Emperors of Rome

La Trobe University

4.8 (268)
HISTORY
MONTHLY

“Great empires are not maintained by timidity.” - Tacitus. A podcast series looking at the rulers of the ancient Roman empire, by Dr Rhiannon Evans and Matt Smith.

24 APR

Augusti Retirement

In 305 CE, a carefully staged transition took place: the emperors Diocletian and Maximian retired, handing power to a new generation of rulers. Exactly how it happened is still debated, but the act itself was unprecedented in the long history of the Roman Empire. Support Emperors of Rome on Patreon: patreon.com/romepodcast Episode CCLV (255) Part VII of Diocletian Guest: Professor Caillan Davenport (Centre for Classical Studies, Australian National University)

31 min
31 MAR

The Tetrarchic Persecution of Christians

In the early fourth century the emperors of the Tetrarchy initiated what later Christians would call the “Great Persecution.” Under Diocletian and his colleagues, churches were demolished, sacred texts seized, and believers forced to choose between sacrificing to the Roman gods or facing punishment by the state. Support Emperors of Rome on Patreon: patreon.com/romepodcast This month's bonus episode on Patreon is with Caillan Davenport, looking at the Christian martyr, Saint Sebastian.. Episode CCLIV (254) Part VI of Diocletian Guest: Professor Caillan Davenport (Centre for Classical Studies, Australian National University)

43 min
21 MAR

How the Tetrarchy Won the East

With the tetrarch system still taking shape, Diocletian and his Caesar Galerius come under growing pressure in the East, facing rebellion from Egypt and invasion from the Persian King Naresh. A series of hard campaigns, careful political choices and eventual victory will determine whether this new imperial order can truly secure Rome's frontiers. Support Emperors of Rome on Patreon: patreon.com/romepodcast This month's bonus episode on Patreon is with Rhiannon Evans, looking at panegyrics.. Episode CCLIII (253) Part V of Diocletian Guest: Professor Caillan Davenport (Centre for Classical Studies, Australian National University)

35 min
28 FEB

Reclaiming Britannia

Constantius was elevated to Caesar with one primary mission - retake Britannia for the Roman empire. In the later half of the fourth century the province and parts of western Gaul had retained a stubborn sort of independence, flying in the face of a unified Rome. If the tetrarchy were to prove they were a stable system, this had to come to an end. Support Emperors of Rome on Patreon: patreon.com/romepodcast This month's bonus episode on Patreon is with Peter Guest, looking at the coins of Carausius. Episode CCLII (252) Part IV of Diocletian Guest: Professor Caillan Davenport (Centre for Classical Studies, Australian National University)

28 min
6 FEB

Tetrarchy

Diocletian and Maximian have established themselves as co-Emperors, working together to amicably administrate a sprawling Roman Empire. But with Persians to the east, Britons to the west, and discontent all around… maybe it’s time for more laurel wreaths? Support Emperors of Rome on Patreon: patreon.com/romepodcast Episode CCLI (251) Part III of Diocletian Guest: Professor Caillan Davenport (Centre for Classical Studies, Australian National University)

40 min
09/12/2025

Support Emperors of Rome on Patreon!

Emperors of Rome is now on Patreon! To find out about perks and give your support head to patreon.com/romepodcast

9 min
09/12/2025

Anthology of Interest IV

Rhiannon Evans, Caillan Davenport, Matt Smith and special guest William Dalrymple share items of Roman interest! You will hear: - A phoenix in the forum - The unknown Queens of Rome - The Roman perception of elephants - Trade between India and Rome - The low bar of Roman insults - The false female centurion - What Emperors called themselves - An accurate population of Pompeii - The false Theodosius - Sallust and ethnic etymology in North Africa Episode CCL(250) Guests: Associate Professor Rhiannon Evans (Classics and Ancient History, La Trobe University) Professor Caillan Davenport (Centre for Classical Studies, Australian National University)) William Dalrymple (Esteemed author and host of Empire podcast)

52 min
29/10/2025

Viriathus

Viriathus was a Lusitanian leader who rose from humble beginnings to become one of Rome’s most formidable enemies. A skilled tactician and master of guerrilla warfare, he led his people in resistance against Roman expansion in Hispania during the second century BCE. Celebrated for his honour and leadership — even by the Romans who fought him — Viriathus’s story is one of resilience, betrayal, and the enduring struggle for freedom against empire. Episode CCXLIX (249) Guest: Dr Christopher Gribbin (Adjunct Lecturer, Classics and Ancient History, La Trobe University)

36 min

See All (270)

Matt Smith

Host
Rhiannon Evans

Host
Dr. Caillan Davenport

Guest
William Dalrymple

Guest

4.8

out of 5

268 Ratings

Excellent

7 Feb

veganman1961

Excellent
I’ve learnt a lot

29/12/2025

Mihaul1952

I’ve listened to this podcast for several years now and it’s been very informative. I know this source is 2000 years after the events but I wonder if you’ve come across the recently published book by Joan Smith ‘Unfortunately She Was A Nymphomaniac’ which is a history of the Julio-Claudian imperial family women from a more sympathetic and less salacious point of view than say Tacitus or Robert Graves.
The best ancient account

19/05/2025

Bumble_Bea1802

I am a classics student and find this the BEST podcast on antiquity out there! Other podcasts are either super dumbed down and sensationalised or very boring and slow accounts of the emperors. The factual content in the podcast is rivalled only by that of Mary beard- and she doesn’t have a podcast! Dr Rhiannon’s extensive knowledge, Matt’s humour and their easygoing, colloquial engagement with each other really makes the podcast so unique. I initially started listening as revision for exams, but it has soon become one of my favourite pastimes. I only started a couple months ago so am very far behind, but am currently enjoying the accounts of Trajan! I also love the Q and A episodes and really enjoyed the section on the women of the Julio-Claudian era (Livia is by far my favourite). If you are doing a request episode soon, I would really love to hear an episode on the women of early Rome- as in Aeneas, Romulus and the Roman monarchy. Are there any stories about powerful women from that era? If so, I would love to hear your insight. Thanks again for helping me to absolutely ace my exam!!!!
It’s BC & AD, not BCE and CE

07/06/2025

Sir Attica

I cannot do it anymore. I cannot sit through another episode of this podcast as it continues to try and change how we, in the Anglosphere, due to being predominately Christian for a millennia, say whether something happened before or after Christ’s birth. Academics seem to think calling it “Before Common Era” is a clever way to drive their modern, atheist/agnostic view on the world without going whole hog, I.e. changing the entire calendar. “BCE is near to what we say normally, so what difference does it make? Plus it’s so easy as the numbers don’t change at all. Simple!” Please tell me what is said to have occurred at year zero when it became the “common era”. To explain by example, I have never come across a person who believes in Woden, but we all manage to keep calling the third day of the week Wednesday without any problems. One of my friends is a fan of Sheffield Wednesday, yet could not give a hoot about Norse mythology. Who here prays to Janus when entering the New Year? Nobody? It’s almost like naming something after a god people don’t believe in is absolutely fine. If you are going to insist on changing terminology, at least be consistent. You’re historians, not Marxists. Grow up.

“Great empires are not maintained by timidity.” - Tacitus. A podcast series looking at the rulers of the ancient Roman empire, by Dr Rhiannon Evans and Matt Smith.