Actually Interesting History

Liberators, Loyalists, and rough storms make navigating the years after Caesar’s death no easy feat for Cleopatra. How was she going to maintain independent control of Egypt without Caesar’s protection? Tune in to find out!!

In the aftermath of Caesar’s death, the forces that would ultimately shape the rest of Cleopatra’s life began to take form. Marc Antony and Octavian were about as different as two people could be and became uneasy allies as they fought against Caesar’s assassins. While Cleopatra leave Rome and returns to Egypt to rule, Rome soon comes calling again….

After Caesar left Egypt, he invited Cleopatra and her brother/husband T14 (don’t worry, we forget he exists too) to Rome as heads of state. We get a glimpse into the Roman attitudes surrounding womanhood, kingship, and binge drinking (thanks Marc Antony). After Caesar mops up Marc Antony’s mess, proclaimed dictator for life…..

From the second she rolled out of the carpet in Caesar’s chambers (or climbed out of a sac) the chemistry between Cleopatra and Caesar is what legends are made of. However, their romance took place against a backdrop of civil war and siege. Who gains control of Egypt and where is Cleopatra’s brother/husband? Find out by tuning into this weeks episode!

We are back to our regularly scheduled programming with the early reign of Cleopatra. Now that we know all the moving parts happening, both in Rome and in Egypt, everything comes to a head when Pompey arrives on Egyptian shores. Bad advisors, Caesar being Caesar, and some daring actions myths are made of are in store!!

I know what you are thinking, “MADDY this is not Cleopatra.” I know, but in order to understand the complex political landscape Cleopatra has to maneuver, we first need to understand what was happening on the other side of the Mediterranean Sea. We briefly cover the Roman Republic and the political shift that was happening at the end of the 1st century BC that would eventually give rise to the Roman Empire. Consuls, oligarchs, and petty PR energy awaits!!!!

Cleopatra’s dad did something really impressive for a Ptolemaic pharaoh, he managed to die of old age! However, his reign had is challenges. In this episode, we cover Cleopatra’s early life and her dad’s reign. So grab some wine (T12 would approve) and get ready to meet the Romans, make some expensive friends, and play the flute!

Welp, you cannot make this stuff up. In order to give Cleopatra’s early years some context, we take a look at her ancestors. The Ptolemy’s make the Game of Thrones writing room seem tame. Let the murder, marriage, and rioting begin!

We are traveling through time and space to Ancient Egypt! Before Alexander got to Egypt, Persia had gained control of the throne. In fact, a lot of the things we associate with Ancient Egypt happened WAY before Alexander saw the Nile. Before we cover Cleopatra, I think it’s important to gain some context for her story. Thanks for listening!

Tudor? But you already covered that on this podcast!!! You are right my friend, but it’s been nearly a year since that first episode went live and frankly it makes my skin crawl listening to it. So, in a pre-celebration for our one year anniversary I decided to revisit my notes and redo the episode with a years worth of experience under my belt. Pigs, barons, winter, 95 problems, and more!!!!

Alexander returned to Persia from India to begin the work of ruling his new empire. He seemed frankly uninterested in dealing with the logistical nightmare that was the governing of his new empire and he was already planning a southern campaign into Arabia. At the age of 32 in 323BC, Alexander caught a fever and died soon after.
It’s at this point that the story often ends, but what happened after the death of Alexander? This episode, we cover the Wars of the Diadochi. Who will inherit Alexander’s Empire? Tune in to find out!!

In this episode we discuss Alexander’s love life, his journey to India, and his last epic battle.

We meet again with Alexander leaving Egypt and marching to meet Darius to decide who the ultimate ruler of Persia would be. Alexander encounters the riches of the Persian empire and it seems that he begins to loose control of some of his darker impulses. Tune in the learn more about the exciting tale of Alexander the Great!

We pick up our story after the assignation of Alexander’s father and his consolidation of power in Greece. Alexander begins moving east toward Asia Minor. Many battles, a few myths, and a killer headache are in store for our hero!

Welcome to Actually Interesting History!