Aug 13, 2021
With Seneca out of the way, Tigellinus brings down the other prefect, Rufus. To strengthen his relationship with Nero, he increases his paranoia about the two men Nero had recently exiled for being threats to his power – Plautus and Sulla. Poppaea, not happy...
Jul 30, 2021
In the year 61, Nero deals with riots, treason, Stoics and the death of one of his key advisors. If you're seeing this message, it means you aren't logged in as a subscriber. If want to listen to the premium episodes of the series - hundreds of episodes on the lives...
Jul 30, 2021
Boudicea wins round one. But Suetonius has bloodshed and destruction on his mind. If you're seeing this message, it means you aren't logged in as a subscriber. If want to listen to the premium episodes of the series - hundreds of episodes on the lives of Julius,...
Jul 10, 2021
Corbulo finishes round one in Armenia and gets a promotion. Meanwhile in Britain, a certain queen decides to take on the Romans – Boudicea. Exactly why, though, is a bit of a mystery. If you're seeing this message, it means you aren't logged in as a subscriber....
Jun 25, 2021
Agrippina is dead and Nero decides to party. Tacitus disapproves. He doesn’t like Nero’s parties and he doesn’t like his poetry. But then a comet appears, and everyone assumes it means the end of Nero’s reign – so they start looking for a replacement. If you're...
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...
May 29, 2021
We examine the circumstances and theories surrounding the death of Agrippina. If you're seeing this message, it means you aren't logged in as a subscriber. If want to listen to the premium episodes of the series - hundreds of episodes on the lives of Julius, Augustus,...
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. If you're seeing this message, it means you aren't logged in as a subscriber. If want to...
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...
Apr 17, 2021
Tacitus shares some Salacious Stories from Nero’s Rome in the year 58 CE – mostly about ambitious women. If you're seeing this message, it means you aren't logged in as a subscriber. If want to listen to the premium episodes of the series - hundreds of...
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...
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. If you're...
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. If you're seeing this message, it means you aren't logged in as a subscriber. If want to listen to the premium episodes...
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. If you're seeing this...
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...
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...
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. If you're seeing this...
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. If you're seeing this message, it means you aren't logged in as a...
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. If you're seeing this...
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...
