The Partial Historians

After nothing but the uber-patrician Camillus for a long time, a plebeian hero seems long overdue. Welcome to what is essentially the first part in our mini-series on the rise and fall of Marcus Manlius Capitolinus.

Patrician Turned Demagogue

Marcus Manlius Capitolinus already had quite the reputation in Rome by 385 BCE (circa!). Aside from the usual patrician accomplishments, he had been the only one to wake to the sound of distressed geese when the Gauls attempted to ascend the Capitoline and kill the defending Romans in their sleep. Thanks to him, there was soon a pile of scrambled Gauls at the bottom of the hill and the Capitoline remained under Roman control.

But that had been years ago. Was he feted everywhere he went now? Where was the endless confetti falling from the sky? Where were the statues in his likeness? And why did everyone think Camillus was so amazing? The green-eyed monster was driving the Manlius train, and it drove him straight into the arms of the plebeians.

Manlius decided to befriend the plebeians, choosing fame over what was “right” (and by that, we are assuming our sources mean, right for an elite dude). There was always lingering tension between the patricians and plebeians, as our listeners well know. However, in 385, debt was once again an issue, probably as so many people had to borrow money to rebuild their houses after the Gallic sack. Manlius took up their cause, decrying the hideous situation that so many decent Romans found themselves in. The injustice!

The senate did not like the way this was going, so they decided it was time to appoint a dictator. And no, they did not choose Camillus. We will give you some time to pick yourselves up off the floor.

Aulus Cornelius Cossus

The dictator they chose was from a distinguished family - just the kind of guy who would be able to keep a lid on this Manlius situation. But it would not make any sense to openly say that was the reason for his appointment. Instead, the senate claimed they needed someone to deal with the many enemies the Romans were surrounded by. That would be the Volscians, and then a bunch of people who were SUPPOSED to be their friends - Latins, Hernicans, and even some ‘colonists’ from Circeii and Velitrae.

Cossus and his trusty master of the horse, Titus Quinctius Capitolinus, quickly assembled an army. Nothing will keep people’s mind off their crushing debt more than a victory! With the gods on their side, Cossus and Quinctius secure just that, with remarkable ease - no javelins needed.

With the Volscians put in their place, Cossus could finally turn his attention to Rome’s treacherous allies, who magically keep appearing in the ranks of their enemies. But things were getting out of hand in the city…

Shirts Off For Virtus!

Ten points if you guessed that Marcus Manlius was behind the chaos that faced Cossus when he returned. Manlius had interceded when a talented centurion was about to be condemned for debt. The shame that a man who had given so much to his city should be rewarded with a life in slavery! What were those patricians doing, allowing Rome to operate like this?

The gratitude of the centurion towards Manlius, who he dubbed ‘the father of Roman plebeians’, knew no bounds. He told his story to the rest of the people, including his rescue, which naturally involved him taking off his shirt so people could see the scars earned fighting for the state. You know the Romans totally lose it when this happens, so they needed no further convincing - Manlius was, well, the man!

With the plebs firmly behind him, Manlius feels bold enough to call out the patricians. Just when you thought things could not get more controversial! Was Manlius just using the plebeians to get revenge, or was he really a hero of the common man?

For our full show notes and edited transcripts, head on over to https://partialhistorians.com/

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Rex: The Seven Kings of Rome

Your Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire

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We sit down with author Alex Gough to learn more about his latest historical fiction series on Mark Antony which spans four volumes and takes a look at Antony’s career and follows him all the way through to his demise. Historical fiction provides a way into the ancient world that marries together research and fills in the gaps in order to bring the past vividly to life.

We explore the research that sits behind the series and consider how the negative source tradition influenced how key figures in the late Republic get represented in a story that focuses on Antony’s perspective (hint: this is a series for the Cicero haters). Gough takes us through some of the details we know about Antony’s early life as well as the influence of the Catiline conspiracy on the shape of politics during Antony’s lifetime.

Gough also takes us through his process and his rules for writing historical fiction. Join us as well learn more about the influences that frames Antony’s life and career and learn more about Gough’s detailed approach to historical fiction. If you enjoy historical fiction, we recommend checking out Gough’s novels! The four novels part of the Mark Antony series are: Caesar’s Soldier, Caesar’s General, Caesar’s Avenger, and Caesar’s Nemesis.

For our full show notes and edited transcripts, head on over to https://partialhistorians.com/

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Ever wondered what it would be like to walk in the calcei of a Roman gladiator? How did gladiators pass their days? Join us and our special guest to find out more! 

Harry Sidebottom holds a Doctorate in Philosophy from the University of Oxford and is a lecturer in Ancient History at Lincoln College, Oxford. He is the author of two well-known series, Warrior of Rome and Throne of the Caesars, as well as several non-fiction books on Roman history. 

