Latest / Nero: Mad Tyrant or Misunderstood Emperor? — Fexingo History
Nero's Alexandrian Grain Fleet and the Hunger of Rome
In this episode, we dive deep into the logistical nightmare of feeding a city of over a million people: ancient Rome, under Nero. We follow the journey of grain from Alexandria to Rome, exploring the roles of the Classis Alexandrina, the navicularii (ship owners), and the fiscus. We discuss the political stakes of the annona—if the grain supply failed, so did the emperor. We look at Nero's reforms of the system, including his handling of the great fire and his investments in Ostia and Puteoli. Along the way, we meet the navicularii, the ship captains who were exempted from many civic…
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