I picked up my copy of Gibbon to research material for an article on Islam that I want to write. Going through the Table of Contents however I was intrigued by the chapter on the life and death of Emperor Commodus.
Commodus was the villain in the movie in the blockbuster action movie Gladiator starring Russell Crowe about 20 years ago. I was very fond of Hollywood movies and watched the movie more times than I bothered to count. It is available for viewing now on Amazon Prime I think.
The main protagonist in the movie is a Roman general named Maximus. Yet – according to Gibbon -the character of Maximus never existed. According to history Commodus was murdered, poisoned, by one of his concubines and some other persons who knew Commodus. These conspirators were apprehensive that Commodus would order their own deaths. He had condemned many persons involved in politics and the military earlier on mere suspicion.
The chapter I read was as engrossing as a bestselling novel.
The successor to Commodus was one virtuous senator named Pertinax. He accepted this post with reluctance, the natural effect of his knowledge of both the duties and the dangers of the supreme rank. Pertinax was assassinated a short period later by some soldiers of the Praetorian guards. They must have not liked the loss of power and status that the death of Commodus had caused.
There may be parallels that might be drawn with what is happening in Sri Lanka right now. The Praetorian guards stormed the imperial palace. Their officers lacked either the means or the desire to restrain them. Also the Empire was pretty much bankrupt. The dissolute lifestyle of Commodus had drained the finances of the Roman empire to the extent that the treasury was left with only 8,000 pounds at the time of his death. We find now that Sri Lanka is also bankrupt and facing a financial crisis.
We have to be thankful that there has been very little loss of life in Sri Lanka so far. But it is more than likely that there was a good deal of corruption involved. There is also the fact that the Sri Lankan army and police have done nothing to prevent the events in Sri Lanka.
It is too much to believe that the Sri Lankan government lacked the expertise to prevent the present financial crisis. They must have had access to both national and international experts.
I am not sure if anybody in the Sri Lankan government will read this blog but I can only say that if they take the advice of an expert on Gibbon’s history they will come to know the personal qualities required to run a government in this period of crisis. This might help them make a wise choice and lead their country out of trouble.
I’ll end this article by again exhorting people interested in public affairs to read (and reread repeatedly) Gibbon. Especially youngsters interested in a career either in politics, the military or the bureaucracy. The book describes in stately fashion the virtues required for public service and also the dangers of public office. They will be warned and well armed for the challenges that they will be facing.
And the book is a terrific read so they will also be royally entertained.
I’ll end here. Please explore this blog for more articles that will interest you and let me have your comments. Feedback from my readers keeps me going.
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