Latest / Nero: Mad Tyrant or Misunderstood Emperor? — Fexingo History
Nero and the Alexandrian Grain Fleet: Feeding an Empire
In 64 AD, Nero faced a crisis that threatened the very survival of Rome: the grain supply from Egypt was disrupted. This episode dives into the emperor's response — not just sending ships, but personally intervening to clear the harbor of Ostia and commissioning a new fleet of Alexandrian grain carriers. We explore the geopolitics of the annona, the role of the Classis Alexandrina, and the logistical marvel of moving 20 million modii of grain annually across the Mediterranean. Lucas and Luna unpack Tacitus's account of the near-famine, the political stakes for Nero, and the…
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