"Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux
@bretdevereaux.bsky.social
Ancient & military historian specializing in the Roman economy and military. PhD from UNC History. More impressive credential is that I have beaten both Dark Souls and Elden Ring.
Blogs at acoup.blog
Blogs at acoup.blog
So every part of this is dumb but the idea that the Iliad is about 'fighting for princesses' is such a vapid take on a work that tells you exactly what it is about in the first (and last) lines.
You can tell the poem isn't really about Bryseis because her return does not resolve the conflict.
You can tell the poem isn't really about Bryseis because her return does not resolve the conflict.
*maximum alpha at 1.25x speed* continuously lives on in my head, unfortunately.
November 11, 2025 at 2:22 AM
So every part of this is dumb but the idea that the Iliad is about 'fighting for princesses' is such a vapid take on a work that tells you exactly what it is about in the first (and last) lines.
You can tell the poem isn't really about Bryseis because her return does not resolve the conflict.
You can tell the poem isn't really about Bryseis because her return does not resolve the conflict.
The historian in me feels the need to note that contests between cities and their rural hinterland are not new things and they do not generally go great for the rural folks.
California alone produces a third of all the food America eats. So this is a lie.
But let’s break down the food produced by the red states:
Guess what percent is harvested by people from Latin America?
But let’s break down the food produced by the red states:
Guess what percent is harvested by people from Latin America?
November 11, 2025 at 1:14 AM
The historian in me feels the need to note that contests between cities and their rural hinterland are not new things and they do not generally go great for the rural folks.
Lol, Texas A&M voting on resolution to get sued into oblivion.
November 11, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Lol, Texas A&M voting on resolution to get sued into oblivion.
If you are thinking, "wow, I wish a resource like this existed for office holders in the Roman Republic" - it does, albeit in book form, as T.R.S. Broughton, Magistrates of the Roman Republic (1951, 1952, 1960) in two volumes, both hosted online: onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/...
November 10, 2025 at 8:59 PM
If you are thinking, "wow, I wish a resource like this existed for office holders in the Roman Republic" - it does, albeit in book form, as T.R.S. Broughton, Magistrates of the Roman Republic (1951, 1952, 1960) in two volumes, both hosted online: onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/...
Reposted by "Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux
Students & researchers have a tough time keeping the names of Roman emperors and elites straight. But we do have a database to help name and number each. It is called the Prospographia Imperii Romani (=PIR) and has 15061 persons, of which 1932 are women. Please use the database! pir.bbaw.de#/search
Prosopographia Imperii Romani
pir.bbaw.de
November 10, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Students & researchers have a tough time keeping the names of Roman emperors and elites straight. But we do have a database to help name and number each. It is called the Prospographia Imperii Romani (=PIR) and has 15061 persons, of which 1932 are women. Please use the database! pir.bbaw.de#/search
Should they attempt to steal another election and fail, I'm not sure - reasoning from historical parallels from other countries - MAGA folks are going to like the incentives they'd set by pardoning the Jan6ers and Trump's election cronies.
Because if you can't trust they'll stay in jail, well...
Because if you can't trust they'll stay in jail, well...
November 10, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Should they attempt to steal another election and fail, I'm not sure - reasoning from historical parallels from other countries - MAGA folks are going to like the incentives they'd set by pardoning the Jan6ers and Trump's election cronies.
Because if you can't trust they'll stay in jail, well...
Because if you can't trust they'll stay in jail, well...
Gonna take a moment to expand on a footnote on "a truly intellectually defensible definition of 'the West.'"
The tendency for historians has been to abandon the term as it is mostly used in indefensible ways to 'other' the Islamic world.
But I think 'what could this term do' is a useful exercise.
The tendency for historians has been to abandon the term as it is mostly used in indefensible ways to 'other' the Islamic world.
But I think 'what could this term do' is a useful exercise.
Fireside this week, laying out a brief historiography (the 'history of the history') of the Roman strategy debate - the argument that has swirled since 1976 on the degree if Romans engaged in state-level strategic policy or if they were even able to do so.
