Emperors of Rome
“Great empires are not maintained by timidity.” - Tacitus. A podcast series looking at the rulers of the ancient Roman empire, by Dr Rhiannon Evans and Matt Smith.
Episodes
With the tetrarch system still taking shape, Diocletian and his Caesar Galerius come under growing pressure in the East, facing rebellion from Egypt and invasion from the Persian King Naresh. A series of hard campaigns, careful political choices and eventual victory will determine whether this new imperial order can truly secure Rome's frontiers.
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Constantius was elevated to Caesar with one primary mission - retake Britannia for the Roman empire. In the later half of the fourth century the province and parts of western Gaul had retained a stubborn sort of independence, flying in the face of a unified Rome. If the tetrarchy were to prove they were a stable system, this had to come to an end.
Support Emperors of Rome on Patreon: patreon.com/romepodcast
Diocletian and Maximian have established themselves as co-Emperors, working together to amicably administrate a sprawling Roman Empire. But with Persians to the east, Britons to the west, and discontent all around… maybe it’s time for more laurel wreaths?
Support Emperors of Rome on Patreon: patreon.com/romepodcast
Episode CCLI (251)
Part III of Diocletian
Guest: Professor Caillan Davenport (Centre for Classical Studies, Austra...
Rhiannon Evans, Caillan Davenport, Matt Smith and special guest William Dalrymple share items of Roman interest! You will hear:
- A phoenix in the forum
- The unknown Queens of Rome
- The Roman perception of elephants
- Trade between India and Rome
- The low bar of Roman insults
- The false female centurion
- What Emperors called themselves
- An accurate population of Pompeii
- The false Theodosius
- Sallust and ethnic etymology i...
Viriathus was a Lusitanian leader who rose from humble beginnings to become one of Rome’s most formidable enemies. A skilled tactician and master of guerrilla warfare, he led his people in resistance against Roman expansion in Hispania during the second century BCE. Celebrated for his honour and leadership — even by the Romans who fought him — Viriathus’s story is one of resilience, betrayal, and the enduring struggle for freedom a...
Arria, and her daughter of the same name, were celebrated in Roman literature for their virtues, piety, and devotion to family. Remembered above all for their willingness to embrace self-sacrifice, their lives and deaths became exemplars of courage and duty, cited by writers like Pliny and Martial as models of Roman virtue.
Episode CCXLVIII (248)
Guest: Assoc. Professor Rhiannon Evans (Classic and Ancient History, La Trobe Univer...
Being the daughter of Cato and wife of Brutus came with certain expectations from the ancient world. Embody her father’s principles, be a fine, upstanding Roman lady, and put Rome first above all other things. Porcia did this, and was admired for her disposition.
Episode CCXLVII (247)
Guest: Assoc. Professor Rhiannon Evans (Classic and Ancient History, La Trobe University)
In times of antiquity, alongside the Via Appia, stood the Laudatio Turiae, a funerary inscription praising the life of an exceptional Roman woman. While we aren’t sure of her actual identity her husband was clearly fond to her, and wanted everyone approaching Rome to know it.
Episode CCXLVI (246)
Guest: Assoc. Professor Rhiannon Evans (Classic and Ancient History, La Trobe University)
When Nero took his own life in 68CE it was the end of an era for Rome. The Julio-Claudians had ruled for close to 100 years, and with the end of the dynasty there was confusion, civil war, and an outpouring of grief.
Some would exploit this confusion and claim to be the still alive Emperor Nero, with the intention of retaking his empire.
Episode CCXLV (245)
Guest: Assistant Professor Zachary Herz (Legal Historian, Department of...
Plague getting your people down? Suffering from a mysterious ailment? Perhaps a festival of Apollo is what you need. A simple festival with games, plays and feastings could be enough to sway Apollo in your favour. Or at least, distract your city for a while.
Episode CCXLIV (244)
Guest:
Assoc. Professor Rhiannon Evans (Classic and Ancient History, La Trobe University)
After the death of Crassus his powerful name, his fortune, and his family’s honour survived. In this episode we’ll trace the life of the Crassi yet to come, and how the family comes together with an old rival.
Episode CCXLIII (243)
Part V of Crassus
Guest:
Assoc. Professor Rhiannon Evans (Classic and Ancient History, La Trobe University)
Crassus had power, he had money, but he still felt something was missing. With an army and a province in the east, he sets off to win the glory he had always been denied Perhaps it lay in Parthia.
Episode CCXLII (242)
Part IV of Crassus
Guest:
Assoc. Professor Rhiannon Evans (Classic and Ancient History, La Trobe University)
As Crassus gathered more power and wealth his success was aided by two allies. One, Julius Caesar, had received financial aid from Crassus for many years. The other, Pompeius Magnus, was at the best of times a bitter rival. Together they formed the triumvirate - more powerful together than apart.
Episode CCXLI (241)
Part III of Crassus
Guest:
Assoc. Professor Rhiannon Evans (Classic and Ancient History, La Trobe University)
In the tales of Hollywood Crassus will always be the antagonist to the slave hero Spartacus, but is that how would he see himself? A war against slaves is something that no self respecting Roman would like to be pushed into. And yet here we are.
Episode CCXL (240)
Part II of Crassus
Guest:
Assoc. Professor Rhiannon Evans (Classic and Ancient History, La Trobe University)
Marcus Licinius Crassus was an influential politician in the late Roman republic, famous for the wealth he accrued and the power that he held. An ally of Caesar and a rival of Pompey, he rose to prominence during the social wars, but would never get the military glory he believed was his owed.
Episode CCXXXIX (239)
Part I of Crassus
Guest:
Assoc. Professor Rhiannon Evans (Classic and Ancient History, La Trobe University)
Pompeii has been excavated for hundreds of years, and in that time techniques, practices and philosophies have changed. We’re now finding out a lot more about the city and the people who lived there, and there’s still more to find out.
The When in Rome podcast is now fundraising for an upcoming series 8. Please give your support.
Guest:
Dr Sophie Hay (Archaeologist, Archaeological Park of Pompeii)
Professor Steven Ellis (Classic...
The simple act of dinner took on a new dimension for the Emperors. In an place where every meal could be a performance, an Emperor used the chance to reward and impress, intimidate and strike fear, and sometimes all at once. Having dinner with the Emperor was always a great honour, but sometimes you were risking your life.
Episode CCXXXVIII (238)
Guest:
Professor Mary Beard (Classics and Ancient History, La Trobe University)
For the Romans the simple act of dinner was so much more than a meal. It was an opportunity to socialise and do business, to see and be seen, and in some cases just to show off. Like everything it is steeped in protocol and tradition, but ultimately it emphasised spending time with others - as every good meal should.
Episode CCXXXVII (237)
Guest:
Associate Professor Rhiannon Evans (Classics and Ancient History, La Trobe Universi...
To celebrate the 10th year of the Emperors of Rome podcast, Rhiannon Evans and Matt Smith convened a screening of the epic movie Gladiator starring Russell Crowe, preceded by a live podcast recording the history and basis of the character Commodus performed by Joaquin Phoenix.
Recorded on the 19th October 2024 at the Thornbury Picture House, Melbourne.
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