The History of Rome

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05 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a patron and get the entire History of Rome backcatalog ad-fre, plus bonus content, behind the scenes peeks at the new book, plus a chat commun...

The Storm Before The Storm: Chapter 1- The Beasts of Italy

27 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Audio excerpt from The Storm Before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic by Mike Duncan. Forthcoming Oct. 24, 2017. Pre-order a c...

Revolutions Launch

16 Sep 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Available at revolutionspodcast.com, iTunes, or anywhere else fine podcasts can be found.

Update- One Year Later

30 May 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Next show coming soon!

179- The End

06 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

The history of The History of Rome...Why the Western Empire Fell when it did...Some thoughts on the future...Thank you, goodnight.  

178- Not With A Bang But A Whimper

30 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

In the last few years of the Western Empire a series of Emperors came and went. The cycle finally ended in 476 with the exile of Romulus Augustulus. ...

177- The Burning Ships

22 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

In 468 the two halves of the Empire combined forces to dislodge the Vandals from North Africa.They failed spectacularly.

176- The Quote Unquote Emperor

16 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

From 461-465 the Western Empire was ruled by Ricimer through a puppet Emperor named Libius Severus. Not everyone in the west was supportive of the new...

175- Trying to Take It All Back

09 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

From 457-461, Majorian marched around trying to reassert Imperial authority over the provinces while Ricimer remained in Italy. 

174- The Sack of Rome Part II

02 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Following the death of Valentinian III there was an Imperial power struggle in the West. In the midst of this struggle, the Vandals sacked Rome in 455...

173- The Broken Bow

25 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

In the early 450s a string of deaths changed the political dynamic of Roman world. Between 450 and 455 Galla Placidia, Aelia Pulcheria, Atilla the Hun...

172- Showdown

19 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

In 451 Atilla the Hun invaded the West. He was repelled by a coalition of forces lead by the General Aetius. 

171- The Gathering Storm

11 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

After placating Atilla with yet another indemnity, Theodosius II fell from his horse and died in 450, leaving the Eastern throne vacant.

170- Atilla Cometh

19 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

In the 440s, the Huns began to direclty attack the Roman Empire. 

169- Huns and Vandals and Goths, Oh My

12 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

In the 430s the Romans dealt with increasingly agressive and confident barbarian tribes living both inside and outside the traditional borders of the ...

168- The Rise of Aetius

05 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

In the late 420s AD, the Roman General Flavius Aetius connived and backstabbed his way up the chain of command. 

167- Exploiting the Opportunity

29 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

The Emperor Honorius died in 423, leading to a brief civil war between the Theodosian dynasty and a self-proclaimed Imperial regime in Ravenna. 

166- As Long As She's Nice To Look At

22 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Constantius III continued to lead the Western Empire as its defacto Emperor until 421, when he was officially elevated to the rank of Augustus. Unfort...

165- Reviving the Roman Name

15 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Between 412 and 415 relations between the Romans and Goths shifted back and forth between alliance and antagonism. 

164- The Sack of Rome

09 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

After failing to secure a deal with Honorius, Alaric sacked Rome in August of 410. It was the first time the Eternal City had been sacked in 800 years...

163- Theodosius's Walls

18 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Following the death of Eudoxia, the Praetorian Prefect Anthemius took control of the Eastern Empire and ran it wisely for the next decade. Meanwhile i...

162- Opening the Floodgates

12 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

On New Year's Eve 406 a horde of barbarians crossed the lower Rhine into Gaul. Their arrival would have severe consequences for the Western Empire. 

161- The Swamps of Ravenna

05 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Alaric and his Goths invaded Italy in 402. After they were pushed out, Stilicho moved the seat of the Western Imperial Court to the city of Ravenna. 

160- East vs. West

28 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In the late 390s, the generals and ministers who dominated Arcadius and Honorius battled with each other for control of the Empire. 

159- The Divine Winds

21 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

After winning the Battle of the Frigidus River, Theodosius stood alone as the last sole ruler of the Roman Empire. He would be die just four months la...