(yes)
acoup.blog/2025/11/07/f...
(yes)
acoup.blog/2025/11/07/f...
Fireside Friday, November 7, 2025 (On the Roman Strategy Debate)
Hey folks! Fireside this week. I had wanted to have my post on the hoplite debate (the othismos over othismos) ready for this week, but it’s not quite done, so I am shifting that to next week…
acoup.blog
November 10, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Gonna take a moment to expand on a footnote on "a truly intellectually defensible definition of 'the West.'"
The tendency for historians has been to abandon the term as it is mostly used in indefensible ways to 'other' the Islamic world.
But I think 'what could this term do' is a useful exercise.
The tendency for historians has been to abandon the term as it is mostly used in indefensible ways to 'other' the Islamic world.
But I think 'what could this term do' is a useful exercise.
Reposted by "Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux
Despite the ravages of age and an internet steeped in misinformation, your eyes – in this one case – do not deceive you: Website different. It’s taken an immense amount of time and effort, but welcome to Aftermath version 2.0:
aftermath.site/aftermath-rela...
aftermath.site/aftermath-rela...
November 10, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Despite the ravages of age and an internet steeped in misinformation, your eyes – in this one case – do not deceive you: Website different. It’s taken an immense amount of time and effort, but welcome to Aftermath version 2.0:
aftermath.site/aftermath-rela...
aftermath.site/aftermath-rela...
Really seeing once again, it seems, that the real divide in the Democratic coalition is not left/lib/moderate or anything like that.
It's the fight/no-fight divide. And the 'fight' dems are the ones winning elections.
It's the fight/no-fight divide. And the 'fight' dems are the ones winning elections.
November 10, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Really seeing once again, it seems, that the real divide in the Democratic coalition is not left/lib/moderate or anything like that.
It's the fight/no-fight divide. And the 'fight' dems are the ones winning elections.
It's the fight/no-fight divide. And the 'fight' dems are the ones winning elections.
Fireside this week, laying out a brief historiography (the 'history of the history') of the Roman strategy debate - the argument that has swirled since 1976 on the degree if Romans engaged in state-level strategic policy or if they were even able to do so.
(yes)
acoup.blog/2025/11/07/f...
(yes)
acoup.blog/2025/11/07/f...
Fireside Friday, November 7, 2025 (On the Roman Strategy Debate)
Hey folks! Fireside this week. I had wanted to have my post on the hoplite debate (the othismos over othismos) ready for this week, but it’s not quite done, so I am shifting that to next week…
acoup.blog
November 10, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Fireside this week, laying out a brief historiography (the 'history of the history') of the Roman strategy debate - the argument that has swirled since 1976 on the degree if Romans engaged in state-level strategic policy or if they were even able to do so.
(yes)
acoup.blog/2025/11/07/f...
(yes)
acoup.blog/2025/11/07/f...
It is amazing to me that 'Americans have an insane conception of how much we spend on foreign aid and what we could do with that money' has been a common knowledge around me, regularly referenced, since my *high school lunch table* and yet it remains true and an effective tactic of demagoguery.
The entire project here is so cynical. "We have to end foreign aid until we fix unemployment and bad schools!"
ok are you working to fix those problems?
"No."
ok are you working to fix those problems?
"No."
November 9, 2025 at 3:15 PM
It is amazing to me that 'Americans have an insane conception of how much we spend on foreign aid and what we could do with that money' has been a common knowledge around me, regularly referenced, since my *high school lunch table* and yet it remains true and an effective tactic of demagoguery.
Desecration.
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️
November 9, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Desecration.
Reposted by "Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux
I feel as if you’re forgetting about how ROTJ fucking rules in the back half
there are two good movies, Star Wars and Empire. Everything else except for Andor is 100% unnecessary.
November 8, 2025 at 6:48 PM
I feel as if you’re forgetting about how ROTJ fucking rules in the back half
I assume this has to do with licensing and the new BSG game that is coming out, but BSG: Deadlock is honestly one of the best space-capital-ship tactics games I've seen, so I'd suggest frankly grabbing it before the Nov 15 cutoff if you can.
