History Extra podcast Rome's most scandalous emperors
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Feb 14, 2025 
Tom Holland, a popular historian and co-host of The Rest is History, dives into the grim legacies of infamous Roman emperors like Caligula, Tiberius, and Nero. He discusses the lasting influence of Suetonius's 'Lives of the Caesars' and its role in shaping the narrative of these rulers. Holland explores Tiberius's secluded debauchery, Caligula's manipulative antics against the Senate, and Nero's complex political strategies. The conversation also imagines interviews with historical figures like Julius Caesar, revealing the allure of their times.
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Suetonius' Influence
- Suetonius's Lives of the Caesars inspired Robert Graves's I, Claudius and Claudius the God.
- These books then inspired the BBC drama series and other shows like Dynasty, The Sopranos, and Game of Thrones.
Suetonius: Biographer, Not Historian
- Suetonius, unlike Tacitus, focuses on biography, not history.
- His work offers insights into Roman life during the Republic's collapse and the rise of emperors.
Suetonius' Anthropological Approach
- Suetonius was interested in social customs, habits, and daily life.
- He used these details to reveal the emperors' character and how it shaped their rule.
