Tiberius: Ancient Epstein or Underrated Emperor?

Description

*WARNING: This podcast contains adult themes and discussion of paedophilia* A brilliant general. A brooding autocrat. A recluse surrounded by scandal. Few Roman emperors divide opinion like Tiberius. But was he truly a monster, or the victim of centuries of salacious storytelling? In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Daisy Dunn to uncover the real man behind the myths. From Tiberius’ early brilliance on campaign to his troubled and bloody reign in Rome, and finally his notorious withdrawal to Capri, they explore how much of this lurid legacy holds up. Was Tiberius an underrated statesman undone by grief and politics, or the twisted tyrant historians have claimed? Join us to dive into the truth behind Rome’s most tragic emperor. 0:00 Introduction to Tiberius 2:20 Setting the Scene: Roman History and the Sources 4:49 Tiberius's Difficult Early Life and Family Background 10:05 Tiberius's Early Career, Philosophy and Retreat to Rhodes 12:49 The Line of Succession: Why Tiberius Became Augustus's Heir 17:15 Tiberius's Marriage to Julia and the Adultery Scandal 21:07 The Succession to Emperor in AD 14 25:47 The Rise of Sejanus and the Treason Trials 33:04 The Praetorian Guard and the Fall of Germanicus’s Family 38:35 The Death of Tiberius's Son Drusus and Sejanus's Treachery 40:26 Tiberius's Mental Breakdown and Retreat to Capri 48:44 The End of Tiberius's Reign and Final Legacy Presented by Tristan Hughes. Producers are Joseph Knight & McKenna Fernandez, senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Editor is Matthew Wilson. Channel manager is Vilde Øksnes. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. All music from Epidemic Sounds. #HistoryHitPodcast #TheAncients #Tiberius