General Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe) leads soldiers of the Roman army to a decisive victory against Germanic barbarians, ending a long war on the Roman frontier and earning the esteem of the elderly Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris). Marcus is dying and, though he has a son, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), the emperor wishes to grant temporary leadership to Maximus with a desire to eventually return power to the Roman Senate. After directly being told that he will not be appointed emperor by Marcus, Commodus secretly murders his father in a fit of rage and then claims the throne.