The Fall of the Roman Empire

Two of the greatest problems in history...

...are how to account for the rise of Rome...

...and how to account for her fall.

We may come nearer to understanding the truth,

if we remember that the fall of Rome,

like her rise,

had not one cause, but many.

It was not an event,

but a process spread over 300 years.

Some nations have not lasted as long...

...as Rome fell.

In the year 180 A.D.,

the Emperor Marcus Aurelius,

was leading his Roman legions...

...against Germanic tribes along the Danube frontier.

My lord, Caesar, the omens are bad.

I could not find its heart.

When I was a child, Timonides,

I had a secret fear that night would come...

...and would never end.

That we would live out our lives in total darkness.

It was a small fear then.

Yet my lord, Caesar, the sun always rises,

and will again.

So you say.

It is said more people die at this moment...

...when night is about to give way to day than at any other time.

It seems to me night whispers: "Come away with me...

to the west, and sleep forever."

What has another day to offer you?

What has another day to offer you, Timonides?

Warmth...

...life...

...color...

...people.

My lord, Caesar,

the sun.

As you predicted.

I congratulate you, Timonides.

- Timonides. - Livius.

- Livius. - How is Caesar?

Well, in order to answer that question,

one must consider three aspects of the situation.

One, our emperor has been at the wars for 17 years...

...and lived under very difficult conditions.

Two, no one could ever describe Marcus Aurelius as a robust man.

There's a joke among the soldiers here about Timonides.

They say: Ask Timonides what day it is,

and he will lecture you on the history of the calendar.

You are well my lord, Caesar.

It seems that every governor, every king...

...in the whole empire is waiting in the valley below.

I invited them here for a particular purpose.

I've also asked my son, Commodus.

Your great friend, Commodus.

Tell me of your last campaign in these barbarian forests.

Two or three times, we thought we had Balimar, their leader,

but each time he was able to get away.

A few days longer, Caesar,

we'll bring you his head.

No, Livius. please don't bring me his head.

I wouldn't know what to do with it.

Bring him to me alive.

But he is the heart of the barbarians.

Then bring me the heart of the barbarians.

I wish to speak with him.

Speak with him?

Rome has existed for a thousand years,

it is time we find peaceful ways to live with those...

...you call barbarians.

So bring me this Balimar alive, and quickly.

There was a rumour that Lucilla was here.

Lucilla, Caesar's daughter.

Ah yes, Caesar's daughter.

As the dove fears the eagle,

as the lamb fears the wolf,

so is my heart heavy with fear.

O mother Vesta, eternal mother of Rome...

...help me.

Bring back the health of my father.

Protect us from the danger which hangs...

...over the empire.

Let there be peace...

...over all Rome.

Lucilla.

Livius.

Lucilla...

...you are beautiful.

"You are beautiful."

What does that mean?

It has been so long...

...I had forgotten.

Why didn't you ever try to see me when you were in Rome?

It seemed you did not really want to see anyone.

I thought by living alone away from the world,

I could find peace.

Then I found there is no real peace in being alone.

There is only loneliness.

I too have been lonely, Lucilla.

I'm here now, Livius.

And if my father's health improves,

and if your duties as a soldier do not prevent it,

we may see each other,

if you want to.

I want to.

Mithridates, king of Petra.

Welcome, Mithridates. Welcome Petra.

Costobacus, king of the Omnia.

Greetings, Costobacus, king of the Omnia.

Serverus, proconsul of Judea.

Africa.

- Welcome... - Virgilianus, proconsul of Syria.

Marcellus, governor of Egypt, I think.

...Marcellus, friend of Caesar.

And who would this be, Timonides?

Virgilianus, proconsul of Syria.

My greatful thanks, Timonides.

Virgilianus, friend of Caesar.

Welcome...

Pericles, proconsul of Athens.

...Pericles of Athens.

Rome is honored, Sohamus,

that Armenia's king is with us.

My lord, Caesar,

Armenia hopes only for even closer ties to Rome.

Pertinax, Britannia.

Welcome, Pertinax. Welcome, Britannia.

Hail Caesar!

Hail Caesar! Hail Caesar! Hail Caesar!

Governors, consuls,

princes.

You have come from the deserts of Egypt,

from the mountains of Armenia,

from the forests of Gaul,

and the prairies of Spain.

You do not resemble each other,

nor do you wear the same clothes,

nor sing the same songs,

nor worship the same gods.

Yet, like a mighty tree...

...with green leaves and black roots,

you are the unity which is Rome.

Look about you and look at yourselves,

and see the greatness of Rome.

Two hundred years ago the Gauls were our fiercest enemies.

Now we greet them as friends.

In the whole world,

only two small frontiers are still hostile to us.

One here in the north which separates us...

...from those who are called barbarians,

the other in the east, Persia.

Only on these two borders will you find...

...walls, palisades,

forts, and hatred.

But these are not the frontiers Rome wants.

Rome wants and needs human frontiers.

We've had to fight long wars.

Your burdens have been great.

But we come now to the end of the road.

Here, within our reach, golden centuries of peace.

A true Pax Romana.

Wherever you live,

whatever the color of your skin,

when peace is achieved,

it will bring to all,

All!

the supreme rights of Roman citizenship.

My lord, Caesar. Are you ill?

A small pain in my side. It will pass.

No longer provinces, or colonies...

...but Rome.

Rome everywhere.

A family of equal nations.

That is what lies ahead.

May gods hasten the day.

Lucilla,

each time I see you I wonder how it is possible,

I've fathered something so beautiful.

You make it hard for me to take leave of this life.

Father,

you have a long life ahead of you.

Death is in the order of things.

Didn't they teach you that at school?

I will not let you leave me.

Is there a choice?

Soon this trickle of blood,

these few bones,

this net woven of nerves and arteries will be dust.

No choice.

Now that I'm here,

I will see that you take better care of yourself.

Even so,

time is short.

And there is a decision which I can no longer delay.

I must sacrifice the love of my son.

Commodus must never be my heir.

Livius,

it is my wish that you should succeed me.

And I intend to present you to the leaders of the empire,

openly, as my successor.