| Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire | |
|---|---|
 BBC DVD Cover | |
| Genre | Docudrama |
| Written by | |
| Directed by |
|
| Starring | |
| Narrated by | Alisdair Simpson |
| Composer | Samuel Sim |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Matthew Barrett |
| Producer | Mark Hedgecoe |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC One |
| Release | 21 September (2006-09-21) – 26 October 2006 (2006-10-26) |
| Related | |
| Heroes and Villains Rome: Rise and fall of an empire | |
Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire is a 2006BBC Onedocudrama series, with each episode looking at a different key turning point in the history of theRoman Republic andEmpire.
Series Producer Mark Hedgecoe has stated that he made the series in response to previous films that "have tended to ignore the real history and chosen to fictionalise the story."[1]
The series was filmed with the Panasonic SDX 900DVCPRO50 professionalcamcorder in widescreenprogressive scan mode at 25 frames/s. According to Mark Hedgecoe, astandard-definition format was chosen largely because it was more forgiving to focusing errors and required less light than high definition, thus speeding up the shooting. In his opinion, the camera delivered better footage than aDigital Betacam camera, and provided rich,filmic feel, which was well-suited to capturing the gritty reality of the Roman Empire.[2]
The series was co-produced by BBC,ZDF and theDiscovery Channel.
BBC History commissioned the online-gameCDX to tie-in with the series.[3]
Historical novelistLindsey Davis writing inThe Times points out that "the episodes were produced by different teams" and "it shows," stating episodes 3 and 4 work better than episodes 1, 2, and 5 and although she hasn't seen the final episode, she wants to watch it and she "can't say fairer than that." She compliments the producers who "avoid the talking-heads style, though they use literature and the advice of modern historians," but criticises the series in that "once they fill up with battle and crowd scenes, the formula of self-contained one-hour dramas doesn't give enough scope," and because "we don't see many women in this series." She concludes that "there is pleasing material here," stating, "the filming is good, the dialogue sounds real, the sets work, the military scenes will delight many," but she criticises the decision to not broadcast the episodes in chronological order as, "if they stick with their eccentric programming, we'll be jerked about maniacally," stating, "this is history on theEric Morecambe principle: all of the moments – but not necessarily in the right order!"[1]
Nancy Banks-Smith writing inThe Guardian of episode one was complimentary ofMichael Sheen's "storming performance" asNero, adding that she found it "slightly disturbing" that he "reminded you subliminally ofTony Blair." She was however critical of the docudrama format of "spicy drama sandwiched between simple slices of narrative" which she compared to "watching a play with someone who insists on explaining the obvious," adding that she "got the impression that the narrator was not talking to me at all."[4] Of episode two on Caesar she stated that "the historians have got their chilly mitts on," pointing out that it "was so painstakingly dull that Nero, always a crowd pleaser, had to be shown first."[5]
Sam Wollaston writing in the same publication of episode three compared it toRome postulating that this series "came about in response to all the mutterings from cross historians about factual inaccuracies in the BBC's grand romp last year." He states that "after some extensive research (I looked upTiberius Gracchus onWikipedia), I declare this one to be historically accurate, but also a grand bore." Highly critical of the docudrama format he states that "they never work, either as dramas or as documentaries," and goes on to explain that "there's no proper character development, and you don't care about any of them," before concluding that this "goes to show that sex is more fun than the truth."[6]
This is the story of the most famous Roman of them all, how he risked everything to tear down the government he served and bring revolution to Rome.
— Alisdair Simpson’s opening narration
At the close of theGallic Wars, GaiusJulius Caesar finds his army encircled by a massive force ofGauls but wins a decisive victory with a brilliant counterattack at theBattle of Alesia. An inspiring speech to his troops, promising to rescue Rome from its corrupt rulers and restore it to its people, raises opposition from SenatorsCato andMarcellus. Caesar refuses to disband his army beforecrossing the Rubicon, plunging the Republic intocivil war and turning his deputyLabienus and old friendPompey against him. Caesar captures Rome unopposed and Pompey is forced to withdraw to Greece with his allies in the senate.
Caesar seizes the emergency funds from the treasury to fund his campaign, but, failing to pay off his soldiers, is later forced todecimate his own rebelliousNinth Legion. Pompey amasses a huge army inGreece while Caesar leads a one-year campaign against opposition in Spain. In Greece, Caesar is forced to retreat inland by Pompey at theBattle of Dyrrachium but is victorious when the Senators force Pompey into an impetuous attack at theBattle of Pharsalus. Caesar overturns the Republic and has himself made dictator for life, only to beassassinated shortly into his rule.
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This is the story of what happened when the most powerful man on Earth lost his mind and brought the Empire to the brink of destruction.
— Alisdair Simpson’s opening narration
Nero witnesses theGreat Fire of Rome from his villa inAntium and hurries back to the capital to try to control the fire and save lives.Seneca tells him to "rule like the gods" and he vows to build an inspirational city of marble and stone on the ruins. The expense threatens to bankrupt the empire andTigellinus is sent to rob the temples, turning many in the senate against the emperor. ThePisonian conspiracy to assassinate Nero and haveGaius Calpurnius Piso proclaimed as emperor is revealed, and the conspirators, including the trusted Seneca, are executed.
Nero inaugurates the biggest arts festival in Roman history with himself at the top of the bill. In the furious throes of increasing megalomania he kicks his wifePoppea to death. A now isolated Nero leaves Rome in the hands of the Senate as he sets out on a debauched tour of the empire. With his reconstruction still incomplete as the money runs out, Tigellinus is ordered to initiate a campaign of forced suicide to dispossess the richest men in the empire. A rebellion rises up and the Senate sentences the fleeing Nero to death, his suicide bringing the Julio-Claudian dynasty to an end.
