536. Emperors of Rome: Caligula, Incest and Insanity (Part 3)

536. Emperors of Rome: Caligula, Incest and I...

Up next

677. USA: The Star-Spangled Banner (Part 1)

How did the War of 1812 result in America’s national anthem, the Star Spangled Banner? Who came up with it? And, why does this origin story make the anthem so controversial? Join Dominic and Tom as they launch into the first episode of their Football World Cup special, with the s ...  Show more

676. The First World War: Churchill’s Calamity (Part 6)

After Gallipoli has descended into a bloodbath, why do the British pour in more troops? Does Churchill finally understand his fateful error? How do the allies escape the total mess they find themselves in? And, why has this failed campaign become the foundational moment of Anzac ...  Show more

Recommended Episodes

Episode #195- How Bad Was Caligula? (Part I)
Our Fake History

The Roman Emperor Gaius, better known by his childhood nickname Caligula, is often counted among the worst rulers in the history of the world. According to some ancient sources his tumultuous four year reign was defined by wonton cruelty, sadistic sexual excess, and unchecked bl ...  Show more

Rome's most scandalous emperors
HistoryExtra podcast

How cruel was Caligula? How depraved was Tiberius? And how monstrous was Nero? The dark reputations of these emperors owe a great deal to the Roman writer Suetonius, whose 121 AD work Lives of the Caesars offered intimate portraits of 12 rulers of Rome – from Julius Caesar to Dom ...  Show more

Emperor Macrinus: Usurper of Rome
The Ancients


Denzel Washington stars as Emperor Macrinus in the epic new movie Gladiator II, but who exactly was this shadowy ruler of Rome?


Join Tristan Hughes as he sits down with Dr Alex Imrie and Matilda Brown to explore the real story behind this lesser-known usur ...

  Show more

History's Worst F*ckboys: Emperor Caligula
Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society

Have you ever heard of the Emperor who made his horse a senator? Seems like a top bloke, right? Today on Betwixt the Sheets we’re going to meet (possibly) the most debauched Roman Emperor.


From stealing brides from their wedding days to an unhealthy obsession with hi ...

  Show more