Commodus declares that he will meet Maximus in single combat in the arena, but he first stabs Maximus to weaken him. In the arena, Maximus kills Commodus and then dies himself after ordering the reinstatement of Senator Gracchus and the restoration of republican rule.

Did Maximus really kill Commodus?

Livius in The Fall of the Roman Empire and Maximus in Gladiator kill Commodus in single combat, Livius to save Lucilla and Maximus to avenge the murder of his wife and son, and both do it for the greater good of Rome.

Who was Commodus killed by?

He is revealed as having become a minor god after his death and has survived into modern times, along with two other Roman emperors Caligula and Nero. Also, he was murdered by the god Apollo, who was his lover but disguised himself as Narcissus to kill him and end his tyranny.