Augustus: Visionary Statesman or Destroyer Of The Republic?

[@restishistorypod]

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What if you have a membership through Apple?

[@lizparker2777]

Dominic in a hoodie! I’m shook 😮😂

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Waystar Royco

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@@eoghanmccallion6741😂😂😂 Good eye

[@avalonkerr8332]

Distracting (in a good way)🙂

[@michael7324]

I know. Where's the blue sweater?

[@Poohbah-g9k]

It's a monk's cowl. Sacral.

[@johntokn]

I met Robert Graves while on holiday in Majorca. We were staying in the mountainous north of the island. We walked to a local town and were followed around by a "trampish" old man. Then he followed us on our walk back to the hotel. One of our party realised who he was and spoke to him. He invited us back to his home. His wife was less than delighted to see us because he spent his days looking for British people to talk to us. Interestingly he had a miniature colosseum on his land where we sat and had some wine with him.

[@ebreiss]

"Augustus: Visionary Statesman or Destroyer Of The Republic?" Yes.

[@weemama]

And more than they said on the subject!

[@le13579]

,👍

[@Dext3rM0rg4n]

Happy for the shoutout you gave to I, Claudius. I haven't read the book but warched the TV show recently and man what a journey, easilly one of my favorite drama. Anyone with a even just a passing interrest for roman history need to see it.

[@annaboo27]

I have to say up front a big thank you. Y’all are keeping me going through these trying times. Ngl, I especially enjoy this period of history. My family is probably tired of hearing all about it now. 😅 Currently listening to Mr. Tom Holland’s Dominion. Sir, you have blown my mind and I am left wrestling with my past, present, and future beliefs. Looking forward to working my way through all of the books you both have to offer. As always , thank you for continuing this podcast! 👏🏽

[@davidcwitkin6729]

I mean, especially since we seem to have elected Nero....

[@riccardoquartuccio3166]

As an Italian (Roman, actually) living in the UK I am in ecstasy! I remember vividly the 14 years old me sweating on those Svetonius translations 😅

[@ashhamilton3989]

Thanks!

[@mattgee5609]

Bravo Gents, your storytelling blows me away every time.

[@Wrz2e]

I sense the storm clouds gathering once again.

[@KrzysztofMioduszewski-c8d]

TRIH - first Poland in Second World War, genuine criticism of Loyd George, and coverage of the Ronan Empire, hats off.

[@markhamann8030]

I read Suetonius in high school and loved it. I should pick this up and reread it.

[@TejanoTigre]

I've had a copy of Suetonius sitting on my bookshelf for the past 6 months, waiting to be picked up. Now that I know Tom Holland is putting out his translated version, my copy will have to resign itself to a life on the shelf.

[@thelazychefuk4410]

I was having serious withdrawals from Tom's 3 books on the Romans, so happy to listen to him talking about them again! If you do an audiobook Tom. please, please, please read it yourself!

[@vincentmanion7990]

Great stuff men.

[@margotbowker1997]

I am so in love with TRIH - love your work chaps. Man, I wish this had been how history was taught when I was in school (I still liked history, but this would have been EPIC - in fact history worthy!)

[@chrisyoung2197]

Just started Goldsworthy’s book on Augustus after naming my first son Augustus and then you guys drop this?!?

[@Rikalonius]

I realized I had been listening to this podcast for a while and i hadn't subscribed. Not only have I now subscribed but joined for a price that is an absolute steal. That being said. I started my serious study of the Roman Republic/Empire around 1999 with the Twelve Caesars. I have a paperback of the first Penguin Classic. So, if I could ask, Tom, how can i get a signed hardcover of your translation for my library. I'm eager to re-read it now.

[@ryanlee8712]

Cannot wait for this series

[@kurtmac]

To answer the video's question: Augustus was a visionary statesman! To blame him for destroying the republic, is to ignore those who damaged (beyond repair?) the republic before he was even born (ie. Marius, Sulla, etc...)! Why on earth would Augustus want to return to that prior age of civil wars, corruption and exploitation? Short answer, he didn't and in true Roman fashion, adapted Rome to the current situation!

[@PeloquinDavid]

When my father (Auguste) died, I - as his eldest child - gave the eulogy, in which I ended with the very story of Augustus on his death bed that you quoted in this episode. The gathering duly applauded.

[@GraceKugrena]

This podcast is my comfort food. Adore these two ✌️🏾

[@davidcwitkin6729]

Livia Soprano was one of my favorite characters in the Sopranos

[@lynnebarnes3840]

God, she was cold. The actress who played her did a fabulous job. Sian Philips also did a great job playing Livia in the I Claudius series.

[@timelanguid4813]

Interesting that later Benvenuto Cellini was arrested in France after a woman accused him of taking her "in the Italian way".

[@ErikHare]

As a scholar of Chinese history and literature, what is most fascinating to me about Suetonius is how unique it is in the West. China is full of stories very much like it and they are being made into epic 70 part mini-series all the time. It's very much a part of their culture, and there are so many stories just like it. But in the West we have only one.

[@davidrozemberg9295]

Livy? Plutarch? Procopious?

[@davidrozemberg9295]

its not unique at all

[@justinallen2408]

​@davidrozemberg9295 but it is in china it's all over the place every emperor has his own historian cx x

[@jameskostrewa9861]

AWESOME!!!

[@vjo38]

I was waiting for Dominic or Tom to shout ' where are my eagles ?'

[@rosysulla]

I watch I Claudius like 5x a year. Its the most perfect series.

[@fuferito]

I was always taught that Nero's famous last words were, "Qualis artifex pereo" (What an artist dies in me.

[@kakarotwolf]

My favorite podcast 😊

[@joyplanta2402]

Good lighting, costumes, production

[@naomiesther9861]

Exceptional podcast

[@Marcus-Spurius-Furius]

I have a well-thumbed copy of The Twelve Caesars by Robert Graves. I'm looking forward to reading Tom's version.

[@Janika-xj2bv]

The Fall of the Republic didn't happen overnight with Octavian.

[@adrianmbutnariu]

Ave Caesar!

[@nigeh5326]

No thanks I don’t like salad I will have a burger instead lol 😃

[@markmooney9416]

You astound me

[@duncanmahon3324]

As what would be described as a bisexual man today, I often get questions curious about what my sexuality exactly looks like. I now revert to saying my sexuality is Greco-Roman and that seems to explain it well to people 😅

[@docastrov9013]

It reminds me of today. Wresting power away from the Optimates is classed as dictatorship...by the Optimates.

[@richardthomas598]

For three decades, I've described Augustus as the single most reptilian human who has ever or will ever live.

[@Loratorafromkelowna]

Will there be an audio book?

[@DeanMasley]

*new rest is history drops* (to myself): today is going to be a good day

[@ATCQ94]

😊👍👍 Tour de force

[@jakhaughton1800]

Theo! I suspect click bait! I was looking forward to hearing about Augustus and ended up hearing about Suetonius’, and the boys, obsession with Roman sex practices and scandals. Could you reign in these two and let me find out about Augustus’ wonderful statesmanship etc etc. Love the show and am in negotiations with my wife, the purse holder, about spending £5 a month.

[@stevethom8588]

50 minute commercial Cmon guys!

[@tsentenari4353]

Guys, the titles of some of your recent videos have a rather tenuous connection to what they’re actually about. Is that deliberate?

[@hughjass7914]

The society that poops together groups together.

[@ernestvanophuizen461]

IS THERE ANYONE IN ROME WHO HAS NOT SLEPT WITH MY DAUGHTER!!!???

[@vjo38]

“Quinctilius Varus, where are my eagles?!”

[@xavierpaquin]

Back to premodernity! Yes!

[@forthrightgambitia1032]

I wonder if Tom plans to translate Tacitus too.

[@geoffreydebrito7934]

On a more serious note, did the Roman Republic's inherent flaws lead to Caesar's seizure of power being inevitable? If not by him then by some other competent and ambitious man?

[@joeyartk]

Who would be the principal figure in America's rise to Empire? Teddy Roosevelt? Or maybe even someone in the early to mid 1800s?

[@rhuarimclean133]

Alexander Hamilton: Americans may talk more of jefferson go to his monument but if your looking for Hamiltons monument it's america itself: a great superpower with a strong federal government that ultimately dominates state government. Teddy rosevelt is Hamiltons heir though so he's a good shout. Both men are considered by Clinton Rossiter as giants of American conservatism.

