Print this page The Most Dysfunctional Family in History

From Caesar’s rise in 49 BC to Nero’s death in  68 AD the Julio- Claudian family ruled Rome and expanded the Empire. However, the family itself was utterly dysfunctional, murdering each other, committing arson and incest, indulging in paedophilia and all manner of sexual perversions; manipulating the succession and even providing the first mushroom-murderer. The women were as notorious and depraved as the men. They are all there – Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Julia, Agrippina, Messalina and some great lovers and henchmen. Despite them, the Empire prospered, what was their contribution?

DELIVERY MODE:

• Face to face

LEARNING RESOURCES

• Tom Holland: Dynasty (Doubleday, 2015, ISBN: 978-0-385-53874-1)
• Anthony Barrett: Agrippina (Batsford, 1996, ISBN: 0 7134 6854 8)
• H H Scullard: From the Gracchi to Nero (University Paperbacks, 1959. oi ISBN)

COURSE OUTLINE 

• The Julio-Claudian family has to be the most dysfunctional in history but from Julies Caesar to Mero they dominated and presided over Rome and vastly expanded the Roman Empire. How did they manage this while breaking every understood norm about “families” and their relationships?
• In the course of just over a century the Julio-Claudians managed to indulge in all manner of deviant behaviour which included murder, incest, arson, nymphomania, paedophilia and a great deal more. It makes for a fascinating “family” history.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• An understanding of Roman history and politics from the beginning of the Empire to its near collapse but revival.