158- An Imperial Suicide

14 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In 392 Valentinian II was found hanged in his bedchamber, paving the way for another Roman Civil War. 

157- Only the Penitent Man Shall Pass

31 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

After defeating the usurper Maximus in 388 AD, Theodosius found himself facing an even greater opponent in Ambrose of Milan.

156- Jockeying for Position

24 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

From 383-387 the tense quasi-partnership of Maximus, Valentinian II and Theodosius ruled the Roman Empire. During those years Bishop Ambrose and Nicea...

155- The New Bishop of Milan

16 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In 383 the General Magnus Maximus rose up in revolt against Gratian. The power sharing agreement that followed Maximus's victory would be negotiated i...

154- The Gothic War

10 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Following Adrianople, Theodosius was brought in to salvage the situation. After determining that he could not beat the Goths in battle, the new Empero...

153- Adrianople

02 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Operating with faulty intelligence and desperate to defeat the Goths on his own, Valens forced the disasterous Battle of Adrianople in August 378.

152- The Storm Before the Storm

25 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In 375 the Huns exploded into Gothic territory, sending refugees fleeing for the saftey of the Roman Empire.

151- Bursting a Blood Vessel

11 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Valens spent the late 360s and early 370s dealing with hostile Goths in the north and hostile Persians in the east. In 375 he would be left to face th...

150- The Perils of Mismanagement

04 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

in the late 360s and early 370s AD Roman mismanagment of three different regions in the Western Empire led to armed conflict.

149- The Great Conspiracy

29 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In the winter of 367 Britannia was hit from all sides by a coordinated barbarian invasion. It would be more than a year before the Romans were able to...

148- The Cousin's Cousin

22 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Shortly after Valentinian and Valens ascended to the throne, one of Julian the Apostate's maternal cousins seized control of Constantinople.

147- Capitulation

15 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Jovian extracted the Roman legions from the east at a heavy price. He then ruled the Empire for eight months before suddenly dying on his way to Const...

146- The Spear of Destiny

08 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In 363 Julian launched an invasion of Sassanid Persia. He would die in battle just three months later.

145- Julian the Apostate

31 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Julian came to power in late 361 and immediately set about trying to turn back the clock on both Church and State.

144- The Road to Constantinople

25 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Once he was established as a force to be reckoned with in the west, Julian revolted against Constantius II in 360 after the Emperor ordered half the G...

143- Julian the Pre-Apostate

10 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

After a childhood spent mostly in exile, Juian was elevated to the rank of Caesar in 355. His first assignment was to clear Gaul of Germanic invaders.

142- You've Earned It

04 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

After two years of sporadic war, Constantius II defeated the usurper Magnentius in 353. Following his victory the Emperor let his advisors talk him in...

141- Blood and Water

27 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Constantius and Constans shared the Empire for a decade until Constans was overthrown by a rebel general named Magnetius in 350 AD.

140- My Three Sons

20 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

The three sons of Constantine took control of the Empire following the death of their father and the murder of most of their extended family.

139- Wash Away Your Sins

13 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Constantine was baptized on his deathbed after arranging a plan for succession.

138- The New Rome

30 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Live and direct from Old Rome!

137- The Christian Emperor

15 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

This episode brought to you live and direct from Constantinople! After defeating Licinius, Constantine found his dream of a united Christian Empire fo...

136- Let This Be Our Final Battle

01 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

War between Licinius and Constantine flared up again in 324 AD. This time Constantine would finish the job.

135- Brothers in Name Only

25 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Constantine and Licinius split up the Empire following the death of Maximinus Daia in 313. It did not take long for relations betweent the two Emperor...

134- And Then There Were Two

18 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In 313 AD, Maximinus Daia and Licinus fought for control of the Eastern Roman Empire.

133- The Milvian Bridge

11 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

On October 28, 312 AD Constantine and Maxentius fought a battle at Rome's doorstep for control of the Western Empire.

132- In This Sign

04 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Prior to the Battle of the Milvian Bridge Constantine experienced visions and dreams that promised him victory if he embraced Christianity.

