Behind Caesar's Back: Rumor, Gossip, and the Making of the Roman Emperors -- Caillan Davenport, Hardcover

A thrilling exploration of what Romans thought about their emperors, and how rumors 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.

Author: Caillan Davenport
Publisher: Yale University Press
Published: 01/27/2026
Pages: 392
Binding Type: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780300276459

About the Author

Caillan Davenport is professor of classics and head of the Centre for Classical Studies at the Australian National University in Canberra. He is the author of A History of the Roman Equestrian Order, winner of the Gladstone Book Prize. He lives in Canberra, Australia.