Commodus becomes consul on January 1, 177, for the first time, which makes him, at fifteen, the youngest consul in Roman history up to this time.

Marcus Aurelius grants Commodus the title Augustus in the middle of 177, giving his son the same status as his own and formally sharing power.

The emperor on December 23 of the same year celebrates a joint triumph for his German victories ("de Germanis" and "de Sarmatis") together with Commodus.

In commemoration of this, a triumphal column is planned, in imitation of Trajan's Column.

Because the original dedicatory inscription has been destroyed, it is not known whether it was built during the emperor’s reign (on the occasion of the triumph over the Marcomanni, Quadi and Sarmatians in the year 176) or after his death in 180; however, an inscription found in the vicinity attests that the column was completed by 193.

The emperor’s respite is to be brief.

Marcus soon embarks on another Danubian expedition against the Marcomanni.