131- The New Game in Town

28 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

With the Tetrarchy in shambles, Diocletian will be called out of retirement in 308 AD to help broker a settlement. But the new new order will prove as...

130- Lost in Transition

14 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Less than two years after Diocletian's abdication, the Tetrarchy was left in shambles following the power plays of Constantine and Maxentius.

129- Abdication

07 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In 305 AD, Diocletian and Maximian voluntarily abdicated the throne, handing power over to Galerius and Constantius.

128- The Great Persecution

28 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In 303 AD Diocletian initiated the last and greatest of the Christian persecutions.

127- Commanding The Economy

21 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Rome's economy was in disarray when Diocletian came to power and he initiated major overhauls to get the system running again.

126- All The King's Men

14 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Over the course of his reign Diocletian overhauled the government, transforming it into a centralized bureaucracy run by career civil servants.

125- The Best Defence is a Good Defence

07 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Over the course of his reign Diocletian instituted a number of reforms to the military structure that helped transform the legions into a new kind of ...

124- The Tetrarchs at War

31 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In the mid-to-late 290s the Imperial Tetrarchy was at war on multiple fronts. In the west Constantius undertook the reconquest of Britain, while in ...

123- The Tertrarchy

24 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In 293 AD Diocletian and Maximian invited Constantius and Galerius to share in their Imperial burdens, forming what we today call the Tetrarchy.

122- Jupiter and Hercules

16 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Immediatly after becoming the undisputed Emperor in 285, Diocletian elevated Maximian to serve as his Imperial colleague.

121- Phase Three Complete

10 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

The Crisis of the Third Century finally ended with the mini dynasty of Carus and his two sons. In 284 Diocletian rose to power, ushering in a new age ...

120- Interregnum

20 Dec 2010

Contributed by Lukas

After Aurelian's death, an old Senator named Marcus Cluadius Tacitus briefly reigned before the throne fell to Probus, who ruled from 276-282.

119- Restitutor Orbis

13 Dec 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Aurelian defeated the breakaway western provinces and reunified the Empire in 274 AD. The next year he was assassinated by officers who had been trick...

118- The Palmyrene Wars

06 Dec 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In 272 Aurelian finally managed to bring the east back under Roman control by defeating Queen Zenobia of Palmyra.

117- Aurelian's Walls

29 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Aurelian became Emperor in 270 and immediatly faced an invasion of Italy by the Juthungi. After succesfully driving the Germans off, Aurelian turned h...

116- Here Come the Illyrians

22 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Claudius Gothicus became Emperor in 268 and promptly lead the legions to victories against the Goths and the Alamanni. Unfortunately he died before he...

115- Phase Two Complete

08 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

The near simultaneous deaths of Gallienus, Odenathus and Postumus upset the political equilibrium in the late 260s AD.

114- The Nadir of Our Fortunes

01 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

The 260s AD were bad for the Romans, but they could have been a whole lot worse had not Gallienus, Postumus and Odenathus each done their part to defe...

113- Three Empires

24 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

112- Captured Alive

18 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Valerian and his son Gallienus did their best to hold the Empire together through the 250s AD, but after Valerian was captured by the Sassanids things...

111- Phase One Complete

04 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

After the Battle of Abrittus, Trebonianus Gallus was proclaimed Emperor. After reigning for two years he was ousted by Aemilianus, who lasted less tha...

110- A Gothic Horror

27 Sep 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In 249 AD Decius ousted Philip the Arab and ascended to the Imperial throne. Two years later though, Decius was dead after leading the legions to a ma...

109- The New Millenium

20 Sep 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Gordian III died in 244 AD and was succeeded by his Praetorian Prefect Philip the Arab. While Philip dealt with internal revolts and external invasion...

108- Gordian's Knot

13 Sep 2010

Contributed by Lukas

By August of 238, the other five men who had claimed a share of the purple were dead, leaving 13-year-old Gordian III as the last man standing.

107- The Year of the Six Emperors

30 Aug 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In 238, a revolt in Africa sparked a revolution in Rome that would eventually lead to six different men claiming the title of Augustus.