November 8, 2025 at 5:18 PM
I assume this has to do with licensing and the new BSG game that is coming out, but BSG: Deadlock is honestly one of the best space-capital-ship tactics games I've seen, so I'd suggest frankly grabbing it before the Nov 15 cutoff if you can.
There is so much wrong her (the uncanny face, for one) but what gets me is the vibe of 'this impossible thing, having a woman say she'll love you forever and mean it,' - a thing very many, if not most straight men achieve in ceremonies performed in front of all of their friends and family.
Elon has never experienced this and neither have his biggest fans but now they can create these visuals with the help of a computermachine
November 8, 2025 at 4:47 PM
There is so much wrong her (the uncanny face, for one) but what gets me is the vibe of 'this impossible thing, having a woman say she'll love you forever and mean it,' - a thing very many, if not most straight men achieve in ceremonies performed in front of all of their friends and family.
Anyway, chances are basically certain that your local food bank - or a food bank in a lower income town near you - is going to be straining to meet the demands and could well use your volunteering and donations.
'Maybe we'll cancel SNAP and 10-20% of all flights through *Thanksgiving* and *Christmas*' is just an insane political position.
You do that and the annual Turkey fryer injuries won't be from turkeys, but from folks attempting to fry whole GOP senators for Thanksgiving.
You do that and the annual Turkey fryer injuries won't be from turkeys, but from folks attempting to fry whole GOP senators for Thanksgiving.
GOP SEN. JOHN KENNEDY: It may be 2026 when we'll come out of the shutdown.
REPORTERS: 😳
KENNEDY: I'm not kidding, you guys. I mean, you see what I see. Okay? This shutdown is going to last a long time. What's going to get us out of it?
REPORTERS: 😳
KENNEDY: I'm not kidding, you guys. I mean, you see what I see. Okay? This shutdown is going to last a long time. What's going to get us out of it?
November 8, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Anyway, chances are basically certain that your local food bank - or a food bank in a lower income town near you - is going to be straining to meet the demands and could well use your volunteering and donations.
'Maybe we'll cancel SNAP and 10-20% of all flights through *Thanksgiving* and *Christmas*' is just an insane political position.
You do that and the annual Turkey fryer injuries won't be from turkeys, but from folks attempting to fry whole GOP senators for Thanksgiving.
You do that and the annual Turkey fryer injuries won't be from turkeys, but from folks attempting to fry whole GOP senators for Thanksgiving.
GOP SEN. JOHN KENNEDY: It may be 2026 when we'll come out of the shutdown.
REPORTERS: 😳
KENNEDY: I'm not kidding, you guys. I mean, you see what I see. Okay? This shutdown is going to last a long time. What's going to get us out of it?
REPORTERS: 😳
KENNEDY: I'm not kidding, you guys. I mean, you see what I see. Okay? This shutdown is going to last a long time. What's going to get us out of it?
November 8, 2025 at 5:32 AM
'Maybe we'll cancel SNAP and 10-20% of all flights through *Thanksgiving* and *Christmas*' is just an insane political position.
You do that and the annual Turkey fryer injuries won't be from turkeys, but from folks attempting to fry whole GOP senators for Thanksgiving.
You do that and the annual Turkey fryer injuries won't be from turkeys, but from folks attempting to fry whole GOP senators for Thanksgiving.
Ok, 'meme politics' is an excellent framing here and I am *absolutely* going to borrow it when I get to discussing HoI4.
My thoughts in that direction were mostly 'hey, politics sure seem de-emphasized' but this discussed the how and impacts of that choice.
My thoughts in that direction were mostly 'hey, politics sure seem de-emphasized' but this discussed the how and impacts of that choice.
it's not quite a @bretdevereaux.bsky.social five-part teaching paradox series, but i did my best to explain the underlying concept of politics hearts of iron embodies... and why "meme politics" is a good way to understand how Trump II operates
www.liberalcurrents.com/neon-liberal...
www.liberalcurrents.com/neon-liberal...
