Emperors of Rome

Nightlight Productions

“Great empires are not maintained by timidity.” - Tacitus. A Roman history podcast with Rhiannon Evans and Matt Smith.

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20 episodes
Updated July 7
34 min on average

Episodes 20

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July 7 · 33 min
The Rise of Octavian
How did Octavius become Octavian?
June 9 · 42 min
Octavian Before Octavian
Before Augustus reached his great heights as Emperor, before he was even Octavian, he was Giaus Octavius, born to a relatively humble family and giving no indication of the greatness he would achieve.
May 27 · 34 min
Germania
Tacitus’s Germania is one of the most fascinating, strange, and surprisingly modern texts to survive from the ancient world.
April 24 · 31 min
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.
March 31 · 42 min
The Tetrarchic Persecution of Christians
In the early fourth century the emperors of the Tetrarchy initiated what later Christians would call the “Great Persecution.”
March 21 · 34 min
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.
February 28 · 27 min
Reclaiming Britannia
Constantius was elevated to Caesar with one primary mission - retake Britannia for the Roman empire.
February 6 · 39 min
Tetrarchy
Diocletian and Maximian have established themselves as co-Emperors, working together to amicably administrate a sprawling Roman Empire.
Dec 9, 2025 · 8 min
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Dec 9, 2025 · 52 min
Anthology of Interest IV
Rhiannon Evans, Caillan Davenport, Matt Smith and special guest William Dalrymple share items of Roman interest!
Oct 29, 2025 · 35 min
Viriathus
Viriathus was a Lusitanian leader who rose from humble beginnings to become one of Rome’s most formidable enemies.
Sep 19, 2025 · 44 min
Paetus, It Does Not Hurt
Being the daughter of Cato and wife of Brutus came with certain expectations from the ancient world.
Aug 30, 2025 · 40 min
Porcia
Being the daughter of Cato and wife of Brutus came with certain expectations from the ancient world.
Aug 22, 2025 · 41 min
Laudatio Turiae
In times of antiquity, alongside the Via Appia, stood the Laudatio Turiae, a funerary inscription praising the life of an exceptional Roman woman.
Jul 31, 2025 · 25 min
False Nero
When Nero took his own life in 68CE it was the end of an era for Rome.
Jul 14, 2025 · 22 min
Ludi Apollinares
Plague getting your people down? Suffering from a mysterious ailment? Perhaps a festival of Apollo is what you need.
Jun 26, 2025 · 29 min
The House That Crassus and Pompey Built
After the death of Crassus his powerful name, his fortune, and his family’s honour survived.
May 29, 2025 · 33 min
Glory and Gold
Crassus had power, he had money, but he still felt something was missing.
May 22, 2025 · 35 min
Crassus and the Triumvirate
As Crassus gathered more power and wealth his success was aided by two allies - Julius Caesar and Pompeius Magnus.
Apr 24, 2025 · 33 min
Crassus vs Spartacus
In the tales of Hollywood Crassus will always be the antagonist to the slave hero Spartacus, but is that how would he see himself?

Showing 1–20 of 20 episodes