His latest book is THOSE WHO ARE ABOUT TO DIE: A Day in the Life of a Roman Gladiator (Knopf). 

This investigation illuminates the harsh truths about the everyday lives of men who fought to the death in the sandy arena of the Colosseum and breaks down the twenty-four-hour period between the evening before the games and the aftermath. We get to go on a journey as the gladiators train, eat their final meal, process into the arena, the formidable bloody combat, and the sunset after battle. 

Things to Look Out For: 

• Magic and medicine
• Provincial gladiators
• Rusty - we just stay away from you, Mr Crowe!
• The likelihood of surviving the arena
• The connection between politics and gladiators 

Be sure to grab your copy today and fill the next 24 hours in your life. 

Sound Credits

Our music is by Bettina Joy de Guzman.

For our full show notes and edited transcripts, head on over to https://partialhistorians.com/

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Rex: The Seven Kings of Rome

Your Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire

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In this special episode, we are thrilled to be joined by Laura Jenkinson-Brown (aka Jenks), teacher, writer, and - most famously - the genius behind the website and resources of ‘Greek Myth Comix’ which makes all manner of ancient Greek and Roman ideas and literature engaging and accessible for all learners! Laura teaches Classical Civilisation and Ancient History in the UK, she writes and illustrates pedagogical resources, and is now also a fellow podcaster, producing the show ‘Ancient Geek’. Seriously, if you are an ancient history teacher and have not checked out her amazing resources, you are certifiably insane. There’s just no other way of looking at it. 

Laura’s outstanding contributions to the field have been recognised by The Classical Association and the Working Classicists. We are excited to discuss Laura’s amazing new publication You Are Odysseus which shakes up Homer’s epic poem by placing the reader in the centre of the story and all its complexities. Any 80s kids out there who were fans of the ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ series? This is that… Homeric style. And if you’re not much of a reader, there is also a podcast version of this creative new take on the ancient classic out now. 

Things to Look Out For: 

• Discussion of how you even begin to create so many different storylines in one book! 
• Odysseus - a semi-bad boy and why he’s more appealing than Aeneas 
• The Muses
• An unusual childhood friend called ‘Ginger’
• And a bit of kleos - would our episode be complete without it? 

You can pick up You Are Odysseus and have yourself a Homeric adventure from the comfort of your living room right now. Why not grab it from your local independent bookseller? 

Sound Credits

Our music is by Bettina Joy de Guzman.

For our full show notes and edited transcripts, head on over to https://partialhistorians.com/

Support the show

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Rex: The Seven Kings of Rome

Your Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is Rome to do when they gaze out from the top of the Capitol and all they can see are the neighbours they don’t like or the neighbours that don’t like them? When the people of Nepete and Sutrium come down from the north to ask Rome for help, Rome jumps at the opportunity to be useful. After all, who doesn’t enjoy upsetting the Etruscans?

The Camillus show continues in c. 386 and 385 BCE! But the Romans seem to be facing tensions not just from their enemies, but even from those who they used to count on as allies…

There’s nothing for it by for the Romans to send aid north. And who should be tasked with leadership for this support but Camillus. He’s not happy to go alone, however, and he’s joined by fellow military tribune with consular power, Valerius Poplicola. What will they find as they head into Etruscan territory? Tune in to find out the details!

Are the Latins and the Hernicians still friends with Rome? There’s building evidence that maybe the friendship is over and the best-friend necklaces have been thrown away. Rome needs some clarity and tries to have a conversation about the situation, but it doesn’t seem like the Latins or the Hernicians want to play ball.

We enter the year c. 385 BCE and it’s time to welcome Marcus Manlius back to the stage! He is already famous by Roman standards for his involvement with the sacred geese on the Capitol during the Gaul’s siege of Rome, but his story is only just getting started. Is he feeling jealous of some of his peers? We’ll find out.

• Nepete (modern Nepi of Acqua di Nepi fame, near Viterbo)
• The return to Sutrium (modern Sutri, also near Viterbo)
• Epigraphic evidence enters the mix
• Traitors!
• The potential of bundles of tree branches
• And the power of ladders

For our full show notes and edited transcripts, head on over to https://partialhistorians.com/

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Rex: The Seven Kings of Rome

Your Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire

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Dr Emma Southon is no stranger to this show, but just in case you have somehow missed her many previous appearances, here’s what you need to know!

Emma holds a PhD in Ancient History and is the author of a number of fabulous books about the ancient world. This includes: A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women, A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Agrippina: Empress, Exile, Hustler, Whore. Not only a writer, Emma also co-hosts the History is Sexy podcast. Besides all this, she’s an all round fabulous human and cat-lover.

