Lucius Verus

Know this: where death is, we are not. Where were are, death is not! By my sword, strength and honor!

—Lucius Verus, to his fellow Gladiators, Gladiator II

Lucius Verus II, also known as Hanno, and Lucius Verus Aurelius, was purported to be the son of Roman Empress Lucilla and Lucius Verus who is deceased. He was the co-ruler during the reign of his uncle, Roman Emperor Commodus. It is later revealed that he is in fact, the son, of Maximus Decimus Meridius.^[1]

He was portrayed by Spencer Treat Clark in the 2000 film Gladiator, and is portrayed by Paul Mescal in its sequel Gladiator II and by Alfie Tempest as a young Lucius in flashbacks.

Archive footage of Spencer Treat Clark is also used.

Life[]

Meeting a Gladiator[]

Lucius Verus — A young Lucius at the Gladiatorial Games

Lucius was nearly eight in the year 180 AD, and he had only one living parent, the Princess of Rome, Lucilla. He became friends with Commodus' enemy, the gladiator and General Maximus Decimus Meridius, who had a conversation with the young Prince of Rome.

He enjoyed to watch the Gladitorial Games, and enjoyed learning about Roman history from his uncle, Commodus, the then-emperor of Rome. When Commodus learns that Maximus is plotting against him and that Lucius's mother, Lucilla (his sister), has aided him, he uses Lucius against her, threatening his life if she does not become loyal to him.

Commodus ultimately challenges Maximus directly in the Colosseum and Lucius watches the death of his uncle at the hands of Maximus, who also was killed by mortal wounds. Maximus's dying words to Lucilla is that "Lucius is safe."

Into exile and battle[]

Lucilla reunites with Lucius almost immediately following Maximus's death, his words to her proving true. Lucius is now the surviving heir, the Prince of Rome, but Lucilla knows that he is not safe, that there are those who would seek to kill him due to his status. Thus, she decides to send him far away where he will hopefully be safe. He tearfully pleads for her to come with him, but she tells him that she must remain for Rome.

Lucius thus travels by horseback from Rome, eventually settling far away in Numidia on the northern coast of Africa. Here, he adopts the name "Hanno" and is raised by Jubartha, who treats him like a son and tutors him in the art of combat. Despite being trained for war. He eventually falls in love with a woman named Arishat and takes her as his wife. The two live together peacefully on a farm, but has not neglected his training, lest one day Rome invades. This day eventually comes, with a fleet of Roman ships lead by General Marcus Acacius fast approaching the Numidian harbor. Lucius takes up arms, leading his forces in a pitched battle involving bows-and-arrows and flaming rocks. Arishat fights as well and Lucius watches in horror as she is struck in the heart and falls into the ocean below. In his distraction, he too is hit in his armor and falls. Underwater, he has a vision of Arishat being led away by death. He, however, survives, and is captured by the Romans.

Gladiator[]

Lucius is placed on a ship heading to Rome. There, he has a chat with Jubartha, who was captured as well. The two celebrate their bond with each other, but Jubartha warns Lucius that they are being taken to a place that he will not survive. Upon arrival in Rome, they are taken to the Colosseum. There, for the amusement of the people, they and the other captured Numidians are set upon by vicious monkeys. While most die, including Jubartha, Lucius is able to put a strong fight and survive the attack. His combat in prowess impresses those in the audience, including the Roman emperors Caracalla and Geta, as well as the warlord and Gladiator-master Macrinus, who decides to take Lucius for his own as a Gladiator.

Macrinus speaks with Lucius, telling him that he possesses great rage and that the can use that. He asks him whose head he could give him that would satisfy his fury, to which he replies that of the entire Roman army. When, however, Macrinus protests that this is too much, Lucius replies the head of General Marcus Acacius will do. Macrinus later brings Lucius to a party being hosted by the emperors Caraclla and Geta. There, one of them addresses Lucius only for him not to reply and Macrinus excuses him by claiming that he does not speak their language.

Lucius, however, surprises them all by quoting poetry by Virgil: "The gates of hell are open night and day; smooth the descent, and easy is the way. But to return and view the cheerful skies, in this the task and mighty labor lies." Later, when Lucius is battling in the Colosseum, the emperors recall him as the man who quoted poetry at them. Meanwhile, however, Lucilla, hearing them quote the poem, is shocked to recognize him as being her son, for the words of the poem were etched on wall of the palace where they lived. For his part, Lucius is stunned to see her together with Marcus Acacius, the man who killed his wife, as her husband.

A Legacy[]

Rome has taken everything from me, but I will have my vengeance.

