Nero #11 – Stephen Dando-Collins

Jun 7, 2021

Stephen Dando-Collins is an Australian historical author, who, like me, once sold his soul to the gods of marketing and advertising but has been redeeming himself ever since. His new book is about the great Jewish – Roman war of 66CE, entitled “Conquering...

Nero #10 – All Manner Of Depravity

May 29, 2021

We examine the circumstances and theories surrounding the death of Agrippina. data-episode-id="833797" data-theme="light" data-height="190" data-enable-volume="true"> The Complete Premium Caesar: (Protected...

Nero #9 – When In Rome

May 15, 2021

In the year 59, Nero decided it was time to get rid of his mother, Agrippina. But how much can we trust the narrative in the ancient sources? They have significant problems. data-episode-id="827790" data-theme="light" data-height="190" data-enable-volume="true"> The...

Nero #8 – “Abominations And Wickedness”

Apr 30, 2021

Nero likes hanging out under bridges where he could “take his pleasures more freely” and this leads to trouble for Sulla’s great-great-great grandson. But Nero also wants to abolish taxes because he’s a dirty commie. Then the Germans start some shit and find out why...

Nero #7 – Salacious Stories

Apr 17, 2021

Tacitus shares some Salacious Stories from Nero’s Rome in the year 58 CE – mostly about ambitious women. data-episode-id="816012" data-theme="light" data-height="190" data-enable-volume="true"> The Complete Premium Caesar: (Protected...

Nero #6 – ARMenia

Mar 26, 2021

There’s a war with Parthia, Rome’s boogeyman since they cut off the head of Crassus in 53 BCE, a hundred years earlier, and Nero sends Corbulo to deal with it. He whips his troops into order and kicks ass, wearing a mankini while his troops’ hands fall off from the...

Nero #5 – Fight Club

Mar 13, 2021

Nero starts his own Fight Club. Apart from that, the years of 56 – 58 were pretty good. Nero made some wise decisions (no doubt with the help of Seneca), showing moderation and generosity. He was turning out to be an emperor of the calibre of Augustus....

Nero #4 – Nero The Murderer

Feb 24, 2021

This is where the story becomes really weird. Nero, up until now the golden child, suddenly becomes a cold murderer with the murder of Britannicus. data-episode-id="794539" data-theme="light" data-height="190" data-enable-volume="true"> The Complete Premium Caesar:...

Nero #3 – Nero In Love

Feb 13, 2021

In the first year of his rule, Nero was a big hit. He built a wooden amphitheatre in the Campus Martius, flooded it, and held a naval battle with sea monsters. In his gladiator shows, nobody died, not even criminals. But then… Nero fell in love....

Nero #2 – Nice Guy Nero

Jan 22, 2021

Nero becomes emperor on the murder of his step-father. He’s 16 or 17 years old. Why didn’t the Senate stop him? It might have something to do with Seneca and Burrus. Seneca wrote him a speech where he promised to be nice. And, indeed, the first five years of his rule...

Nero #1 – The Last OG

Jan 16, 2021

This is the story of Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus. Known to us as Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus. Or just “Nero”. On this episode, we ask – how is it possible that a man tutored and guided by one of the most famous Stoic philosophers, Seneca, would end...

Claudius #15 – A Mushroom & A Feather

Dec 18, 2020

Agrippina decides the time has come. She has a poison expert released from prison and they prepare a special dish of mushrooms for Claudius’ last meal. But the mushrooms weren’t enough and so they had to finish him off – with a feather. data-episode-id="771460"...

Claudius #14 – Digging Tunnels

Dec 6, 2020

Claudius builds the world’s biggest tunnel and puts on a huge show to celebrate. But things don’t go to plan. Nero gets married and starts to build his political profile – he is only 16. data-episode-id="766474" data-theme="dark" data-visual="true"...

Claudius #13 – Roman Incest

Dec 6, 2020

Claudius and Agrippina get hitched despite the fact that she was his niece. She immediately starts to get rid of her enemies, reward her supporters, and prepare the ground for the next stage of her plan to make her young son, Nero, the emperor....

Claudius #12 – Lips That Grip

Nov 7, 2020

It’s 48 CE. Messalina is dead. So now Claudius needs a new wife. There are several candidates, including Julia Agrippina, the daughter of Germanicus, making her Claudius’ niece. Conveniently, her rich husband had recently died. She is also the mother of a...

Claudius #11 – Deviant Behaviour

Oct 17, 2020

Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo – brother-in-law of Caligula – is sent by Claudius to Germany to deal with some rebellious tribes. But he’s TOO successful, so Claudius calls him home. Messalina decides to get married again – while still married to...

Claudius #10 Santa Claudius

Oct 11, 2020

Messalina starts killing off men who refuse her sexual advances or who just have something she wants. Meanwhile, Claudius keeps being a nice guy and the people feel sorry for him. The Complete Premium Caesar: (Protected...

Claudius #9 Vini Vidi Vici Bitchi

Sep 18, 2020

The invasion of Brittania continues. When Plautius has them nearly finished, he sends for Claudius who turns up to take credit for the final blow. The Senate granted him tons of honours as a result of his victory. But he’s more interested in explaining to Romans how...

Claudius #8 – Invading Britannia

Sep 11, 2020

In 43 Claudius is consul again. Messalina is setting him up with girls to bang while she’s running sex parties in another part of the palace. Then he invades Britain, finishing the job Julius Caesar started nearly a century earlier. The Complete Premium Caesar:...

Claudius #7 – Mauretania

Sep 5, 2020

While the attempted coup was going on, Claudius had troops in Mauretania under the command of Suetonius Paulinus. One of Paulinus’ officers, Gnaeus Hosidius Geta, chases the Moors over the Atlas Mountains and into the desert – where he has to call on foreign...