In this episode, we were fortunate enough to chat to her about her latest book, Servus: How Slavery Made the Roman Empire - or, if you are based in the US, the alternative title is Not Built in a Day: How Slavery Made the Roman Empire.

Along with deep research into the source material, Emma considers the emotional experience of being an enslaved person in various contexts within the Roman world. This can be a challenging  topic to study, and not only because of how truly awful it was. We just don’t have as much as we would like from the perspective of enslaved people, or about their lives in general. Enslaved people were not considered to be suitable subjects for long biographies.   

Things to Look Out For: 

• ‘Best’ and ‘worst’ case scenarios for an enslaved person
• How slavery evolved throughout Rome’s history 
• Resistance to slavery 
• Manumission
• Freedmen and women 
• Family relationships
• Slave rebellions (hey Spartacus!)  
• Some of the most appalling behaviour we have seen from the Romans yet! 

You can add Servus: How Slavery Made the Roman Empire to your bookshelf now! Sold wherever good books are sold, and of course we suggest supporting independent booksellers. 

Sound Credits

Our music is by Bettina Joy de Guzman. 

For our full show notes and edited transcripts, head on over to https://partialhistorians.com/

Support the show

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Rex: The Seven Kings of Rome

Your Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire

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It is 386 BCE (maybe?) in Ancient Rome and once more Livy is providing our underlying narrative for events. The timeline is pretty confusing in this decade. 

All Hail Camillus! 

Whilst the tribune of the plebs were still agitating for control of the Pomptine territory, there was remarkable harmony between the patricians who were appointed as military tribunes with consular power. Camillus had been voted into power, and the rest of his colleagues decided to fall in line and follow his lead, especially once it became clear that war was on the horizon.

The Romans would have liked to teach their former allies, the Latins and Hernici, a lesson. The Etruscans also seemed to be up to something. However, it would end up being the Volscians who attracted Rome’s attention. According to some “fugitives” who showed up in Rome, problems were arising in Antium, a very important Volscian coastal town. It was time for Camillus to get down to business. The Romans were not ignoring warnings any more after everything that had happened with the Gauls! Lesson learned.

All Systems Are Go 

Camillus went into war preparation mode, organising three forces under his fellow military tribunes. One section of the army would serve under Camillus himself and his sidekick Valerius, one would keep a lookout for any attacks from the Etruscans, and the final section, made up of the men who were too old or decrepit to serve anywhere else, would guard the city itself. The Senate and the Roman people were filled with positivity, not only because Camillus was an angel sent from heaven, but because of this amazing display of teamwork. Why can’t elite dudes always be this selfless? 

With that sorted, Camillus and Valerius were off to Satricum, where some of the troublemakers from Antium were gathering up some Volscian forces and also a large number of ‘volunteers’ from the Latins and Hernici. Ouch! The Romans were devastated to see that their former allies would do them dirty like that! 

Throwing the Standard 

Camillus knew these sad sacks in front of him were not going to be able to secure victory - not unless they had one of the best pep talks in HISTORY! Jumping on his horse, Camillus delivered immortal words: “Everything is awesome, everything is cool when you’re part of this team!” But he could not stop with mere words. Actions are what count. Camillus ended his speech by leading the charge himself, either dragging the nearest standard-bearer with him into the fray or throwing the standard into the enemy forces. Baller move, Camillus! 

Well, the Romans could not allow the standards to fall into Volscian hands. Suitably inspired, a furious battle ensued. Even with passion on their side, the Romans were still vastly outnumbered. Would they secure another triumph for Camillus? And would he then be able to finally turn his attention to the root of the problem, Antium? 

Join us to learn all about Camillus’ history, and a bit about Rome too. 

Things to Look Out For:

• Sad, sensitive little Roman soldiers 
• A remarkably easy siege 
• Betrayal upon betrayal!
• Dr G’s jet lag - she’s a trooper! 
• Dr Rad realising that maybe it was meant to be Hernicans (not Hernicians) all this time? 
• An archaeological find that makes Livy look like a GENIUS historian - just saying! 

For our full show notes and edited transcripts, head on over to https://partialhistorians.com/

Support the show

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Rex: The Seven Kings of Rome

Your Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire

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n this special episode we’re joined by Josh Cannon who holds a PhD in near eastern languages and civilizations from the University of Chicago. Prior to this, Josh was a member of the US Marine Corps and served in two tours of Iraq as an Arabic cryptologic linguist. We sat down with Josh to chat about his book Fatal Second Helen: A Modern Veteran’s Iliad which brings together his lived experience of military service with the ideas that emerge from Homer’s epic poem.

