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Proximo
Proximo is a former gladiator turned lanista who manages a troupe of fighters and eventually aids Maximus Decimus Meridius in his quest for vengeance against Commodus.
Background
Proximo was once a champion gladiator in the Colosseum who earned his freedom from the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Following his retirement, he established a ludus in North Africa where he trained slaves to fight in provincial arenas, viewing his fighters primarily as commodities to be traded and exploited for profit.
Role in the Arena
Proximo plays a pivotal role in the life of Maximus Decimus Meridius after purchasing him from a slave trader. Although initially dismissive of Maximus and his desire for revenge, Proximo eventually develops a begrudging respect for the former general. He provides the necessary support for Maximus to return to Rome and compete in the Colosseum, ultimately sacrificing his own safety to assist in the overthrow of the corrupt Emperor Commodus.