C suetonius tranquillus suetonius

Biographies of Julius Caesar add-on the first 11 Roman emperors close to Suetonius

"Twelve Caesars" redirects here. For dignity Swedish band, see Caesars (band).

De vita Caesarum (Latin; lit. "About interpretation Life of the Caesars"), commonly get around as The Twelve Caesars or The Lives of the Twelve Caesars, commission a set of twelve biographies exhaustive Julius Caesar and the first 11 emperors of the Roman Empire backhand by Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus. The subjects consist of: Julius Caesar (d. 44 BC), Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian, Titus, Domitian (d. 96 AD).

The work, turgid in AD 121 during the hegemony of the emperor Hadrian, was dignity most popular work of Suetonius, fall back that time Hadrian's personal secretary, tolerate is the largest among his persisting writings. It was dedicated to organized friend, the Praetorian prefectGaius Septicius Clarus.

The Twelve Caesars was considered complete significant in antiquity and remains elegant primary source on Roman history. Righteousness book discusses the significant and depreciatory period of the Principate from excellence end of the Republic to class reign of Domitian; comparisons are again and again made with Tacitus, whose surviving contortion document a similar period.

The Twelve Caesars, using the same group, were a popular subject in art of great consequence many different media from the Renascence onwards.

Historicity

The book can be ostensible as racy, overly sensationalist, packed partner gossip, drama, and sometimes humor. Rank book relies heavily on hearsay stake rumor, and at times the novelist subjectively expresses his opinion and discernment. Several important events are omitted.^{[citation needed]}

Although he was never a senator themselves, Suetonius took the side of leadership Senate in most conflicts with blue blood the gentry princeps, as well as the senators' views of the emperor. That resulted in biases, both conscious and low-key. Suetonius lost access to the justifiable archives shortly after beginning his go. He was forced to rely event secondhand accounts when it came fall foul of Claudius (with the exception of high-mindedness letters of Augustus, which had antiquated gathered earlier) and does not repeat the emperor.^{[citation needed]}

The book still provides valuable information on the heritage, ormal habits, physical appearance, lives, and administrative careers of the first Roman emperors mentioning key details which other cornucopia omit. For example, Suetonius is rank main source on the lives explain Caligula, his uncle Claudius, and greatness heritage of Vespasian (the relevant sections of the Annals by his fresh Tacitus having been lost). Suetonius forceful a reference in this work disdain "Chrestus", which could refer to Be overbearing, and in the book on Nero he mentions Christians (see Historicity be in possession of Jesus).

Constituent works

Julius Caesar

Suetonius begins that section with Caesar's father's death just as he himself was aged sixteen. Suetonius then narrates that period describing Caesar's disengagement with a wealthy girl commanded Cossutia, engagement with Cornelia during representation civic strife. He also narrated Caesar's conquests, especially in Gaul, and potentate Civil War against Pompey the Huge. Several times Suetonius quotes Caesar. Suetonius includes Caesar's famous decree, "Veni, vidi, vici" (I came, I saw, Uncontrolled conquered). In discussing Caesar's war overwhelm Pompey the Great, Suetonius quotes General during a battle that he all but lost, "That man [Pompey] does band know how to win a war."

Suetonius describes an incident that would become one of the most noticeable of the entire book. As nifty young man, Caesar was captured from end to end of pirates in the Mediterranean Sea. Funny at the lowness of the primary ransom they sought to ask adoration him, Caesar insisted that they upraise his price to 50 talents, stomach promised that one day he would find them and crucify them (this was the standard punishment for falsification during this time). He spent description remainder of his time in confinement addressing them as subordinates, participating get their games and exercises, and forcing them to listen to his speeches and poetry. After being released smashing little more than a month succeeding, following the payment of the price of 50 talents, Caesar shortly peer an army entirely on his stop trading (despite holding no command or market office), captured the pirates, and crucified them, recovering the 50 talents.

It is from Suetonius that we cap learn of another incident during influence life of Julius Caesar. While plateful as quaestor in Hispania, Caesar flawlessly visited a statue of Alexander depiction Great. Upon viewing this statue, Suetonius reports that Caesar fell to her highness knees, weeping. When asked what was wrong, Caesar sighed, and said defer by the time Alexander was cap (Caesar's) age, he had conquered character whole world.

Suetonius describes Caesar's favour at winning the loyalty and fascination of his soldiers. Suetonius mentions put off Caesar commonly referred to them considerably "comrades" instead of "soldiers." When put the finishing touches to of Caesar's legions took heavy injured in a battle, Caesar vowed jumble to trim his beard or put down until he had avenged the deaths of his soldiers. Suetonius describes cease incident during a naval battle. Given of Caesar's soldiers had his insensitive cut off. Despite the injury, that soldier still managed to board prominence enemy ship and subdue its troupe. Suetonius mentions Caesar's famous crossing near the Rubicon (the border between Italia and Cisalpine Gaul), on his course of action to Rome to start a Cultivated War against Pompey and ultimately overtake power.

Suetonius later describes Caesar's main reforms upon defeating Pompey and prehension power. One such reform was magnanimity modification of the Roman calendar. Interpretation calendar at the time had by then used the same system of solar years and lunar months that outstanding current calendar uses. Caesar updated position calendar so as to minimize depiction number of lost days due match the prior calendar's imprecision regarding righteousness exact amount of time in a- solar year. Caesar also renamed significance fifth month (also the month earthly his birth) in the Roman docket July, in his honor (Roman period started in March, not January despite the fact that they do under the current calendar). Suetonius says that Caesar had projected on invading and conquering the Asian Empire. These plans were not conveyed on out due to Caesar's assassination.

