A Ukip donor picked a fight with Mary Beard about history and it didn't go well

In the red corner: Mary Beard, classicist, historian, author and presenter of highbrow TV programmes. In the blue corner: Arron Banks, prominent Brexit campaigner and Ukip donor.

The fight? Did immigration cause the fall of the Roman Empire?

Yes, according to this tweet sent by Banks.

True the Roman Empire was effectively destroyed by immigration. https://t.co/V7H6zF2K5a

— Arron Banks (@Arron_banks) December 4, 2016

Beard wasn’t having any of that.

i think you all need to do a bit more reading in Roman history before telling uswhat caused the fall of Rome. Facts guys!

— mary beard (@wmarybeard) December 4, 2016

But rather than bow to the knowledge of an expert, Banks dug in and deployed the ultimate weapon of the mansplainer: the eye-roll.

@wmarybeard yes sacking Rome nothing to do with the down fall ( eyes to sky ) https://t.co/3QvAAuJGT6

— Arron Banks (@Arron_banks) December 5, 2016

And so it went on, with Beard – a professor of classics at Cambridge University whose PhD thesis was about the Roman Empire – gently pointing out that Banks might be wrong on this one, and Banks refusing to accept it.

sorry but you may have strong views but you guys don't know Roman history.

— mary beard (@wmarybeard) December 5, 2016

I studied roman history extensively - you don't have a monopoly on history ! https://t.co/7hZH8fZZWE

— Arron Banks (@Arron_banks) December 5, 2016

@Mr__XYZ @Senor_gulicreza @Fraser91A sorry mr banks but this might be a subject on which to listen to experts!

— mary beard (@wmarybeard) December 5, 2016

Sorry I didn't realise you had a single perfect version of roman history. https://t.co/nmCD2eVLce

— Arron Banks (@Arron_banks) December 5, 2016

@Mr__XYZ @Senor_gulicreza @Fraser91A I am not saying that. Hence use of plural "experts".

— mary beard (@wmarybeard) December 5, 2016

It did at least seem to end relatively amicably.

That seems to have been lost in all the excitement - i'm sure you know much more about the Roman Empire! & you seem a good sport https://t.co/jWT798ObqU

— Arron Banks (@Arron_banks) December 5, 2016

At least it provided some light relief to those watching – including JK Rowling.

"You don’t have a monopoly on history" UKIP heavy @Arron_banks takes on @wmarybeard - citing Gladiator as his sourcehttps://t.co/F1iLUcz0BD

— Otto English (@Otto_English) December 6, 2016

Bloody Professors of Classics at Cambridge University, with their 'facts' and their books that they SELL for MONEY. pic.twitter.com/vovgJF5kdy

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 5, 2016

To be fair to Arron Banks, historians have recently uncovered new evidence as to what might have led to the demise of the Roman Empire. pic.twitter.com/vosa0Ys6kh

— Andrew R (@ExcelPope) December 5, 2016

So there you have it – today’s hot topic is the fall of the Roman Empire.