192 - The Storm Before The Storm: Chapter 1- The Beasts of Italy
Thu, 27 Jul 2017 - 55min
191 - Revolutions Launch
Available at revolutionspodcast.com, iTunes, or anywhere else fine podcasts can be found.
Mon, 16 Sep 2013
190 - Update- One Year Later
Thu, 30 May 2013 - 01min
189 - 179- The End
The history of The History of Rome...Why the Western Empire Fell when it did...Some thoughts on the future...Thank you, goodnight.
Sun, 06 May 2012 - 31min
188 - 178- Not With A Bang But A Whimper
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.
Mon, 30 Apr 2012 - 28min
187 - 177- The Burning Ships
In 468 the two halves of the Empire combined forces to dislodge the Vandals from North Africa.They failed spectacularly.
Sun, 22 Apr 2012 - 26min
186 - 176- The Quote Unquote Emperor
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 regime.
Mon, 16 Apr 2012 - 25min
185 - 175- Trying to Take It All Back
From 457-461, Majorian marched around trying to reassert Imperial authority over the provinces while Ricimer remained in Italy.
Mon, 09 Apr 2012 - 24min
184 - 174- The Sack of Rome Part II
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 AD.
Mon, 02 Apr 2012 - 24min
183 - 173- The Broken Bow
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, Flavius Aetius and Valentinian III would all die- leaving the stage wide open for the next generation of leaders.
Also, an announcment.
Sun, 25 Mar 2012 - 28min
182 - 172- Showdown
In 451 Atilla the Hun invaded the West. He was repelled by a coalition of forces lead by the General Aetius.
Mon, 19 Mar 2012 - 25min
181 - 171- The Gathering Storm
After placating Atilla with yet another indemnity, Theodosius II fell from his horse and died in 450, leaving the Eastern throne vacant.
Sun, 11 Mar 2012 - 18min
180 - 170- Atilla Cometh
In the 440s, the Huns began to direclty attack the Roman Empire.
Sun, 19 Feb 2012 - 24min
179 - 169- Huns and Vandals and Goths, Oh My
In the 430s the Romans dealt with increasingly agressive and confident barbarian tribes living both inside and outside the traditional borders of the Empire.
Sun, 12 Feb 2012 - 24min
178 - 168- The Rise of Aetius
In the late 420s AD, the Roman General Flavius Aetius connived and backstabbed his way up the chain of command.
Sun, 05 Feb 2012 - 24min
177 - 167- Exploiting the Opportunity
The Emperor Honorius died in 423, leading to a brief civil war between the Theodosian dynasty and a self-proclaimed Imperial regime in Ravenna.
Sun, 29 Jan 2012 - 25min
176 - 166- As Long As She's Nice To Look At
Constantius III continued to lead the Western Empire as its defacto Emperor until 421, when he was officially elevated to the rank of Augustus. Unfortunately, this elevation was not recognized by Cosntantinople.
Sun, 22 Jan 2012 - 27min
175 - 165- Reviving the Roman Name
Between 412 and 415 relations between the Romans and Goths shifted back and forth between alliance and antagonism.
Sun, 15 Jan 2012 - 25min
174 - 164- The Sack of Rome
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.
Mon, 09 Jan 2012 - 25min
173 - 163- Theodosius's Walls
Following the death of Eudoxia, the Praetorian Prefect Anthemius took control of the Eastern Empire and ran it wisely for the next decade. Meanwhile in the West, anti-barbarian policies will lead to the invasion of Italy by Alaric.
Sun, 18 Dec 2011 - 26min
172 - 162- Opening the Floodgates
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.
Mon, 12 Dec 2011 - 28min
171 - 161- The Swamps of Ravenna
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.
Mon, 05 Dec 2011 - 24min
170 - 160- East vs. West
In the late 390s, the generals and ministers who dominated Arcadius and Honorius battled with each other for control of the Empire.
Mon, 28 Nov 2011 - 24min
169 - 159- The Divine Winds
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 later.
Mon, 21 Nov 2011 - 23min
168 - 158- An Imperial Suicide
In 392 Valentinian II was found hanged in his bedchamber, paving the way for another Roman Civil War.
Mon, 14 Nov 2011 - 22min
167 - 157- Only the Penitent Man Shall Pass
After defeating the usurper Maximus in 388 AD, Theodosius found himself facing an even greater opponent in Ambrose of Milan.