• Modern versus ancient conceptions of glory
• The power of translation to inspire
• Connections between near eastern mythology and Homer’s Iliad
• The shared stories of the Hittites and the Ionian Greeks
• The way the consequences of modern warfare can help us understand the depictions of warfare in the ancient world better

Epic of Gilgamesh - There are many translations of this epic, one of the most recent is that of Simon Armitage

Robert Fagles - The Iliad (1998)

Robert Fagles - The Odyssey (1996)

Richard Lattimore - The Iliad

Stanley Lombardo - The Iliad (1997)

Emily Wilson - The Odyssey (2017)

Emily Wilson - The Iliad (2023)

Spartan poet Tyrtaeus

Bachvarova, M. R., From Hittite to Homer: The Anatolian Background of Ancient Greek Epic (2016, Cambridge University Press)

Carolina López-Ruiz, When the Gods Were Born: Greek Cosmogonies and the Near East (Harvard University Press, 2010)

Patrick Shaw-Stewart’s untitled poem “I saw a man this morning”

Jonathan Shay, Achilles in Vietnam: combat trauma and the undoing of character (2004, Scribner)

Martin West, The East Face of Helicon: West Asiatic Elements in Greek Poetry and Myth (1999, Oxford University Press)

For our full show notes and edited transcripts, head on over to https://partialhistorians.com/

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Rex: The Seven Kings of Rome

Your Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire

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The late republic of Rome is a tumultuous time in more ways than one and it opens up the possibility for elite women to be part of Rome’s political project in more overt ways than previously recorded in the ancient evidence. It is this milieu which is the launching point for Kaarina Parker’s debut novel Fulvia, which takes us into the world of the elite Roman women through the eyes of one of the biggest movers and shakers, Fulvia.

As the wife of several high profile Roman men during her life, Fulvia's place in history is significant and by offering a fictionalized account of her world, Parker provides a gateway into the extremely interesting political machinations that were part of the last century of the Roman republic.

Fulvia’s marriage stand as a record of her influence… Parker’s novel navigates Fulvia’s arrival in Rome and her first marriage to Publius Clodius Pulcher. The next novel

in the duology will explore Fulvia's life as she goes on to have marriages with Gaius Scribonius Curio and Marcus Antonius.

Join us as we consider the historical sources that have inspired Parker’s novel as well as the important idea of maintaining separation between history and historical fiction.

Texts mentioned in this interview:

• Parker mentions Dr Jane Draycott’s book on Fulvia: Fulvia: The Woman Who Broke All the Rules in Ancient Rome and we also have an interview with Draycott on Fulvia, which we recommend you check out to if the details of Fulvia’s life intrigue you.
• Dr G mentions Colleen McCullough's Master of Rome series as a point of comparison with Fulvia.

For our full show notes and edited transcripts, head on over to https://partialhistorians.com/

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Rex: The Seven Kings of Rome

Your Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire

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It’s 387 BCE and Rome is working on getting back of her feet. What’s even happening in Rome? It can be hard to tell because of the nature of the extant sources and just how much seems to be missing. The Gallic Sack casts a long shadow over Rome, it was just a couple of years ago but the consequences of the situation linger. Livy notes that Rome is continuing its rebuilding program.

If there’s one thing you can count on in this era, it’s the cyclical focus on war and land allotment. And we have a tribune of the plebs on the record, which is a hint that there’ll be agitation for agrarian reform. We know this has a literary legacy for our late Republican writers like Livy, but that’s not to say that there wasn’t a need to reform in the middle republic. Enter stage right: the Pomptine Marshes!

Back during the conflict with Gauls, the Romans had vowed to establish a temple to Mars. And we’re finally up to the dedication of the temple in 387 BCE. This is an exceptionally important event for the Romans as it is way of cementing their relationship with Mars. A temple requires some specific activities to establish and seems to have involved the duumvirs for the sacred things.

Did you know that Carthage invaded Italy in 387 BCE? Neither did we, but here we are. The rivalry between the Carthaginians and the Sicilians is starting to hot up but unfortunately a quick plague makes everything very unpleasant.

• Volscians and Aequians just over the horizon
• Who can fix it? Bob the Builder
• Livy and the post-Gracchan world
• An increased interest in ensuring divine favour
• It’s time for an interregnum!
• The Sibylline Books and their contents
• New tribes for the Romans?
• A Sardinian and Libyan revolt?
• Four new voting tribes: Stellatina, Tormentina, Sabatina, and Arniensis

For our full show notes and edited transcripts, head on over to https://partialhistorians.com/

Support the show

Patreon

Ko-Fi

Read our books

Rex: The Seven Kings of Rome

Your Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.