LOST ROMAN HEROES

ALIA IACTA EST!  He crossed a little stream just north of Ravenna, and drove a stake through the heart of the Republic.  Join JC for the ride of a lifetime, as he sweeps through Italy, chased Pompey to Greece and Egypt, has an affair, has a love child with Cleopatra, and returns to Rome just in time for the Ides of March.  Ah Caesar, you were so close to your dreams.  But in the end, are you a her...

Consul!  Gaul! Triumvirate!  Julius Caesar starts picking up steam, the situation on Rome's streets deteriorates, and the Senate, led by Cato the Younger, starts to get very anxious about Caesar, who is starting to smell vaguely Marian...

One of the most complex fellows that we will cover, Gaius Julius Caesar, the first of three episodes devoted to the man, the mystery, the legend.  What is a figure that is universally know doing in a podcast on Lost Roman Heroes?  What can possibly be lost about Caesar?  And what is heroic about Caesar, the man who drove a stake through the heart of the Republic?  Join us here for Part 1, Caesar's...

Julius Caesar's legate in Gaul, Titus Labienus was the original Marc Antony, a friend to Caesar in his early days and a critical piece to Caesar's victories in Gaul.  But when Caesar crossed the Rubicon, Labienus sided with the Republic, fighting under Pompey to preserve the government, until one day at Munda he found himself face to face with his old friend Caesar in a fight for his life.  

Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, triumvir, the golden boy, the high school QB and most popular kid in school, always in the right place at the right time with the right friends.  Was he more than that?  What is the substance behind the legend? Who was Caesar's friend and mortal enemy, and does he merit a place in the Hall of Heroes?

Perhaps one of the most well recognized names from Roman history but what do we really know of Spartacus the man?  Born in Thrace, he may have fought in the Roman army before being enslaved and trained as a gladiator.  He would bring Rome to her knees, but was that really his objective, or was he simply a tragic hero who simply wanted to go home?  Can an enemy of Rome make it into the Hall of Hero...

Crassus, Rome's richest man and one of the richest humans in history.  He was the elder statesman of the Triumvirate, ally of Caesar and Pompey and Sulla, yet he went through life with a chip on his shoulder, endless searching for glory.  For all that he was, and all that he accomplished, does he deserve to be in the Hall of Heroes?

Quintus Sertorius, perhaps one of the most remarkable Lost Roman Heroes that are truly lost, someone we had never heard of before we started researching this episode.  A contemporary of Marius, Sulla and Cinna, distinguished in battle, respected by friend and foe, proud of his one-eye earned in battle, who through no fault of his own it would seem found himself an exile, pitted against the entire...

Sulla, you are not at all what we expected!  The Roman Civil War, the first civil war, kicks off in earnest in this episode, and Sulla navigates the minefield left by his old mentor and adversary, Marius.  Is Sulla the savior of the Republic as he thought himself, or did he leave breadcrumbs on the path to tyranny that Caesar would follow?

Part 1 of Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix, Marius' lieutenant and fallen patrician devoted to the old order and the primacy of the Senate.  Was he an opportunist as well?  Did he ultimately do more harm than good?  For whom does the bell toll?  

Novus Homo!  Marius, you were one complicated dude and your story complex.  Innovative on the battlefield, savior of the Republic, lauded as the Third Founder of Rome yet you, perhaps more than the Gracchi, but the Republic on a fast path for extinction.  Hero or Villain, or victim of your own inferiority complex.  You made us work hard on this one...

Tiberius Gracchus!  Hero of the people trying to cure the rot at the heart of the Republic, or populist demagogue determined to destroy the old order and make himself king?

Adopted grandson of Scipio Africanus, and grandson of Consul Paulus (of Cannae fame) - setup well at birth.  Loved by the Senate, sent to Africa for the third installment of the Punic Wars.  Successful in war and peace, Carthage didn't stand a chance.  What is that music we hear building in the background, is that the Imperial March???

The grand clash of Titans between Scipio and Hannibal, Roman and Carthage, that would determine supremacy of the Mediterranean.  Scipio shows his quality on and off the battlefield, and perhaps the old generals find peace after war.

SCIPIO AFRICANUS!  History remembers his nemesis, Hannibal, as the GOAT.  Why do they not remember this humble young man who watched his father fall in battle, and after learning from his mortal enemies, while most of Rome cowered behind the walls, took the fight to Carthage?  In Part 1 of this special 2 part series on Scipio, he steps onto the stage and ejects Carthage from Spain, setting up the...

Cunctator, 'the Delayer', was a tricky character.  Hannibal's original Roman nemesis, with a big wart on his upper lip, he did the Republic a grand service, before turning cranky in the end and opposing Scipio.  This might be our biggest challenge yet.

A plebeian Consul, led the new Roman navy in the largest navy battle of history against Carthage in the First Punic War.  But more important to his story was what he did off the battlefield.  Perhaps the most remarkable story of self-sacrifice in history.  Regulus, we salute you!

The Raven.  Won wars without drawing a sword, loved by Patricians and Plebs, and lived to be 100 years old.  Why have we not heard of him before?  This man just might be what this podcast is all about.

He stared down Brennus the Gaul, scourge of Rome, won wars without spilling blood, drained lakes and did other cool stuff, but can he make it into the Hall of Heroes?

Cincinnatus, the Curly Haired, general, farmer, and exceptionally self-restrained guardian of the Republic who inspired George W. and WKRP in Cincinnati?

LJ Brutus!  He ended the Roman monarchy, and is known as the father of the Roman Republic.  Man or Myth?  Hero or court jester?  Could this be our first member of the Hall of Heroes??? 

Exploring the man, the myth, the legend, Romulus, great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandson of Aeneas, founder of the city of Rome.

In Episode 2 we look at Rome's mythical progenitor, Aeneas of Troy, without whom, Rome would never have existed?  Or at least, that was the story the Romans told themselves....

Welcome to the Lost Roman Heroes podcast!  Join us as we explore the lost heroes from Roman history that were critical to the evolution, and survival of Rome, from its mythical founding (in the smoldering ruins of Troy) to its last breath with the death of Constantine XI on May 29th, 1453 when Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks.  We will cover some familiar names, and many more lesser known...