Mon, 31 Oct 2011 - 27min
166 - 156- Jockeying for Position
From 383-387 the tense quasi-partnership of Maximus, Valentinian II and Theodosius ruled the Roman Empire. During those years Bishop Ambrose and Nicean Christianity pushed themselves to dominance over their Arians rivals.
Mon, 24 Oct 2011 - 27min
165 - 155- The New Bishop of Milan
In 383 the General Magnus Maximus rose up in revolt against Gratian. The power sharing agreement that followed Maximus's victory would be negotiated in part by St. Ambrose, the influencial new Bishop of Milan.
Sun, 16 Oct 2011 - 27min
164 - 154- The Gothic War
Following Adrianople, Theodosius was brought in to salvage the situation. After determining that he could not beat the Goths in battle, the new Emperor was forced to sign a peace with the barbarians that treated them as, gasp, equals.
Mon, 10 Oct 2011 - 29min
163 - 153- Adrianople
Operating with faulty intelligence and desperate to defeat the Goths on his own, Valens forced the disasterous Battle of Adrianople in August 378.
Sun, 02 Oct 2011 - 23min
162 - 152- The Storm Before the Storm
In 375 the Huns exploded into Gothic territory, sending refugees fleeing for the saftey of the Roman Empire.
Sun, 25 Sep 2011 - 25min
161 - 151- Bursting a Blood Vessel
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 these threats alone when Valentinian suddenly died.
Sun, 11 Sep 2011 - 25min
160 - 150- The Perils of Mismanagement
in the late 360s and early 370s AD Roman mismanagment of three different regions in the Western Empire led to armed conflict.
Sun, 04 Sep 2011 - 24min
159 - 149- The Great Conspiracy
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 reassert control over the island.
Mon, 29 Aug 2011 - 26min
158 - 148- The Cousin's Cousin
Shortly after Valentinian and Valens ascended to the throne, one of Julian the Apostate's maternal cousins seized control of Constantinople.
Mon, 22 Aug 2011 - 26min
157 - 147- Capitulation
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 Constantinople in early 364.
Mon, 15 Aug 2011 - 25min
156 - 146- The Spear of Destiny
In 363 Julian launched an invasion of Sassanid Persia. He would die in battle just three months later.
Mon, 08 Aug 2011 - 25min
155 - 145- Julian the Apostate
Julian came to power in late 361 and immediately set about trying to turn back the clock on both Church and State.
Sun, 31 Jul 2011 - 27min
154 - 144- The Road to Constantinople
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 Gallic army redeployed to the eastern frontier.
Mon, 25 Jul 2011 - 26min
153 - 143- Julian the Pre-Apostate
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.
Sun, 10 Jul 2011 - 26min
152 - 142- You've Earned It
After two years of sporadic war, Constantius II defeated the usurper Magnentius in 353. Following his victory the Emperor let his advisors talk him into executing first Gallus in 354 and then Claudius Silvanus in 355.
Mon, 04 Jul 2011 - 25min
151 - 141- Blood and Water
Constantius and Constans shared the Empire for a decade until Constans was overthrown by a rebel general named Magnetius in 350 AD.
Mon, 27 Jun 2011 - 27min
150 - 140- My Three Sons
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.
Mon, 20 Jun 2011 - 23min
149 - 139- Wash Away Your Sins
Constantine was baptized on his deathbed after arranging a plan for succession.
Mon, 13 Jun 2011 - 23min
148 - 138- The New Rome
Live and direct from Old Rome!
Mon, 30 May 2011 - 27min
147 - 137- The Christian Emperor
This episode brought to you live and direct from Constantinople! After defeating Licinius, Constantine found his dream of a united Christian Empire foiled by a very disunited Christian Church.
Sun, 15 May 2011 - 23min
146 - 136- Let This Be Our Final Battle
War between Licinius and Constantine flared up again in 324 AD. This time Constantine would finish the job.
Sun, 01 May 2011 - 23min
145 - 135- Brothers in Name Only
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 Emperors to turn sour.
Mon, 25 Apr 2011 - 27min
144 - 134- And Then There Were Two
In 313 AD, Maximinus Daia and Licinus fought for control of the Eastern Roman Empire.
Mon, 18 Apr 2011 - 23min
143 - 133- The Milvian Bridge
On October 28, 312 AD Constantine and Maxentius fought a battle at Rome's doorstep for control of the Western Empire.
Mon, 11 Apr 2011 - 25min
142 - 132- In This Sign
Prior to the Battle of the Milvian Bridge Constantine experienced visions and dreams that promised him victory if he embraced Christianity.
