{"id":27329,"date":"2025-06-20T12:34:48","date_gmt":"2025-06-20T10:34:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hlcomedytours.com\/?p=27329"},"modified":"2025-06-30T17:16:26","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T15:16:26","slug":"del-imperio-al-escandalo-cuando-roma-tambien-tenia-su-corrupcion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hlcomedytours.com\/en\/del-imperio-al-escandalo-cuando-roma-tambien-tenia-su-corrupcion\/","title":{"rendered":"From Empire to scandal: when Rome also had its corruption"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spoiler alert: the toga doesn't make you more honest. And yes, the Romans already knew what it meant to "dip their hands in the till." Discover when Rome also had its corruption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Corruption, politicking, hidden plots, illegal kickbacks, slips of paper... No, we're not talking about any current case, but about the glorious and decadent Roman Empire, which even back then had more internal plots than a Netflix series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because if today we have headlines with names of judicial operations that sound like movie titles\u2014"Kitchen," "Tandem," "Iberian Bite"\u2014the Romans were not far behind: the Senate was a mix between a parliamentary debate, a Persian market... and a forum cafeteria at 3 in the morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ready for a journey back in time that proves history not only repeats itself, but sometimes seems to laugh at us?<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"cuando<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Senators, bribes, and SPQR\u2026 which could very well mean \u201cYes, But Who Steals?\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In theory, the Roman Senate was the heart of Rome's government: wise patriarchs who looked after the people. In practice, many of these venerable senators financed campaigns, parties, and private orgies with "donations" from the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does this sound familiar? Because if this isn't a scheme of illegal financing, come and see for yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bribes were part of the system: they were offered in exchange for favors, public contracts, judicial decisions and even for advancement in political careers (the cursus honorum<\/em>, in Latin\u2026 or a crash course in corruption, depending on how you look at it).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nero, the influencer emperor (of blackmail)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Emperor Nero, one of history's most extravagant emperors, not only played the lyre while Rome burned: he also bought votes like followers. He literally bought support in the Senate and organized populist games and spectacles to keep the masses happy while emptying the public coffers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nero was a pioneer of populism: bread, circuses\u2026 and bank transfers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if someone opposed him? Easy: exile, execution, or a false accusation. Something like the lawfare<\/em> Roman version, but without Twitter.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"cuando<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Imperial-style tax fraud<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Did you think tax fraud was a modern invention? Wealthy Romans evaded taxes through complex structures, fictitious properties, or outright bribing tax collectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if anyone tried to change the system... well, they'd either end up exiled or mysteriously stabbed 23 times by their coworkers. Right, C\u00e9sar?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

"And you, Brute?"<\/em> It would be today: \u201cYou too, comrade?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Corruption made in Rome<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There were no political parties like today, but there were power groups, rival factions, and senators with hidden agendas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n