Murder! Patricide! Carriage-based violence and political coups! It's all happening on Autocrat today. Lucius Tarquinius, eldest son of king Priscus, finally decides he's had enough of living in the shadow of Servius Tullius. Joined by his wife Tullia, he will commit a crime that the Romans will be shocked by, and begin his reign with violent purges of the Senate. Also, Tullia's Ferrari.

NOTE: Mild spoiler warning between 21:07 and 21:35 for those who don't know what's coming.

Time period: 534 BCE

Relevant individuals:

• Servius Tullius, 6th King of Rome
• Tanaquil, Queen of Rome
• Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, 7th King of Rome
• Tullia II, Queen of Rome
• Arruns Tarquinius, second son of Priscus and Tanaquil
• Tullia I, daughter of Servius Tullius and Tanaquil II, wife of Arruns

Sources for this episode:

• Appian (1972), Appian's Roman History in Four Volumes (Volume I). London and Cambridge, Massachusetts: William Heinemann Ltd. and Harvard University Press.

• Cassius Dio (1961), Dio's Roman History (Volume I). Translated by E. Cary. London and Cambridge, Massachusetts: William Heinemann Ltd. and Harvard University Press.

• Dionysus of Halicarnassus (1960), The Roman Antquities of Dionysus of Halicarnassus (Volume II). Translated by E. Cary. London and Cambridge, Massachusetts: William Heinemann Ltd. and Harvard University Press.
• Eutropius (1760), Eutropius: Epitome of the Roman History. London: Printed for W. Johnston et al.
• Livy (1971), The Early History of Rome. Translated by A. de Selincourt. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd.

• Matyszak, P. (2008), Chronicle of the Roman Republic: The Rulers of Ancient Rome from Romulus to Augustus. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd.

• Orosius (1936), History Against the Pagans. Translated by I. W. Raymond. Available at Attalus.

• Sextus Aurelius Victor (1825), Galerie Romaine, ou les Hommes Illustres de Rome et les Cesars. Translated by A. Caillot. Paris.

Servius Tullius is on the throne! We had an exciting start last time, but today it's all a bit slower-paced with tax reform, property classes and admin. Still, let's watch the first census be conducted, discuss Roman money, and examine quite why Servius hates tortoises.

Time period: 578- 534 BCE

Relevant individuals:

• Servius Tullius, 6th King of Rome

Sources for this episode:

• Appian (1972), Appian's Roman History in Four Volumes (Volume I). London and Cambridge, Massachusetts: William Heinemann Ltd. and Harvard University Press.
• Carr, J. L., Riedle, D. J., Munscher, E., Pearson, L. S., Kessler, E. J. and Dreslik, M.J. (2025), Macrochelys temminckii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species2025: e.T232775771A507158.
• Casale, P. and Tucker, A. D. (2017), Caretta caretta. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T3897A119333622.
• Cassius Dio (1961), Dio's Roman History (Volume I). Translated by E. Cary. London and Cambridge, Massachusetts: William Heinemann Ltd. and Harvard University Press.

• Dionysus of Halicarnassus (1960), The Roman Antquities of Dionysus of Halicarnassus (Volume II). Translated by E. Cary. London and Cambridge, Massachusetts: William Heinemann Ltd. and Harvard University Press.
• Eutropius (1760), Eutropius: Epitome of the Roman History. London: Printed for W. Johnston et al.
• Livy (1971), The Early History of Rome. Translated by A. de Selincourt. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd.
• Luiselli, L. (2024), Testudo marginata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T21653A2777760.
• Luiselli, L. (2024), Testudo hermanni (errata version published in 2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T21648A268511652.
• Luiselli, L., Capula, M., Di Vittorio, M., Marrone, F. and Vamberger, M. (2024), Emys trinacris. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T158469A778721.
• Marks, A. and Tingay, G. (date unknown), Romans. London: Usborne Publishing.

• Matyszak, P. (2008), Chronicle of the Roman Republic: The Rulers of Ancient Rome from Romulus to Augustus. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd.
• Moldowan, P. D. and van Dijk, P. P. (2025), Chelydra serpentina. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025: e.T163424A251347989.
• Orosius (1936), History Against the Pagans. Translated by I. W. Raymond. Available at Attalus.

• Sextus Aurelius Victor (1825), Galerie Romaine, ou les Hommes Illustres de Rome et les Cesars. Translated by A. Caillot. Paris.
• Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (1996), Emys orbicularis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 1996: e.T7717A97292665.
• Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (1996), Testudo graeca. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 1996: e.T21646A9305693.
• van Dijk, P. P., Harding, J. and Hammerson, G. A. (2011), Trachemys scripta. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011: e.T22028A97429935.
• Wallace, B. P. and Broderick, A. C. (2025), Chelonia mydas. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025: e.T4615A285108125.

• Wallace, B. P., Tiwari, M. and Girondot, M. (2013), Dermochelys coriacea. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T6494A43526147.
• Author unknown, British Army (date unknown), Pay, Salaries & Benefits (online) (Accessed 26/07/2026).
• Author unknown, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (online) (Accessed 15/09/2026).
• Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Solidus (online) (Accessed 15/09/2026).

Sound Effect by freesound_communityfrom Pixabay

We are joined by Sariel and Umberto from So You Think You Can Rule Persia to discuss Cyrus the Great. At about the time that Servius Tullius is ruling as the sixth (or perhaps seventh) king of Rome, Cyrus is busy unifying the Persians, Medians, Babylonians, Lydians and Ionians into the Achaemenid Persian empire.

Our thanks to Umberto and Sariel for joining us! You can find So You Think You Can Rule Persia wherever you find your podcasts.

Time period: 559-530 BCE

Relevant individuals:

• Cyrus the Great, Persian King of Kings
• Astyages, King of Media
• Croesus, King of Lydia
• Nabonidus, King of Babylon
• Harpagus, Median and Persian commander
• Mandane, daughter of Astyages and mother of Cyrus
• Cambyses I, King of Persia

Sources for this episode:

• Cook, J. M. (1999), The Persians. London: The Folio Society.
• Flavius Josephus (2006), Jewish Antiquities. Translated by W. Whiston. Ware: Wordsworth Editions Ltd.
• Fried, L. S. (2002), Cyrus the Messiah? The Historical Background to Isaiah 45:1. Harvard Theological Review 95(4): 373-393.
• Grainger, J. D. (2019), Ancient Dynasties: The Families that Ruled the Classical World, Circa 1000 BC to AD 750. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books Ltd.
• Herodotus (1971), The Histories. Translated by A. de Sélincourt. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd.
• Plato (2008, reprinted 2013), Alcibaides I. Translated by B. Jowett. Online, available at Gutenberg (Accessed 23/05/2026).
• Weech, W. N. (ed.) (1944), History of the World. Watford: Odhams Press Ltd.
• Wells, H. G. (1965), A Short History of the World. London: Collins Clear-Type Press.
• Author unknown, (2010), International Children’s Bible. New Century Version. Milton Keynes: Authentic Media Ltd.
• Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Croesus (online) (Accessed 23/05/2026).
• Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Cyaxares II (online) (Accessed 23/05/2026).
• Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Darius the Mede (online) (Accessed 24/05/2026).
• Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Perses (son of Perseus) (online) (Accessed 24/05/2026).
• Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Xerxes I (online) (Accessed 24/06/2026).