—Lucius Verus, Gladiator II

Lucius continues to battle in the Colosseum, building up his reputation as a warrior. One day, he is visited by Lucilla, who asks him if he knows her. He, however, tells her that his wife was killed under her husband's command. He refuses to answer to the name "Lucius," telling her that his name is Hanno. He says that the boy that she sent away is dead and that she should not grieve him. She replies that he may think that she betrayed him, but that he did not. She tells him to at least take his father's strength, that his name was Maximus Decimus Meridius and that he lives in him. He, however, shouts at her to get out.

Lucius meets a man named Ravi, a doctor who treats him for his wounds suffered in the Colosseum. Ravi reveals to Maximus that he was once a Gladiator, but later retired from the sport and took up medicine. He also tells him that he witnessed the deeds of Maximus and shows him a secret shrine containing Maximus's sword and armor.

Lucilla and General Acacius are caught in a plot to kill the two emperors, Caracalla and Geta. In response, Lucius is presented with his wish: Acacius brought before him in the Colosseum in gladiatorial combat. At first, Lucius is filled with rage for the man who killed his wife and took his home from him. He strikes out in anger, ready to kill Acacius in a vicious attack. However, Acacius reveals to Lucius that he knows the truth of his parentage. Having once fought under Maximus, he tells him that he would have died for his father. Lucius decides to show him mercy, laying down his sword. Enraged, the emperors call for Acacius's death and when Lucius will not execute, they instead have the Praetorian Guard shoot Acacius to death with arrows. Lucius then stokes the crowd into a rage, asking if this is how Rome treats its heroes, and the emperors are forced to flee the Colosseum for their lives.

Becoming an emperor[]

Macrinus visits Lucius in his cell, demanding to know why he did not kill General Acacius, that he had given him exactly what he had asked for. He asks him why he let him live, but Lucius refuses to answer the question, telling him only that he bought a Gladiator and not a slave, that his will is his own. In the aftermath of Lucius's actions, Macrinus conspires with Caracalla and together the two of them kill Geta. Caracalla then declares his monkey Dundus his first consort and Macrinus his second. They then decide that Lucilla is to be killed by the Praetorian Guard in the Colosseum, defended only by a lone warrior: her own son, Lucius.

Meanwhile, in his cell, Lucius gets the attention of Ravi. He manages to convince him to travel to meet with the commander of the army that Acacius had raised, giving him a ring as a token of proof that he is the progeny of Maximus Decimus Meridius and Lucilla. He also convinces him to part with his key to the cell. When the guard comes to take him, he is given a rude awakening, as Maximus manages to kill him with the wooden sword he provides him. He then frees all the Gladiators in the other cells.

Lucius pretends to play is part, being brought out before the chariot containing Lucilla in order to defend her against the Praetorian Guard. He then reveals the truth, calling forth the warriors he has freed. Caracalla is beside himself with amusement declaring it to be "War! Real war!" Macrinus, much less amused, stabs him through the ear. Then, observing that Lucius and his team are succeeding in freeing Lucilla, he grabs a bow, shooting and killing Lucilla.

Lucius pursues Macrinus to the edge of Rome, where Acacius's forces are gathering against the Praetorian Guard. However, seeing the two men, both sides disengage, leaving the two to fight. Macrinus challenges Lucius, telling him that one does not become an emperor by bloodline alone: that it must be taken by force and kept by force. He asks him if he is really such a man as this. The two of them have a fierce battle, but Lucius is ultimately victorious. He declares that no more blood shall be smelt in the name of tyranny and thinks of his father, Maximus, asking him to speak to him.

Historical Accuracy[]

Lucius Verus II was the son of Lucilla and Lucius Verus (Marcus Aurelius' co-ruler). He had two sisters: Aurelia Lucilla and Lucilla Plautia. By his mother's second marriage to Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus, he had a half-brother named Lucius Aurelius Commodus Pompeianus.

All of Lucilla's children but Pompeianus died very young, Lucius had died even before his uncle Commodus became the Emperor.

It would seem that film-Lucius is a conflation of both of Lucilla's sons.

Behind the scenes[]

Other actors who were considered for the role of Lucius Verus in Gladiator II include Chris Hemsworth, Austin Butler, Richard Madden and Miles Teller.^[2] There were also those who questioned why Spencer Treat Clark was not considered for the role, given his appearing as the young version of the character in the original film and still being an active actor. Director Ridley Scott, however, stated that he wanted a younger actor in the role. Clark himself addressed the issue, stating that he was excited to see the film and what Paul Mescal brought to the role.^[3]

Ridley Scott has floated a potential idea for a third Gladiator film which would explore the idea of Lucius Verus as the ruler of Rome and compared his potential idea to The Godfather, of Lucius ending up with "a job he didn't want."^[4]