Roman Empire is a television documentary based on historical events of the Roman Empire. The show is in the anthology format with each season presenting an independent story. Season 1, "Reign of Blood", is a six-part story centered on Emperor Commodus. Jeremiah Murphy and Peter Sherman collaborated on writing the first season, with Richard Lopez directing. It premiered on Netflix on November 11, 2016. Season 2, "Master of Rome", is a five-part story of the rise of Julius Caesar and the fall of the Roman Republic. Season 2 premiered on July 27, 2018. Season 3 premiered on Netflix on April 5, 2019 and centers on Emperor Caligula. The series was produced by Netflix as a "Netflix Original" series, though it frequently reuses footage from other programs, including .
Episodes
As Roman Empire is an anthology series, each season tells its own story, and each season has its own title.
Season 1
The first season is named Commodus: Reign of Blood, and consists of 6 episodes. It became available for streaming on November 11, 2016.
In Episode 5 of Season two at 34:22, the narrator, Steve West, stated that Julius Caesar was stabbed on March 14, that was incorrect. As Julius Caesar was stabbed on March 15 as stated earlier in the episode.
Season 3
The third season is named Caligula: The Mad Emperor, and consists of 4 episodes. It became available for streaming on April 5, 2019.
Ep 1: The Rightful Heir
Ep 2: A New Hope
Ep 3: In Search of an Heir
Ep 4: Descent into Madness
Historical people and events
''Commodus: Reign of Blood''
Commodus was Roman Emperor from 180 to 192. He also ruled as co-emperor with his father Marcus Aurelius from 177 until his father's death in 180.
Marcus Aurelius was Roman Emperor from 161 to 180. He ruled with Lucius Verus as co-emperor from 161 until Verus' death in 169. Marcus Aurelius was the last of the so-called Five Good Emperors. He was a practitioner of Stoicism, and his Greek-language writing, commonly known as the Meditations, is the most significant source of the modern understanding of ancient Stoic philosophy.
Faustina the Younger was a daughter of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius. She was a Roman Empress and wife to her maternal cousin Marcus Aurelius. Though Roman sources give a generally negative view of her character, she was held in high esteem by soldiers and her own husband and was given divine honors after her death.
Lucilla was the second daughter and third child of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius and an elder sister to future Roman Emperor Commodus.
Avidius Cassius was a Roman general and usurper who briefly ruled Egypt and Syria in 175.
''Julius Caesar: Master of Rome''
Julius Caesar, a politician, general, and later, dictator; the season's central argument is that Julius Caesar was assassinated because wealthy and conservative elites wanted to block Caesar's reforms.
Pompey, politician and military leader who, while as ambitious as Caesar, and despite having been his son-in-law, chose to ally himself with the optimates in opposing Caesar and supporting the traditional Roman Republic.
Crassus, the richest man in Rome, who rose to political prominence following his victory over the slave revolt led by Spartacus, sharing the consulship with his rival Pompey
Brutus, a Roman politician whose relationship with Caesar is deeply complex
Mark Antony, an hedonistic Roman general and politician; while Caesar was away in Egypt, Antony remained in Rome to restore order but quickly caused Rome to fall into a state of anarchy.
