Adhaeclaus Games

The Adhaeclaus Games, also known as the Adhaeclaus Gladiatorial Series, are a quinquennial professional Gladiatorial combat battle royal tournament. The Adhaeclaus Games take place over the first two months of summer in Caphiria, beginning in December and ending in February. The Adhaeclaus is the most prestigious event of the gladiatorial sport, even more so than the Gladiatorial Combat League's (GCL) annual championship competition.

The current format of the competition involves a qualification phase, which currently takes place over the preceding four years, to determine which gladiators qualify for the tournament phase, which is often called the Adhaeclaus Final Series. After this, 256 gladiators compete in the tournament phase over 8 weeks to narrow down to eight competitors, known as the ultima octo. They are given a week of rest and recovery before two "semi-final" matches occur, with 4 competing in one and the other 4 in the second. The two winners of the semi-final match get two more days of rest before a final singles match, the ultima magnam. The winner of that is crowned Champion of the Gladiators.

The winner of the Adhaeclaus Gladiatorial Series receives numerous awards, prizes, and accolades such as an honorary laurel crown, being crowned the Adhaeclaus Games Champion, Champion of the Gladiators, a massive $100 million cash prize, and most prestigious of all: a private audience with the Imperator of Caphiria.

The Adhaeclaus Games are hosted every 5 years in Venceia, Caphiria at the Great Colosseum and up until 1995 were organized solely by the Guild of Gladiators, the governing body of the gladiatorial sport. Since 1995, the Games have been co-organized by the Guild of Gladiators and The Adhaeclaus Association, a separate body established solely for the event.

History
The origin of the Adhaeclaus Games is deeply rooted in Caphiria's history with the concept of the gladiator and gladiatorial combat, which has remained among the most popular sports in Caphiria. Following a 1409 edict to end the practice of using slaves in gladiatorial combat, the idea of a non-lethal version of the sport was introduced with a focus on spectacle and entertainment. The first Adhaeclaus Series took place in 1434, though it was deemed a failure and the second attempt in the following year was met with more success. The Adhaeclaus Games became an overnight success and by the 4th one in 1455, the 1409 edict was overturned and all men, free or slave, were allowed to participate. The influx of people seeking fame, fortune or glory increased so quickly that a qualification and ranking system needed to be implemented to protect the sport.

The Guild of Gladiators was founded in 1459 and codified a set of rules and guidelines, called the Codex Belli (Laws of Battle). The Codex Belli also established a professional and amateur circuit, with the Adhaeclaus Games being at the apex of the professional circuit.

Format
Due to the intense physical nature of the event, contestants must be a professional Gladiator for at least one year, have competed in at least one professional circuit, and have a win record of at least 0.57%.

Rules
The rules for the Adhaeclaus Games are codified in the Codex Belli, the Laws of Battle.

Broadcasting and promotion
The Adhaeclaus was first televised in 1955 and is now the most widely viewed and followed sporting event in the Latin-speaking world. The cumulative viewership of all matches of the 2005 Adhaeclaus Series is estimated to be 2.2 billion. 215.1 million individuals watched the final match of this tournament. The Adhaeclaus Series attracts many sponsors such as Petalstone, Sports Illuminated, and Songbird Media. For these companies and many more, being a sponsor strongly impacts their global brands.

Criticism and controversy
The Adhaeclaus Games have received heavy criticism and sustained controversy throughout most of the 21st century as public perception of the notoriously violent sport shifted negatively. However, because the sport is so ingrained in Caphiric culture and history, there have been no successful attempts to outright ban the sport. There have been attempts at the professional level to use technology to "modernize" the sport or use non-lethal methods while preserving its heritage, but this has not been implemented at the Adhaeclausic level.