Thursday, April 23, 2026

A Roman emperor renamed every month of the year after himself.

Famous Figures

A ncient Roman emperors did a lot of wild things while they were in power. Nero built a spinning dining room with an ivory ceiling. Elagabalus played elaborate pranks on his dinner guests. And Commodus, who ruled from 177 CE to 192 CE, named every single month of the year after himself. Not satisfied with changing just the months of the year, Commodus then renamed the entirety of Rome.

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By the Numbers

Years Commodus co-ruled with his father Marcus Aurelius

Running time (in minutes) of the 2000 film Gladiator

155

Did you know?

“Commode” used to mean something very different.

When you hear the word “commode” today, you probably think of a toilet — but that’s a relatively modern use. Starting in the late 17th century, the French term actually referred to a very fancy French headdress. The headdress trend supposedly started when a mistress of King Louis XIV tied her hair up with a garter while hunting. The name likely came from the adjective “commode,” which meant “easy or convenient.” That ease and convenience was ultimately lost, though: What started as a simple accessory became increasingly ornate and eventually grew so tall that the garment had to be supported by wire frames.