How did Octavius become Octavian? We trace what we know of Octavius’ early life in Rome during a tumultuous era of violence and civil conflict, through to Julius Caesar's unexpected adoption of a perennially sickly teenager.

Come and see a live recording of the Emperors of Rome podcast at the Melbourne Museum on 4th of August. Tickets here

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Episode CCLVII (258)

Guest: Dr Rhiannon Evans

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. While his father had a reasonably successful political and military career, it’s almost certain that he wouldn’t have become princeps at all without the important connections provided by his mother, Atia.

We are crowdfunding a podcast miniseries on Tacitus' Germania! It is exclusive to supporters only, and available now on kickstarter.

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Episode CCLVII (257)

Guest: Dr Rhiannon Evans

Tacitus's Germania is one of the most fascinating, strange, and surprisingly modern texts to survive from the ancient world. Part ethnographic survey, part moral provocation, part geopolitical warning, it describes the tribes living along Rome's northern frontier: their customs, their gods, their warriors, their women, and their stubborn refusal to become Roman.

This is the first episode of a new podcast miniseries from Rhiannon Evans and Matt Smith. It is exclusive to supporters only, and available now on kickstarter.

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Episode CCLVI (256)

Guest: Dr Rhiannon Evans

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.

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Episode CCLV (255)

Part VII of Diocletian

Guest: Professor Caillan Davenport (Centre for Classical Studies, Australian National University)

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.

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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)

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.

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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)

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.

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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)

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?

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Episode CCLI (251)

Part III of Diocletian

Guest: Professor Caillan Davenport (Centre for Classical Studies, Australian National University)

Rhiannon Evans, Caillan Davenport, Matt Smith and special guest William Dalrymple share items of Roman interest! You will hear:

- A phoenix in the forum

Episode CCL(250)

Guests: