Roman History 22 - Alexander To Decius 222-251 AD

This is from the podcast series The History Of Rome by Mike Duncan.
He currently does The Revolutions podcast.
www.revolutions...

[@grantquinones]

Darn I missed the tour by 11 years 😢

[@LordZebra]

Your math skills are awful

[@ok-kk3ic]

You’re a bitch for that

[@rexcunningham6161]

Same!

[@ackelnhofer]

Same here😢

[@helicopter_traffic]

same here :(

[@josww2]

The chair will now hear from distinguished Senator Poopyanus

[@blindthrall]

He's got a wife you know. Copro Uranus.

[@lukejones7164]

​@@blindthrall😂

[@sebjornsprauten1406]

And his co-consul, Biggus Dickus!!

[@jadedmastermind]

One of my favorite things about this podcast is Mike Duncan's narration and analysis of the oft neglected Crisis of the 3rd Century. It's filled with drama and political intrigue, yet it is rarely explored in much detail.

[@cybersasho]

it's not well documented

[@LTrotsky21stCentury]

One of my favorite things about this podcast is Duncan's repeated slaughter of Latin and Latin names, like "Maximinius" instead of what it should be MaxiMINUS. He's now qualified to be the Gallienus of Classicists, which I'm sure he'll pronounce Gallienius.

[@jadedmastermind]

@@LTrotsky21stCentury Yes, yes, we know. Trotsky is never wrong. Good Trotsky.

[@LTrotsky21stCentury]

@@jadedmastermind Up to now, no. However, when I am - and this is a hypothetical - in the future, you be sure and let me know.

[@LTrotsky21stCentury]

One of my favorite things is the mispronunciation of words.

[@georgezipp9072]

Emperor Poopyanus really got shafted in the end there.

[@humphreybumblecuck5151]

That can't really be how that name is spelled, is it?

[@alikidwai1473]

It's pupienus

[@sebjornsprauten1406]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@zachlenat7958]

WE LOVE ROMAN HISTORY!!!!

[@jacobsoltero2872]

ROMA!

[@habib1379]

Bas agus buaidh Scotti

[@jacobsoltero2872]

47:10 The Roman Senate actually gor off their ass to do something badass for once in over 200 years. Go Senators of AD 238. the badasses

[@connorgrimshaw5457]

Issue with the senate was 800 different opinions

[@rockstar450]

connor grimshaw you’re an uneducated COD player if this is your stance... Yes, the senate were corrupt but a death sentence was what you faced of you stood against the guard... I can picture your neck beard hugging the purple and being laughed at by your fellow arm chair neck beards

[@pharaohsmagician8329]

@@rockstar450 Stupid comment. It says more about you to make such assumptions and insults based off a single sentence, maybe you're just projecting. The issue with the senate was 800 conflicting opinions AND having no real power to make change. Any change or legislation of influence would not be allowed to go through the Senate as it undermined the majesty and power of the Emperor. If you offered an opinion the emperor didn't support or Mars forbid, try to push a law that doesn't have the complete approval of the emperor, you would be killed or fired or given a "promotion" to a shitty position. And the other issues with the Senate is that along with being powerless they also are a micro cosmos, a miniature version of the same power politics and deadly ambition that ruled from the emperor/Praetorian. They were basically a system that only got congratulated when it was powerless and the cruel emperors stocked it full of corrupt men during their individual reigns.

[@rockstar450]

@@pharaohsmagician8329 I don’t disagree with your points here. Though I believe it’s the financial and political agendas of senators that makes a meandering mess of direction, influenced by lower power brokers.

[@RigobertosTacoShop]

@@rockstar450in a simpler term, no integrity.

[@christopherevans2445]

This whole podcast will go down as one of the greatest in the 21st century on the history of the Roman empire. Sadly we stop at 476

[@LTrotsky21stCentury]

It'll be considered popular history - but it's too full of grammatical and research mistakes to be considered "great," except by people who don't know any better.

[@David-h9y9p]

@@LTrotsky21stCentury do one better then I'll listen

[@LTrotsky21stCentury]

@@David-h9y9p You could also read books.

[@lordjimbo2]

In 2017, Alexander's cowardice and the number of men he accordingly got killed is still infuriating.

[@jacobsoltero2872]

+Thomas McCarthy Yah he will be forever remembered as a Bitchmade. Weather it Maesa controlling him or he himseld acting like a lame. His fate is sealed. Besides he was Emperor he could have exiled her in the first case.

[@davidlronald]

2019 checking in here. Didn't know about the guy till now. Yep I'm mad about it too.

[@icemule]

Cycle of life in a cruel time.

[@jerseymusicman3332]

Jacob Soltero is this a poem? Sort of reads like it...

[@808_rafa]

Checking in for 2020 to inform that this is still the case.

[@machtharry]

I would love to join this trip but i guess as its in 2011 its a bit short notice for me...

[@-timaeus-9781]

Lol, Yeah I would have too but I only found the podcast myself in 2015.

[@Gatorsguy92]

machtharry lol we'll have to make our own tour.

[@alexandert6966]

Let's go bros

[@jacobsoltero2872]

+Alexander T Im in 2018 can i go!

[@Al-pb3fm]

My bags are packed. When do we leave?

[@1987MartinT]

Corrupt people don't like it when you try to bring an end to corruption.

[@icemule]

I'll give you 50 bucks to delete that message.

[@jerseymusicman3332]

icemule lmao

[@earlefrost5512]

Poopianus was probably the crappiest emperor of them all....

[@burbanpoison2494]

And everybody thought it stunk his father, Smellianus, was in charge. The administration of Hairianus was wise and well-disposed, but his court was encumbered by a proliferance of hangers-on, which continuously undermined the efficiency of the execution of his duties. Ultimately, the mess wouldn't be resolved until the reign of baldanus, whose Spartan style offered no shelter to parasites. Was he publicly smeared? Yes. Frequently. But it never stuck to him.

[@robbielobster3212]

The rise of Hairianus was preceded by a devastating wax shortage, which in many ways shaped his development into a coarse, rough Emperor.

[@histguy101]

Enough!

[@theskycavedin]

Alexander's problem is that he needed an Agrippa. War was out of his element.

[@mirai5850]

We all need an Agrippa in our lives

[@alessandrogini5283]

Alexander severus army was stopped by illness

[@MarcusAgrippa390]

Did someone call?

[@elagabalusrex390]

Makes you really appreciate what Marcus Aurelius achieved, given that he too wasn't brought up in the military tradition. The difference was that he adapted himself to the demands of military life - Alexander Severus didn't.

[@zaboomafool1911]

Pupianus, balbanus and sabinianus? I knew it, I'm surrounded by assholes!

[@peterhunt135]

What a gruesome hideous world everyone lived in, in Rome back then. For entertainment the average person went to the colosseum to watch other human beings being tortured and murdered. And the politicians and leaders could all be murdered at any moment due to political conflicts and the wealthy could wake up one morning to find out they had been proscribed (meaning they would momentarily be murdered for their wealth). And THIS was considered to be the height of civilization. Makes me appreciate living in the modern era. Anyway, this series is excellent, insightful, highly educational -- thank you for all your time and efforts.

[@FlagshipHistory]

You’re just focusing on the negative aspects. A similarly grim analysis can be drawn about the modern era. It’s all about perspective

[@peterhunt135]

@@FlagshipHistory explain yourself. give me an example

[@peterhunt135]

@JR Logue And what would you do about Bill Clinton and the Obamination? :)

[@thehunter5311]

Stfu you little pussy, I'd rather live back then than now with pussies like you

[@MrMooemoney]

Like Pompey said the law was the sword everyone was equal unlike now where you have bombs and automatic weapons and technology....

[@andrewburgon5590]

Best history of rome. Thank you

[@LTrotsky21stCentury]

Aside from this podcast, have you read any others?

[@histguy101]

*Maximinus has an amazing chin*

[@lukejones7164]

He's like the Roman version of The Mountain from Game of Thrones

[@Emil-Antonowsky]

A feature of gigantism, maybe?

[@Emil-Antonowsky]

If he'd been the emperor of China his name would have been long long chin.

[@johnking9196]

why is this podcast existence not shouted from the roof tops... it is great!

[@LoneKharnivore]

It's pretty well known. Most armchair historians on the net draw their knowledge of Rome from it.

[@biancachristie]

@@LoneKharnivore I’m a professional historian, but the classical era is not my era. I teach and write about Early Modern Europe. I still need a working knowledge of this era, and podcasts like this have been a great resource for me. My students also love it. Amateurs who need a good start could do a *lot* worse.

[@LTrotsky21stCentury]

It's great for Americans, who really don't know anything about Roman history. As a classicist, Duncan is third-rate at best.

[@fxhndav]

​@@LTrotsky21stCenturyYeah okay, communist trash

[@RigobertosTacoShop]

That tour was basically my lifes bucket list… sad

[@Laotzu.Goldbug]

*The Giant Maximin" by Arthur Conan Doyle it's a wonderful little short story from his tremendously underappreciated historical fiction writings, and I couldn't stop thinking about it during this episode. I recommend it, and there's a wonderful audiobook reading on KZbin from Magpie Audio

[@MattiasKSe]

As a Swede I like to Think that the goths came from here. According to the myth on how our biggest island Gotland got the name, a man named Tjalve discoved the island and settled it, after Tjalve died and later his son Havde, the island was divided by Havdes 3 sons, Gute, Graip and Gunnfjaun. Gute was appointed head cheif over the land, hence the name Guteland littarly meaning "Gutes Land". Guter or goths as it has come to be is called by the name of their ancestor Gute, and his island Guteland or Gotland. I live in Västra Götaland, "western gotaland" our oldest in swedish we say "landskap" dont know if there is a English Word for it. Lets say part of Sweden... The old name for Götaland, is Gautland, land of the Gauts. Personally i Think we have a Good claim for where the Goths came from, many historians mean that the goths came from Gotland, western and eastern gotaland and wandered south to Poland and further from there.

[@Emil-Antonowsky]

Change the k for a c, then add and e to the end and you have the English landscape. Marvelous stuff. Thanks.

[@icedragon23472]

Alexander snatched defeat from the jaws of victory

[@LoneKharnivore]

Maximinus Thrax is my porn name.

[@bigbluebuttonman1137]

50:50 "It was time for [Maximinus] to exterminate the whole disgusting lot of them," this I can get behind. Senators really are the WOAT in this entire story.

[@GarbagePerson578]

Ahh Mike, I'd love to join you on the tour, but I just checked my schedule for 2011, I'm booked the whole year, due to rampant drug use.

[@user-no_body]

In 2011 I would say suck my balls, now I say I did.

[@BrandonWilliams-wf6hg]

46:12 some fun names

[@shanekanisay7326]

❤❤❤ you are the best and most amazing and correct information... keep up the good work

[@LTrotsky21stCentury]

Can you explain why Duncan says Maximinius when the name is Maximinus?

[@ourowndevices5907]

The Sassanids are who we thought they were. And we let 'em off the hook!

[@rudolphreyes8630]

Classic! Playoffs! Playoffs! I just hope we can win a game

[@michaelwhitt355]

I want to go on the history of Rome tour,...but it happened 11 years ago!!! Ohwell,...

[@GameMakerRob]

I've seen complaints about Maximinus but I've been enduring "Ee quites" for a while and im SURE it's eh-qui-tays

[@LoneKharnivore]

That's what Rome Total War taught me, and it's the same as equestrian. He fucks up a lot of names and places.

[@Emil-Antonowsky]

Quaestor and Aedile for me. Civ city rome could be wrong though... lol.

[@rosiehawtrey]

It's not pulling something that's the problem it's "breaking it out" - overcoming the friction inherant between it and the surface. 8ft6 is entirely possible with a pituitary endocrine tumour but he might have had problems like peripheral neuropathy.

[@vernedavis5856]

How does one come up w/ "Secular"event having only to do w/ sacrifices??

[@patrickregan3302]

From reading Will Durant’s “Caesar and Christ” I believe he was a Romanized German Army General!? I could be wrong. ?

[@g1stylempdesign929]

Mike Duncan - podcast

[@bigbluebuttonman1137]

Alexander had the potential to be a decent emperor, but I think his mother probably didn't give him the one piece of experience that could have secured this: time in a legion camp without her hanging over him. While Septimius had made them a little bit fat in the wallet, a problem, this wasn't completely insurmountable of an issue if Alexander at least understood what was necessary for him to do in a time of war.

[@1987MartinT]

I kinda wish someone would have told him that it's MaximiNUS. Not MaximiNIUS.

[@vernedavis5856]

max e min us......not maximinius

[@kaybert8726]

Thank you😏 The phonics helped 🥰

[@robertgiles9124]

Little confused about the pronunciation of Maximinus (as written above); seems Mike might be adding an extra letter to make it sound like Max-A-Men-E-Us. It's so very odd that a man like Decius, who was so capable and able to take over the empire, but was so damn stupid that he had to go after fellow Roman Christians. It gained him nothing at all except contempt. Gotta wonder also why he stabbed Philip in the back. Was Philip so bad that Decius felt he had to take over?

[@frankvandorp2059]

He wasn't stupid, he just valued the good of the empire over the interests of a religious cult that never were loyal citizens in the first place. He obviously noticed that Rome was destroying itself because everyone was serving their own interests and desires, instead of the common good of Rome as they had done during its glory days. So to bring back that unity, he tried to force the population to start behaving like the Romans of old again, serving something higher than themselves and caring again about the empire they would leave to their descendants. Religion can be a very useful tool to give a divided people a common vision again. By refusing to participate in this, Christians effectively declared themselves opponents of the entire vision Decius had for the empire. From his perspective, they were seditionists trying to prevent the recovery of Rome, and they had to be dealt with.

[@LTrotsky21stCentury]

In fairness, Maxminus called the author Mick Donecun.

[@jacobsoltero2872]

ah im in 2018. can i still go?:)

[@SerbAtheist]

I think Rome might have achieved a bit of stability by simply abolishing the office of the Emperor altogether. What's the point of an Emperor who cannot maintain his status? Better to go back to temporarily electing consuls, whose public knowledge of their temporary status would offer them at least some degree of protection. Alternatively, the office of the Emperor could have been split between a military and civilian post, similarly to how feudal Japan had both an Emperor and a Shogun. The civilian emperor manages the realm, while the military one is solely in charge of fighting campaigns.

[@bluewizzard8843]

The republic? In which time decius thought he was living? He was an emperor and the republic dead for 250 years.

[@PapiJack]

His name sounds like the name of some European electronic music DJ.

[@blindthrall]

Maximinius Thrax is the best emperor by name alone.

[@geoffsokoll-oh1gq]

Would you quit throwing an extra I in Maximinus!

[@garytucker8696]

The Wuffings had ships in Dutch maritime zeeland just north west of Antwerp also Shleswig Holstein.

[@HVLLOWS1999]

2021 here

[@BORDEMentertainment2]

The Persian version

[@colonelcarrillo5131]

Maximinus was a good egg.

[@colonelcarrillo5131]

*Presents to the media and authorities the most respectable likeness of Max.*

[@dansmith6574]

I know it's many many years later than when when this came out and in that time I've listened to the series a few times. Something that bugs me EverytimeI know it's many many years later than when when this came out and in that time I've listened to the series a few times. Something that bugs me everytime. Thrax was Maximinus not Maximinius.

[@domisPL_01]

Are you sure about your last sentence?

[@dansmith6574]

@@domisPL_01 thank you. I changed it

[@felineaura9146]

I was in fourth grade at the time

[@AnhNguyen-hr6wh]

I don't care what anyone says. After looking at the US congress i finally get it, why Caligula made his horse a senator !

[@lordsoupsoup7321]

24:40, 29:05 The Crisis of the Third Century

[@dameinoferrall2400]

isn't it Max-i-MINUS Thrax and not Max-i-MI-NI-US Thrax?

[@histguy101]

ehhh...horse a piece and half a dozen of the other

[@vernedavis5856]

ain't a roman foot 10inches?

[@jonathangeddes9786]

maximinus not maximinius.... small point 12yrs later

[@jacobsoltero2872]

MAXIMINUS THRAX! NUS not NIUS.

[@rebeccahaines9839]

Ni!

[@pharaohsmagician8329]

Boo call him NIUS

[@tysonclark5974]

2011?

[@paulrosa6173]

There must have been more of a back story to Maximin's murderous hatred of the roman upper classes? Family heritage, like tribal identity, didn't just vanish when Rome thrashed Thrace. Perhaps he was nursing a vengeance for wrongs committed when Rome took his people over? The big guy was maybe a human bomb: kind of like Hans Solo flying into the death star? The Romans imposed a rule of law that was probably better than the anarchy (or freedom) even the tribesmen they conquered enjoyed but they always seemed to do so as an offer the vanquished couldn't refuse. That is an approach guaranteed to leave long lasting, even generational resentments. Talk about a self-righteous streak a mile wide. The story of the Rape of the Sabines was also an analogy for their attitude as world conquerors. " She will kick and scream at first, but eventually she will grow to love us" is what it meant to them. But maybe not, if that kicking and screaming, meant she wasn't as unaffiliated and without kin as the Roman's may have liked to believe? Roman snobbery was stupidity but if all you see all day are like minded self-flatterers, what else is likely to happen to one's ego? The Roman's never really glued their empire together, They chained it and built it over the conquered inhabitants' dead bodies. You could contrast the Roman approach to handling defeated provinces or new territory, with the way Lincoln wanted to treat the south and you know he learned something about what not to do to the defeated by knowing Roman history. I'm sure he read Gibbon. I can think of a few societies, and even countries, that would apply to today. I don't think the Myanmar generals are making any friends right now among the civilian population. And the Israeli's didn't handle the Palestinian situation too well for over 60 years either. The Old Testament has more than a bit of the ancient attitudes - but seen both ways, as conquering and vanquished.

[@jaredruschell2019]

How am I the 1st

[@paulrosa6173]

@@jaredruschell2019 - I'm not sure what you're saying? Do you agree with the comment.? I loved this series and listened to it to the miserable end. If only Timaeus had done the French Revolution there were so many stories I wanted to share but there is no comment box I could access on Duncan's podcast series. Duncan did the real thing and I'm a half read amateur.

[@jaredruschell2019]

@@paulrosa6173 how am I the first to comment, that's all I meant.

[@paulrosa6173]

@@jaredruschell2019 - Because no one really looks at this site, I guess?

[@garytucker8696]

Thank you for sharing Sir,I wonder who was in charge of the northern sea ports as in Denmark etc etc,the great serpent was referred to by the northern tribes as a great serpent strangling the ship trading in the Mediterranean,I would imagine the Baltic ports and northern ports would succumb to the might of the Roman army ships,a lot of ramming figures are wolf head rams on roman war ships,also baffling to me is the standing stone with an image of hecate riding a wolf with a sarmation,Sauromation tribes "Thracian's"wolf heads banner above it!! interesting part of history.

[@808_rafa]

1:54:00

[@mikeaxle1980]

Arab’s sure know who to through a party

[@yazanasad7811]

It's best to jaw jaw than to war war

[@lazybee7925]

🎉2022

[@rchetype7029]

Rome died with the assassination of Alexander? No, Rome died with the republic. Sic Semper Tyranis.

[@colonelcarrillo5131]

Did it die with Octavian being declared Augustus? Did it die with the the suicide of Antony? Did it die with Brutus and Cassius? Did it die with the death of Pompey and the Catonians? Did it die with the murder of Julius Caesar? Did it die with Sulla's dictatorship? Did it die with the Marian reforms? I personally don't know.

[@rchetype7029]

Some time between the Caesars and the Gracchus bros, the momentum for the death of the Republic became unstoppable. There's no one date you can pin it to, the death of any great nation is always a slow boil.

[@colonelcarrillo5131]

That's true. I'd say the decline, at least in a truly overt way began sometime around the sack of Carthage and its elimination as a common and unifying opponent to Rome, which is as you say the time of the Gracchus bros. Their cause had a lot of weight, but their methods and legacy only added further fuel to the flame.

[@TheTaoofEternalWar]

pshaw, what a bunch of crap. as if the elitist good ol boy network of the patrician senate was anything other than a league of arrogant vampires sucking their wealth and status from the blood of the masses and the conquered. every time i hear of some vicious tyrant ordering the butchering of said elitist scum i smile with satisfaction. you reap what you sew in this old world. if only they would start butchering the senate of my own so called republic. i would gladly tune in to that program. When did the Roman Empire fall? It hasn't dumbass.

[@rchetype7029]

You misunderstand me. I don't put the death-weight of the Republic on the shoulders of the Ceasars, for they were not the true tyrants. Rome died when the Republic died because the very nature of the Empire that replaced it; thus, naturally, those who killed the Republic are to blame here. And I name none other than the plutocratic Senate of the late Republic, greedy and elitist, as the cause of that particular travesty.

[@ashtonbarwick6696]

Oh my goodness that chin😍

[@Figgy_Jub]

Such greedy soldiers

[@vernedavis5856]

how'd ya get "poop ee en us" outta Pubienus?

[@classiclife7204]

Because that's how you pronounce it in Latin. He does get Maximinus wrong, though

[@classiclife7204]

What a dismal tale. Rome at its lowest point, except just before the end. The Mama's-Boy emperor, killed by the idiot gigantic brute who despised everything about Rome (one wonders why he wanted to be emperor). An interlude with a senator-emperor named, quite literally, Poopy Anus. Then, more Mama's-Boy emperors. Just a reminder that ancient Rome really did die with Marcus Aurelius. Sure, everything eventually straightened out into a pure Christian medieval monarchy, complete with serfdom and self-flagellation, but that's not really the Rome of Augustus, is it.

[@farkasvilkas]

No, it's better. And it was actually ironically what Augustus would have wanted - a more virtuous, austere, modest and pious Rome when it comes to conduct.

[@Centurion-ph7gk]

Poopyanus

[@tysonclark5974]

This guy ripd people pod casts

[@-timaeus-9781]

The link is in the description. ;)

[@SSFFAA-gt9rq]

hahahaha wow mike began to sound uncharacteristically triggered and angry as he describe how an Arab became roman emperor. Philip was not that bad....

[@pharaohsmagician8329]

Haha good thing we weren't there on his Tour of Rome when he finished the tour at Constantinople.....I heard he blessed a spear and heroically threw it over the city walls....the cops were called

[@DiodeMilliampere]

@@pharaohsmagician8329 really?

[@pharaohsmagician8329]

@@DiodeMilliampere no lol but what if

[@Kneenibble]

How is he "triggered" exactly? He describes the events as neutrally as in his whole amazing narrative, you gormless twat.

[@GarbagePerson578]

British slang is fantastic. I'll now be calling people "gormless twats" Cheers from Niagara Falls.

[@ryanmurphy6528]

Idk why I have to mention this.. but yet here I am. For gods sake, please don’t eat while you give a lecture.. please. You have no idea how annoying it is to listen to someone with food in their mouth try to talk through ur head phones literally directly into ur ear drums. It’s awful , disgusting , and to be completely honest, totally degrades all the hard work and effort you put into this great and important piece of history.. so please for gods sake… next time eat before the lecture… or just wait till ur done ! Thanks for listening and understanding.

[@jacobsoltero2872]

Alexanders last 5 years sucked.

[@alessandrogini5283]

Try to read the biography of Alexander severus by John MC hugues

[@grahamthesexykid]

if i was 8'6 id be a emperor too

[@icemule]

I heard he played center for the Rome Trebuchets, of the Gual basketball association (GBA).

[@andrewpestotnik5495]

@@icemule 😅😅😅😅

[@BygoneUser1]

MAXY-MINUS Say it with me. MAX-E-MINUS. Or, if you want to pronounce it authentically, "Max-e-me-noos" In no way should you pronounce it 'Max-e-min-e-us', sir. I think you have Maximianus on the brain, sir. Also, traditionally, Pupienus is anglicised to 'Poopy-Anus', although I see you shied away from it. You could also say, "Poo-pee-E-noos' if you wanted to pronounce it authentically. You did a pretty good job with the greek name Tim-ess-sitheos, though. (sorry, I don't really care how one pronounces ancient names to which we really only have good guesses as to how they were pronounced anyway, just thought it was funny because you say 'Maximinius' so darn much : ) ... The Crisis of the Third Century is so interesting, and I can tell it is or was one of your favourite historical periods as well. I like the breakdown of the Gordian->Philippus situation. That succession is one of my favourites; a total who-done-it with an epic anabasis setting; some parallels to Carus->Diocletianus there. I think we always tend to assume the worst in terms of the byzantine machinations of Imperial Roman succession, and for good reason-- but who knows. It's very possible, as Sassanian sources claim, poor little Gordy boy got his butt spanked and stuff went downhill. I guess that's why Severus Alexander was so hesitant to march into Persia)

[@violetrose415]

1:44:50