[@Terinije]

Denver, Dallas, Dynasty, same thing.

[@Lacessit]

Cur non utrumque?

[@Jason-fm4my]

Visionary Statesman, Destroyer Of The Republic or Historical Arsonist?

[@EdgarBraaa]

The republic was not destroyed by Augustus, Ceaser or Sulla. They were all exceptional men. It ended when they killed Ceaser. (Forget the rubicone, the republic could have been preserved after Ceaser; killing him was the last line to be crossed). Augustus took over from that...

[@1917WWI]

Interesting never heard of this before wow 😂

[@jstantongood5474]

The Sopranos was late 99 to 2006, so Early Aughts.

[@jstantongood5474]

The pronunciation of Svetonius here is very jarring for me as a guide in Rome for 18 years. Outside of England, it is normally pronounced Sweh-toh-nee-us. But the content is excellent.

[@johnfenn3188]

Too dark! Can’t see what DVDs Dominic has on his shelves, and Tom appears as a disembodied head!

[@johnbiggans3514]

Spider-Man is looking rough

[@keithkaosHarv]

I think both of them have just filmed a rap video.

[@michaelgibney9288]

A bit of a chancer, like the fella who came before him, if you ask me.

[@jackjones7062]

Seems oddly topical

[@TheDemonicPenguin]

¿por qué no los dos?

[@Nighteyes66]

10:50 didn't Louis Theroux say he was struggling with this as well? When you show something completely so the audience can make their own decision, but then they choose "wrong" (i.e. join a cult or becomes a murderer), are you doing the right thing?

[@historyrepeat402]

In my opinion you’re asking the same question Plato does in his Allegory of the Cave

[@annagah]

I bought 2 books by Mr. Sandbrook.. World war 2 and the vikingsss. Waiting impatiently for them to be delivered

[@wallydalton645]

Talking about speculation on scraps of books. And what you know yee censor

[@geoffreydebrito7934]

Not being particularly knowledgeable about the Roman emperors, learning of the depravity of Tiberius brings to mind Star Trek's creator Gene Roddenberry having named his main character James Tiberius Kirk... Which brings to mind the question; did Roddenberry name Kirk out of ignorance or was there a buried subtext to his lead character's naming?...

[@getmurked6859]

The republic was a corrupt plutocracy, its destruction was a good thing. There were some terrible emperors but also some excellent ones, on balance I’d say the imperial period was better from the POV of the small people.

[@karlkarlos3545]

There has never been a convincing argument for a dictatorship, not in the past and not in the present day. If a republic sucks, you fight to improve her, not destroy her and replace it with an autocracy.

[@weemama]

Life expectancy dropped in the empire, so no.

[@deborahsroufe8887]

Many ancient text show the difference between homosexual and heterosexual relationships, ie the Old Testament.

[@100HzJimmi]

👍For the Al-Gore-Rhtthm ;)

[@7177YT]

Cool topic. Although too much reliance.on Suetonius as a source makes me apprehensive. I rather trust less gossipy and sensationalist ancient voices like Cassius Dio and their narrative of the augustean era. Cheers!

[@reecemccullough4829]

Welcome back.

[@mephistoXFC459V]

If the Roman's had social media and the Murdoch press, they might have thought differently about privacy.

[@pglanville]

The latter

[@le13579]

T and D, I cant remember if I have asked this before, but do you think there are echoes of J Caesar in the Trump phenomenon? The populism and the resistance to him by the establishment... And like the late Republic, do you think Trump is a symptom of a deeper change, rather than the cause. Is the US becoming an empire? (I say this as a Trump supporter)

[@brendanquinn6894]

The rest is history ____ by two pagans.

[@LoRe-nm8gd]

the rest is histo-ray is back!

[@Oszczywilski]

Of course he was a visionary and he established system which lasted for centuries and gave people of the Medditerean the unheard levels of peace and prosperity. The Republic had been rotting since 133BC at least and since the first civil war it had been in ruins. Trying defending the Republic and talking about republican values and liberties is the worst kind of whig history in my opinnion.

[@keenansprague1626]

Tour de force!

[@CatFindsStuff]

'I'd rather be a Luigi, than a Nero... Free Luigi, and free the Chicago 7.' Eugene McCarthy, 1972* *not fact checked

[@MrDacat]

Ave Caesar!