Emperors of Rome - La Trobe University

Latest Episodes:

Episode CCXII - Aurelian, the Restorer of the World Jul 14, 2023

Show notes

Aurelian became Emperor of a fractured empire. To the west the Gallic Empire had been established ten years earlier, the eastern provinces were now controlled by Zenobia, and there were threats from the vandals in the North. To unite an empire, this will be his first priority.

Part I of ‘Aurelian’

Guest: Associate Professor Caillan Davenport (Head of the Centre for Classical Studies at the Australian National University).

Episode CCXI - Claudius Gothicus Jun 23, 2023

Show notes

The treacherous death of Gallienus saw the rise of a man of war. Claudius Gothicus definitely earned his title, but with a reign of only two years perhaps he made the right kind of impact without the time to leave a bad impression. For an emperor in the third century that was more than enough, and he left an example for all who followed after.

Guest: Associate Professor Caillan Davenport (Head of the Centre for Classical Studies at the Australian National University).

Episode CCX - A Lesson in Latin III Jun 08, 2023

Show notes

What Latin words and concepts for time are still with us today?

Guest: Associate Professor Rhiannon Evans (Classics and Ancient History, La Trobe University).

Episode CCIX - A Diminished Rome May 12, 2023

Show notes

While much of the Roman Empire was lost during the rule of Gallienus, We don't really know how much of that is his fault, or really get a sense of his reign. Was he responsible for the loss of territory, or was he just a victim of the time?

Part IV of 'Gallienus'

Guest: Associate Professor Caillan Davenport (Head of the Centre for Classical Studies at the Australian National University).

Support production of a new series of the When in Rome podcast on Kickstarter.

Episode CCVIII - Odaenathus, King of Kings Apr 28, 2023

Show notes

As the Roman empire lost the western provinces something very different was happening in the east. Odaenathus remained on the side of Rome, but assumed the title of King, building his influence throughout the region, to the point where it became a problem for Gallienus.

Part III of 'Gallienus'

Guest: Associate Professor Caillan Davenport (Head of the Centre for Classical Studies at the Australian National University).

Support production of a new series of the When in Rome podcast on Kickstarter.

Episode CCVII - The Gallic Empire Mar 29, 2023

Show notes

A challenge to the imperial authority was hardly unusual in the third century, but for whatever reason, Postumus decides to do things differently.

Rather than marching an army on Rome he shaves off the western provinces, declaring Gaul, Germania, Hispania and Britannia the independent, but still very Roman, Gallic Empire.

Part II of 'Gallienus'

Guest: Associate Professor Caillan Davenport (Head of the Centre for Classical Studies at the Australian National University).

Episode CCVI - Rome Crumbles Mar 17, 2023

Show notes

When the Emperor Valerian was captured by the enemy what the empire needed was a trusted, capable, firm set of hands to take on the imperial mantle. In retrospect, that probably wasn’t his son Gallienus.

For the next eight years Gallienus would rule as sole emperor and proceed to lose two thirds of the empire, leaving Rome at its weakest position in centuries.

Part I of 'Gallienus'

Guest: Associate Professor Caillan Davenport (Head of the Centre for Classical Studies at the Australian National University).

Episode CCV - Cleopatra Selene Mar 03, 2023

Show notes

Cleopatra Selene was the daughter of Cleopatra and Mark Antony, and was destined for greatness. Following the death of her parents she became a prisoner of Rome, survived into adulthood, and became a queen of the ancient world.

Dr Draycott is the author of ''Cleopatra’s Daughter: Egyptian Princess, Roman Prisoner, African Queen'.

Guest: Dr Jane Draycott (Classics, University of Glascow)

Episode CCIV - Octavian's Illyrian War Feb 03, 2023

Show notes

Part of the making of Octavian was the victories he had early in his career. He defeated his rivals, conquered territory, and united the senate behind him whether they liked it or not.

One of those territories was Illyria, in which he conducted campaigns during the quiet years before his final battles against Egypt and Antony. It’s perhaps in Illyria that we see Octavian display his greatest acts of bravery, if not ability.

Guest: Dr Christopher Gribbin (Adjunct Lecturer, La Trobe University)

Episode CCIII - Augustan Egypt Jan 09, 2023

Show notes

Egypt was a valuable province to Rome, with natural wealth and successful agriculture. Thanks to an arid climate there’s also a number of preserved papyri from that era, providing modern scholarship with an invaluable paper-trail on the administration at the time.

One papyri has led to the belief that Augustus confiscated lands of the Egyptian temples, and ultimately the decline of Egypt’s religions.

Andrew Connor is the author of Confiscation or Coexistence: Egyptian Temples in the Age of Augustus published by University of Michigan Press.

Guest: Dr Andrew Connor (Lecturer, Centre for Ancient Cultures, Monash University)