Neon Liberalism #51: The Meme Politics of "Hearts of Iron"
Join host Samantha Hancox-Li as she explores the concept of "meme politics," which pervades the current Trump II administration, through the historical grand strategy game Hearts of Iron IV. In realit...
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 8, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Ok, 'meme politics' is an excellent framing here and I am *absolutely* going to borrow it when I get to discussing HoI4.
My thoughts in that direction were mostly 'hey, politics sure seem de-emphasized' but this discussed the how and impacts of that choice.
My thoughts in that direction were mostly 'hey, politics sure seem de-emphasized' but this discussed the how and impacts of that choice.
I don't know what fool is being quoted but that is a *staggering* misunderstanding of what Scipio Africanus did.
Scipio Africanus was one of the major architects of a *two century* long Roman military commitment in Spain and also set down permanent security commitments in North Africa.
Scipio Africanus was one of the major architects of a *two century* long Roman military commitment in Spain and also set down permanent security commitments in North Africa.
i love how erik prince's "great" counterfactual idea on national security + counter-terror from 2024 is to do a punitive raid and nothing else
really what they pay him the big bucks for
really what they pay him the big bucks for
November 8, 2025 at 2:38 AM
I don't know what fool is being quoted but that is a *staggering* misunderstanding of what Scipio Africanus did.
Scipio Africanus was one of the major architects of a *two century* long Roman military commitment in Spain and also set down permanent security commitments in North Africa.
Scipio Africanus was one of the major architects of a *two century* long Roman military commitment in Spain and also set down permanent security commitments in North Africa.
Reposted by "Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux
as @bretdevereaux.bsky.social wrote immediately after j6, the very clear lesson from the ancient republics is that you have GOT to aggressively punish the LEADERS of coups and putsches... because otherwise those fuckers just come back and try again
acoup.blog/2021/01/15/m...
acoup.blog/2021/01/15/m...
November 5, 2025 at 6:38 PM
as @bretdevereaux.bsky.social wrote immediately after j6, the very clear lesson from the ancient republics is that you have GOT to aggressively punish the LEADERS of coups and putsches... because otherwise those fuckers just come back and try again
acoup.blog/2021/01/15/m...
acoup.blog/2021/01/15/m...
Reposted by "Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux
As the situation in Pokrovsk becomes critical, and AFU reinforces the pocket to stabilize the flanks, there's considerable attention now to how this battle is unfolding. A few thoughts on the situation. 1/ (DeepStateMap)
November 7, 2025 at 9:14 PM
As the situation in Pokrovsk becomes critical, and AFU reinforces the pocket to stabilize the flanks, there's considerable attention now to how this battle is unfolding. A few thoughts on the situation. 1/ (DeepStateMap)
Reposted by "Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux
Bill I thought you were out of the regime change business? Are you back?
Bill:
Bill:
Im Thinking Im Back John Wick GIF
ALT: Im Thinking Im Back John Wick GIF
media.tenor.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Bill I thought you were out of the regime change business? Are you back?
Bill:
Bill:
::movie trailer voice:: They said he was retired, but Bill Kristol has one more regime to change...
Abolish Border Patrol.
Trump deportation agent: "I fired 5 rounds and she had 7 holes. Put that in your book boys.”
November 7, 2025 at 7:06 PM
::movie trailer voice:: They said he was retired, but Bill Kristol has one more regime to change...
Reposted by "Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux
I think we all sorta knew this, but it's amazing to now have all the minor and local roads added to the maps. I've walked a bunch of these over the years.
Roman road network was twice as large as previously thought, new mapping project finds | Live Science
www.livescience.com/archaeology/...
www.livescience.com/archaeology/...
Roman road network was twice as large as previously thought, new mapping project finds
The new digital map increases the Roman road network by nearly 100%.
www.livescience.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:21 PM
I think we all sorta knew this, but it's amazing to now have all the minor and local roads added to the maps. I've walked a bunch of these over the years.
Reposted by "Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux
I actually have read the sign
November 7, 2025 at 5:16 PM
I actually have read the sign