Mon, 04 Apr 2011 - 26min
141 - 131- The New Game in Town
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 bad as the old new order.
Mon, 28 Mar 2011 - 26min
140 - 130- Lost in Transition
Less than two years after Diocletian's abdication, the Tetrarchy was left in shambles following the power plays of Constantine and Maxentius.
Mon, 14 Mar 2011
139 - 129- Abdication
In 305 AD, Diocletian and Maximian voluntarily abdicated the throne, handing power over to Galerius and Constantius.
Mon, 07 Mar 2011 - 27min
138 - 128- The Great Persecution
In 303 AD Diocletian initiated the last and greatest of the Christian persecutions.
Mon, 28 Feb 2011 - 28min
137 - 127- Commanding The Economy
Rome's economy was in disarray when Diocletian came to power and he initiated major overhauls to get the system running again.
Mon, 21 Feb 2011 - 28min
136 - 126- All The King's Men
Over the course of his reign Diocletian overhauled the government, transforming it into a centralized bureaucracy run by career civil servants.
Mon, 14 Feb 2011
135 - 125- The Best Defence is a Good Defence
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 army.
Mon, 07 Feb 2011 - 26min
134 - 124- The Tetrarchs at War
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 the east, Galerius fought a newly hostile Sassanid Empire.
Mon, 31 Jan 2011 - 25min
133 - 123- The Tertrarchy
In 293 AD Diocletian and Maximian invited Constantius and Galerius to share in their Imperial burdens, forming what we today call the Tetrarchy.
Mon, 24 Jan 2011 - 24min
132 - 122- Jupiter and Hercules
Immediatly after becoming the undisputed Emperor in 285, Diocletian elevated Maximian to serve as his Imperial colleague.
Sun, 16 Jan 2011 - 25min
131 - 121- Phase Three Complete
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 in Roman history.
Mon, 10 Jan 2011 - 25min
130 - 120- Interregnum
After Aurelian's death, an old Senator named Marcus Cluadius Tacitus briefly reigned before the throne fell to Probus, who ruled from 276-282.
Mon, 20 Dec 2010 - 26min
129 - 119- Restitutor Orbis
Aurelian defeated the breakaway western provinces and reunified the Empire in 274 AD. The next year he was assassinated by officers who had been tricked into committing murder.
Mon, 13 Dec 2010 - 26min
128 - 118- The Palmyrene Wars
In 272 Aurelian finally managed to bring the east back under Roman control by defeating Queen Zenobia of Palmyra.
Mon, 06 Dec 2010 - 29min
127 - 117- Aurelian's Walls
Aurelian became Emperor in 270 and immediatly faced an invasion of Italy by the Juthungi. After succesfully driving the Germans off, Aurelian turned his attention to building a new wall circuit around Rome to protect the capital in the future.
Mon, 29 Nov 2010 - 26min
126 - 116- Here Come the Illyrians
Claudius Gothicus became Emperor in 268 and promptly lead the legions to victories against the Goths and the Alamanni. Unfortunately he died before he was able to reunify the Empire.
Mon, 22 Nov 2010 - 24min
125 - 115- Phase Two Complete
The near simultaneous deaths of Gallienus, Odenathus and Postumus upset the political equilibrium in the late 260s AD.
Mon, 08 Nov 2010 - 26min
124 - 114- The Nadir of Our Fortunes
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 defend their respective corners of the Empire.
Mon, 01 Nov 2010 - 28min
123 - 113- Three Empires
Sun, 24 Oct 2010 - 26min
122 - 112- Captured Alive
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 quickly spiraled out of control.
Mon, 18 Oct 2010 - 26min
121 - 111- Phase One Complete
After the Battle of Abrittus, Trebonianus Gallus was proclaimed Emperor. After reigning for two years he was ousted by Aemilianus, who lasted less than a month on the throne before being ousted by Valerian.
Mon, 04 Oct 2010 - 28min
120 - 110- A Gothic Horror
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 massive defeat at the hands of the Goths.
Mon, 27 Sep 2010 - 25min
119 - 109- The New Millenium
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, he found time to celebrate Rome's 1000th birthday in 248 AD.
Mon, 20 Sep 2010 - 25min
118 - 108- Gordian's Knot
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.
Mon, 13 Sep 2010 - 26min
117 - 107- The Year of the Six Emperors
In 238, a revolt in Africa sparked a revolution in Rome that would eventually lead to six different men claiming the title of Augustus.