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In the spring of AD 66Josephus Ben Matitiyahu witnessed one of the greatest rebellions in the history of the Roman Empire.
— Alisdair Simpson’s opening narration
TheFirst Jewish-Roman War begins when the Jews rise up against their corrupt governor, drive the Romans out ofJudea and defeat a counter-attack at theBattle of Beth Horon. The future EmperorTitus is sent to recall his father Vespasian from exile inGreece to lead the legions against the rebels inGalilee.Josephus Ben Matityahu commands the resistance from the city ofJotapata, where many Jews take refuge from Vespasian's campaign of terror. Vespasian leads a three-weekSiege of Jotapata and Josephus is captured. Joesephus predicts that Titus is destined to be emperor.
Jerusalem prepares for a final stand under the fanaticalYohanan of Giscala, who murders the more moderate Hanan and unites the rebel factions. Back in Rome the Empire is thrown into chaos whenNero is overthrown and the army turns to Vespasian to be their new Emperor. Titus accomplishes theSiege of Jerusalem by cutting off the city with an encircling wall. Yohanan ignores Josephus's pleas for surrender and leads subterranean attacks on Romansiege towers that undermine his own walls. Titus leads a bloody assault that massacres the rebels and razes the city.
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In an age before Rome was ruled by emperors young Tiberius Gracchus had been brought up to respect his father’s principles of honour and justice, but in just 20 years he will die defending his father’s ideals, murdered by the aristocrats standing behind him, his crime; starting a revolution so powerful it changed Rome forever, setting on the path to its greatest triumphs and worst excesses.
— Alisdair Simpson’s opening narration
Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus first makes a mark on history winning the golden crown from GeneralScipio Aemilianus by being first over the wall at the victoriousBattle of Carthage. Back in Rome, now the "capital of the world", he finds the growing gap between rich and poor threatening the foundations of the republic. Urged to achieve greatness through further military exploits, he sets out with reinforcements for the campaign of GeneralGaius Hostilius Mancinus against the rebelliousNumantine tribe in Spain but is defeated and forced to negotiate a peace treaty that theSenate later refuses to ratify.
His actions, while repudiated in the Senate, have made him a hero amongst the Roman people and his new father-in-law Senator Appius ClaudiusPulcher supports him in a successful campaign to become theirTribune. He snubs the Senate and takes his proposed land reforms directly to thePeople's Assembly, where his old friendOctavius vetoes them. He brings the city to a standstill when he vetoes all other business in response and has Octavius deposed. Octavius and the Senate spread false rumours that he intends to make himself king and in the ensuing unrest he is murdered.
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In the autumn of 312 AD Constantine’s army was camped 40 miles north of Rome. One of the two emperors in the west, Constantine was preparing for the decisive battle against his rival Maxentius. Travelling with Constantine were members of a growing new religion.
— Alisdair Simpson’s opening narration
In Rome, the tyrannicalMaxentius consults the godsJupiter,Apollo andMars to be told that,the enemy of Rome will be defeated, while outside the cityLactantius tries to convinceConstantine to convert toChristianity. Constantine initially dismisses Lactantius but, after seeing what appears to be a sign from the Christian god on the eve of the attack, he follows Lactantius' advice to adopt a Christian symbol. The two forces clash at theBattle of the Milvian Bridge, where Maxentius is drowned in theTiber as a bridge collapses and the victorious Constantine rides into Rome under the Christian symbol.
Constantine creates an alliance by marrying his sisterConstantia to the Eastern EmperorLicinius, and the two issue theEdict of Milan as a joint decree of religious tolerance. Constantine's rejection of the Pagan gods and funding ofSt. Peter's Church turns Licinius and the Senate against him. SenatorBassianus' failed assassination attempt on Constantine ignites a holy war between the eastern and the western empires. Constantine defeats his opponent at theBattle of Chrysopolis and the empire is united under the one Christian God at theCouncil of Nicea.
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At the start of the 5th century AD Rome was under siege, threatened by a vast army of Goths, forty-thousand of them were poised at the city’s gates. Rome was defenceless, even the remnants of its garrisons abandoned their posts. The events that brought Rome to the brink of disaster had their roots in a betrayal two years earlier.
— Alisdair Simpson’s opening narration
The Roman Empire is under barbarian assault fromHuns andVandals. EmperorHonorius's chief general and adviser FlaviusStilicho has negotiated a treaty with theGoth leadersAlaric andAthaulf, but the Emperor has him executed for conspiracy. Honorius ordersOlympius to slaughter allBarbarian families within the Empire and the survivors flee to Alaric's camp. The Goths sweep through Italy to setsiege to Rome, trapping the Emperor's sisterGalla Placidia within. SenatorAttalus rides to the Imperial capital atRavenna and Honorius agrees to the Goths' demands.
The Goths withdraw but Honorius breaks the agreement, sending reinforcements to Rome that Athaulf intercepts and eliminates. Alaric speaks directly to the Senate and they elect Attalus as Emperor, but Honorius has Rome's grain supplies cut off and Attalus loses authority. Alaric travels to meet Honorius at Ravenna but is ambushed by his old rival Roman GeneralSarus, who is beaten into retreat. Alaric finally takes Rome, and captures Galla Placidia. Following Alaric's death, Athaulf marries Galla Placidia and his people finally settle in Southern France.
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