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The Year of Five Emperors

November 8, 2026 · 47 min

Show notes

How do you celebrate the New Year in ancient Rome? With an assassination and a bloody free-for-all for the imperial throne, of course.


Following the murder of the gladiator emperor Commodus on New Year’s Eve 192, a chaotic succession battle erupted. Tristan Hughes and Dr. Simon Elliott unpack the infamous Year of the Five Emperors; a riotous drama where mad, honourable, and ruthless men seize and lose the world’s greatest empire.


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Commodus: The Gladiator Emperor

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The Rise of Julius Caesar

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The Ancients is now on YouTube! Watch HERE


Presented by Tristan Hughes. Editor is Aidan Lonergan. Produced by Robin McConnell and McKenna Fernandez. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

History Hit is part of Little Dot Studios, a Certified B Corp™


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