Mon, 30 Aug 2010 - 24min
116 - 106- Barbarian at the Gate
After bungling a campaign in the east, Alexander headed to the Rhine where he was assassinated by Maximinius Thrax in 235 AD.
Mon, 23 Aug 2010 - 29min
115 - 105- The Last Princeps
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 disaster that previous teenage Emperors had been.
Mon, 16 Aug 2010 - 25min
114 - 104- Here Comes the Sun
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 eastern sun god El-Gabal.
Mon, 09 Aug 2010 - 28min
113 - 103- The Equestrian
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 to challenge his rule.
Mon, 02 Aug 2010 - 26min
112 - 102- The Common Enemy of Mankind
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 them was going to wind up dead.
Mon, 26 Jul 2010 - 23min
111 - 101- And All Was of Little Value
After defeating Clodius Albinus, Septimius Severus turned over daily administration of the Empire to his Praetorian Prefect Gaius Plautianus, while the Emperor himself went looking for further military vicotries in Parthia.
Mon, 19 Jul 2010 - 25min
110 - 100- Black and White and Severus All Over
Septimius Severus became the undisputed Emperor of Rome after defeating Pescennius Niger in 194 and Clodius Albinus in 197.
Sun, 27 Jun 2010 - 24min
109 - 099- What Evil Have I Done?
After buying the Imperial throne, Didius Julianus only remained in power for 66 days before being ousted by Septimius Severus.
Mon, 21 Jun 2010 - 25min
108 - 098- Purchasing Power
After Commodus was assassinated, Pertinax reigned for 86 days. He was murdered by the Praetorian Guard in March 193 and the Imperial throne was auctioned off the highest bidder.
Mon, 14 Jun 2010 - 23min
107 - 097- The Fall of Hercules
Commodus went off the deep end around 190 AD and was finally killed by his inner circle in 192.
Mon, 07 Jun 2010 - 29min
106 - 096- The Most Aptly Named Emperor
The reign of Commodus turned on a botched assassination attempt orchestrated by his sister in 182 AD.
Mon, 31 May 2010 - 26min
105 - 095- The Beginning of the End
Marcus elevated Commodus to the position of co-Emperor and then died a few years later while campaigning in the north.
Mon, 24 May 2010 - 24min
104 - 094- Revolt and Meditations
In 175 Avidius Cassius led a brief revolt in the east that forced Marcus to postpone his final triumph along the Danube.
Mon, 17 May 2010 - 25min
103 - 093- The Marcomannic Wars
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 of a rebellion in the east.
Mon, 10 May 2010 - 24min
102 - 092- The Parthian War
After some initial setbacks, Marcus sent Lucius east to deal with a suddenly critical war with Parthia in 162.
Mon, 26 Apr 2010 - 24min
101 - 091- Marcus and Lucius and the Parthians
Marcus Aurelius was destined to become Emperor, but his insistence that Lucius Verus share the honor came as a surprise to everyone.
Mon, 19 Apr 2010 - 24min
100 - 090- The Hundredth Episode
Big question-time blowout!
Mon, 12 Apr 2010 - 34min
99 - 089- Provincial Matters
In which I talk for way too long about where the best tin deposits in the Roman Empire can be found.
Mon, 05 Apr 2010 - 43min
98 - 088- A Day in the Life
Life in Rome began at dawn and lasted until sunset. Work was done in the mornings while the afternoon was reserved for recreation.
Mon, 22 Mar 2010 - 24min
97 - 087- Thinking and Feeling
With Roman education leaving much to be desired, many citizens found enlightenment in the eastern mystery cults or Greek philosophy.
Mon, 15 Mar 2010 - 27min
96 - 086- Wealth and Class
The Roman world was divided between slaves, freedmen, and free citizens of every economic class. Gross inequality though was the order of the day, with the Emperor himself controlling the lion's share of the Empire's wealth.
Mon, 08 Mar 2010 - 27min
95 - 085- Antoninus the Dutiful
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 come back to haunt his successors.
Mon, 01 Mar 2010 - 28min
94 - 084- Longing For Death
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 138.
Mon, 01 Mar 2010 - 27min
93 - 083- May His Bones Be Crushed
Hadrian's relationship with the teenage boy Antinous raised eyebrows even in permissive Ancient Rome. His relationship with the Jews raises eyebrows even today.
Mon, 01 Mar 2010 - 26min