Caillan Davenport will be in conversation with Edward Watts on Caillan's new book Behind Ceasar’s Back: Rumor, Gossip and the Making of Roman Emperors, a thrilling exploration of what Romans thought about their emperors, and how rumours and gossip—ranging from new taxes to rulers’ sex lives—shaped leadership

Traversing more than seven hundred years of Roman history, this book explores how everyday Romans swapped gossip, spread rumors, told jokes, and chanted protests about their emperors—activity that amounted to much more than idle chatter. Caillan Davenport uses ancient evidence, including letters, graffiti, and songs, to reveal how Romans engaged in politics outside the senate house or imperial council. He argues that the idea of the Roman emperor was shaped not only by the political powers granted to him but also by the debate taking place in the streets, churches, taverns, and markets.

Davenport reveals how Romans spoke about “the emperor” as a figure of stability, as an agent of justice and retribution, or as a fallible human. Although few would ever see an emperor, his face (and therefore his power) was everywhere: on coins, banners, standards, and even dessert molds, as well as in statuary and paintings. While most Romans did not question the transformation of their republic into a monarchical system of government, they were indeed invested in the empire and were in constant discussion about the type of ruler they had, wanted, and deserved.

Caillan Davenport FAHA, FHEA, FHRS is Professor of Classics and Head of the Centre for Classical Studies at the Australian National University. He studied Latin, Ancient Greek, and Ancient History at the University of Queensland, receiving the University Medal in Latin, before undertaking a DPhil in Ancient History at the University of Oxford. A prolific author, he has recently been awarded an ARC Future Fellowship for the project 'Why Monarchy Endures. Answers from the Ancient Mediterranean World', which will run from June 2025-June 2029.

Professor Edward J. Watts holds the Alkiviadis Vassiliadis Endowed Chair and is professor of history at the University of California, San Diego. His research interests focus on the intellectual, political, and religious history of the Roman Empire and the early Byzantine Empire. He is the author of seven books and the editor of five more, including The Final Pagan Generation. His work has been featured in Time, Vox, Smithsonian, the Economist, the Wall Street Journal, the San Francisco Chronicle, British Museum Magazine, and the New York Times

The vote of thanks will be given by Emeritus Professor Elizabeth Minchin OAM.

Books will be available for signing from 5.30pm and again after the event.

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A podcast will be made available after the event.

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