Callistus, Terentius, Hyginus, Narcissus, Asiaticus, Neophytus, Phaon, Pallas… What do these names of historical figures from Ancient Rome have in common? All of them were freedmen, that is, slaves freed by their masters, and most of them prospered in their new lives, becoming esteemed literati or secretaries to emperors. A good example could be the […]
Emperors
Posted inMiddle Ages
The Problem of the Two Emperors: The Historical Dispute over Embodying the Legacy of Rome
It wasn’t called the “beacon of civilization” for nothing. The legacy of Rome was so immense—in every realm—that centuries after its fall, there were still struggles to claim legitimacy as its rightful successor, something that continued well into the Middle Ages. Although many self-proclaimed themselves as heirs, the issue was particularly intense in the dispute […]
Posted inAncient Rome
Domitian, the Emperor Who Persecuted Rumors and Libelous Writings
Domitian, born as Titus Flavius Domitian in 51 A.D., was the last emperor of the Flavian dynasty, ruling the Roman Empire from 81 A.D. until his death in 96 A.D. He was the son of Vespasian and brother of Titus, who both preceded him on the throne. Throughout his reign, Domitian was known for his […]
Posted inAntiquity
Helian Bobo, the Turbulent Xiongnu Emperor Who Demanded Invulnerable Armor and Arrows that Could Pierce It from His Blacksmiths
The description left by the chroniclers says he was very tall (over two meters), strong, handsome, intelligent, ingenious, eloquent… but also arrogant, violent, ungrateful, cruel, and despotic. Such is the portrait that has come down to us of Helian Bobo, also known as Wulie of Xia, the Xiongnu emperor who proclaimed himself a descendant of […]
Posted inMiddle Ages
Varangian Guard, the Viking Escort of Byzantine Emperors
Among the Scandinavian archaeological heritage are the so-called runestones, stelae whose epigraphic content is written -obviously- in runes, with a quite broad chronology, from the 4th century to the 12th. There are about six thousand of them, the majority -three and a half thousand- are in southeastern Sweden and about thirty of them are called […]
Posted inAncient Rome
Maximus, the Hispanic Usurper Proclaimed Emperor Who Ruled from Barcelona
A Hispanic Roman named Maximus? Clearly, all readers have immediately thought of the protagonist of the movie Gladiator, played by Russell Crowe. But the truth is, there was a historical figure with that name who lived nearly three centuries later than the character in the film and was proclaimed emperor in the turbulent context of […]
Posted inMiddle Ages
The Turbulent Life of Andronicus I Comnenus, who Managed to Become Emperor by Escaping after 12 Years in Captivity
It’s tough to imagine a life more turbulent and extravagant than that of Andronicus Comnenus, Byzantine emperor and the last of his dynasty. Charismatic, contradictory, lover of worldly pleasures, expert military man, his strong character and lack of scruples led him to experience extreme situations, including twelve years of captivity, numerous military campaigns, scandalous love […]
Posted inArchaeology
The Likeness of 6th Century Chinese Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou Reconstructed from DNA of his Remains
An ancient Chinese emperor from 1,500 years ago has been reconstructed by a team of researchers using DNA extracted from his remains. Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou dynasty’s face has been reconstructed, shedding light on his appearance and potential cause of death. The study, published in Current Biology, suggests that Emperor Wu’s death at […]
Posted inAncient Rome
The Imposters who Tried to Impersonate Nero After the Death of the Roman Emperor
Imposture adds to History a series of episodes as astonishing as they are fascinating, and sometimes, even amusing. Countless are the individuals who, brandishing audacity as their banner, have elbowed their way into books through their shamelessness in assuming others’ identities and living off of it. But there’s a difference between inventing characters, like Princess […]
Posted inAncient Rome
Trigarium, the Place where Nero Trained for Horse Racing and Drank Dung with Vinegar
Pliny the Elder recounts that Emperor Nero would consume a drink made with powdered pig or goat manure and vinegar when undergoing training as a charioteer for competitions. For nerve pains, goat manure boiled in vinegar with honey is considered very useful, even if the nerve is decaying. Spasms and injuries caused by blows are […]