are forced to retreat to the palace against an angry mob, Lucilla locked away in a cell. Geta is then slain by his own brother, stoked on by warlord and Gladiator-master Macrinus.
Caracalla decides on Lucilla's method of execution - she is to be brought into the Colosseum to face off against the Praetorian Guard with only a single Gladiator to protect her, her own son, Lucius. When, however, Lucius arrives in the Colosseum, he is soon followed by his fellow Gladiators, having arranged to free them. Rather than being annoyed, the deranged Caracalla is amused, declaring "War! Real war!" Macrinus, however, kills Caracalla by stabbing him through the ear, then fires an arrow, shooting and killing Lucilla. He escapes, but is followed and avenged by Lucius, who claims his place as the true ruler of Rome.