106- Barbarian at the Gate

23 Aug 2010

Contributed by Lukas

After bungling a campaign in the east, Alexander headed to the Rhine where he was assassinated by Maximinius Thrax in 235 AD.

105- The Last Princeps

16 Aug 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Alexander was only 13 when he ascended to the throne in 222. With the help of his mother and a few key advisers, he managed to avoid being the kind of...

104- Here Comes the Sun

09 Aug 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Elagabalus became Emperor in 218 AD at the tender age of 14. His short reign was defined by a scandalous private life and an obsession with the easter...

103- The Equestrian

02 Aug 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Carcalla was killed by his Praetorian Prefect Macrinus in 217 AD. Macrinus then spent a troubled year as Emperor before the House of Severus came back...

102- The Common Enemy of Mankind

26 Jul 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Septimius Severus died in 211 while campaigning in Britain. He left the Empire to his sons, but their mutual hatred for one another meant that one of ...

101- And All Was of Little Value

19 Jul 2010

Contributed by Lukas

After defeating Clodius Albinus, Septimius Severus turned over daily administration of the Empire to his Praetorian Prefect Gaius Plautianus, while th...

100- Black and White and Severus All Over

27 Jun 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Septimius Severus became the undisputed Emperor of Rome after defeating Pescennius Niger in 194 and Clodius Albinus in 197.

099- What Evil Have I Done?

21 Jun 2010

Contributed by Lukas

After buying the Imperial throne, Didius Julianus only remained in power for 66 days before being ousted by Septimius Severus.

098- Purchasing Power

14 Jun 2010

Contributed by Lukas

After Commodus was assassinated, Pertinax reigned for 86 days. He was murdered by the Praetorian Guard in March 193 and the Imperial throne was auctio...

097- The Fall of Hercules

07 Jun 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Commodus went off the deep end around 190 AD and was finally killed by his inner circle in 192.

096- The Most Aptly Named Emperor

31 May 2010

Contributed by Lukas

The reign of Commodus turned on a botched assassination attempt orchestrated by his sister in 182 AD.

095- The Beginning of the End

24 May 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Marcus elevated Commodus to the position of co-Emperor and then died a few years later while campaigning in the north.

094- Revolt and Meditations

17 May 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In 175 Avidius Cassius led a brief revolt in the east that forced Marcus to postpone his final triumph along the Danube. 

093- The Marcomannic Wars

10 May 2010

Contributed by Lukas

The Romans fought a series of campaigns against a coalition of German tribes from 167-175. They were on the verge of total victory when news arrived o...

092- The Parthian War

26 Apr 2010

Contributed by Lukas

After some initial setbacks, Marcus sent Lucius east to deal with a suddenly critical war with Parthia in 162.

091- Marcus and Lucius and the Parthians

19 Apr 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Marcus Aurelius was destined to become Emperor, but his insistence that Lucius Verus share the honor came as a surprise to everyone.  

090- The Hundredth Episode

12 Apr 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Big question-time blowout!

089- Provincial Matters

05 Apr 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In which I talk for way too long about where the best tin deposits in the Roman Empire can be found.

088- A Day in the Life

22 Mar 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Life in Rome began at dawn and lasted until sunset. Work was done in the mornings while the afternoon was reserved for recreation.  

087- Thinking and Feeling

15 Mar 2010

Contributed by Lukas

With Roman education leaving much to be desired, many citizens found enlightenment in the eastern mystery cults or Greek philosophy.

086- Wealth and Class

08 Mar 2010

Contributed by Lukas

The Roman world was divided between slaves, freedmen, and free citizens of every economic class. Gross inequality though was the order of the day, wit...

085- Antoninus the Dutiful

01 Mar 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Antoninus's reign is often pointed to as the golden age of the Roman Empire. In many ways the assessment is correct, though unresolved issues would co...

084- Longing For Death

01 Mar 2010

Contributed by Lukas

After returning to Italy in 134 Hadrian spent a final few miserable years trying to plan the long term future of the Imperial dynasty before dying in ...