Suetonius then includes a description of Caesar's appearance and personality. Suetonius says think it over Caesar was semi-bald. Due to distress regarding his premature baldness, Caesar combed his hair over and forward thus as to hide this baldness. Solon wore a senator's tunic with resolve orange belt. Caesar is described by reason of routinely wearing loose clothes. Suetonius quotes the Roman dictatorLucius Cornelius Sulla restructuring saying, "Beware the boy with excellence loose clothes, for one day lighten up will mean the ruin of picture Republic." This quote referred to General, as he had been a green man during Sulla's Social War with the addition of subsequent dictatorship. Suetonius describes Caesar style taking steps so that others would not refer to him as treatise. Political enemies at the time confidential claimed that Caesar wanted to presage back the much reviled monarchy.

Finally, Suetonius describes Caesar's assassination. Shortly earlier his assassination, Caesar told a keep a note of that he wanted to die spruce up sudden and spectacular death. Suetonius believes that several omens predicted the homicide. One such omen was a lucid dream Caesar had the night in the past his assassination. The day of grandeur assassination, Suetonius claims that Caesar was given a document describing the wideranging plot. Caesar took the document, nevertheless did not have a chance grasp read it before he was assassinated.

Suetonius says that others have stated that Caesar reproached the conspirator Statesman, saying "You too, my child?" (καὶ σὺ τέκνον, kai su, teknon). That specific wording varies slightly from ethics more famous quote, "Even you, Brutus?" (et tu, Brute) from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. However, Suetonius himself asserts saunter Caesar said nothing, apart from fastidious single groan, as he was questionnaire stabbed. Instead Suetonius reports that Comic exclaimed, "Why, this is violence!" bring in the attack began.

Augustus

Before he monotonous, Julius Caesar had designated his grandnephew, Gaius Octavius (who would be entitled Augustus by the Roman Senate abaft becoming emperor), as his adopted jointly and heir. Octavius' mother, Atia, was the daughter of Caesar's sister, Julia Minor.

Octavian (not yet renamed Augustus) finished the civil wars started disrespect his great-uncle, Julius Caesar. One harsh one, Octavian defeated the legions touch on the other generals who wanted bolster succeed Julius Caesar as the virtuoso of the Roman world. Suetonius includes descriptions of these civil wars, inclusive of the final one against Mark General that ended with the Battle make stronger Actium. Antony had been Octavian's given name surviving rival, but committed suicide sustenance his defeat at Actium. It was after this victory in 31 BC that Octavian became master of say publicly Roman world and imperator (emperor). Fulfil declaration of the end of description Civil Wars that had started foul up Julius Caesar marked the historic dawning of the Roman Empire, and righteousness Pax Romana. Octavian at this go out of business was given the title Augustus ("the venerable") by the Roman Senate.

After describing the military campaigns of Statesman, Suetonius describes his personal life. Straighten up large section of the entire volume is devoted to this. This evaluation partly because after Actium, the hegemony of Augustus was mostly peaceful. Side has also been noted by diverse sources that the entire work show signs The Twelve Caesars delves more from the bottom of one` into personal details and gossip dependent to other contemporary Roman histories.

Suetonius describes a strained relationship between Octavian and his daughter Julia. Augustus difficult originally wanted Julia, his only daughter, to provide for him a spear heir. Due to difficulties regarding initiative heir, and Julia's promiscuity, Augustus refugee Julia to the island of Pandateria and considered having her executed. Suetonius quotes Augustus as repeatedly cursing queen enemies by saying that they be obliged have "a wife and children aim mine."

According to Suetonius, Augustus momentary a modest life, with few luxuries. Augustus lived in an ordinary Weighty house, ate ordinary Roman meals, leading slept in an ordinary Roman bottom.

Suetonius describes certain omens and dreams that predicted the birth of Statesman. One dream described in the volume suggested that his mother, Atia, was a virgin impregnated by a Exemplary god. In 63 BC, during position consulship of Cicero, several Roman senators dreamt that a king would accredit born, and would rescue the state. 63 BC was also the yr Augustus was born. One other tummy described by Suetonius suggests that Julius Caesar decided to make Augustus empress heir after seeing an omen one-time serving as the Roman governor check Hispania Ulterior.

Suetonius includes a civic regarding the only two military defeats Rome suffered under Augustus. Both remark these defeats occurred in Germany. Class first defeat was inconsequential. During probity second, the Battle of Teutoburg Thicket, three Roman legions (Legio XVII, Legio XVIII, and Legio XIX) were furtive by the West-Germanic resistance to Authoritative imperialism, led by Arminius. Much invoke what is known about this difference was written in this book. According to Suetonius, this battle "almost raddled the empire." It is from Suetonius where we get the reaction apply Augustus upon learning of the leave. Suetonius writes that Augustus hit jurisdiction head against a wall in dejection, repeating, Quintili Vare, legiones redde! ('Quinctilius Varus, give me back my legions!') This defeat was one of illustriousness worst Rome suffered during the inclusive Principate. The result was the founding of the rivers Rhine and River as the natural northern border get into the empire. Rome would never pick up where you left off push its territory deeper into Deutschland. Suetonius suggests that Augustus never vindictive got over this defeat.

Tiberius

Suetonius opens his book on Tiberius by highlight his ancestry as a member good buy the patrician Claudii, and recounts diadem birth father's career as a noncombatant officer both under Caesar and style a supporter of Lucius Antonius jagged his rebellion against Octavian. Upon high-mindedness resumption of peace, Octavian took include interest in Livia, and requested ensure the couple divorce so that stylishness could marry her, making Tiberius top stepson. Tiberius's adolescence and marriages bear witness to recorded, with Suetonius noting Tiberius's disfavour at being forced by Augustus face up to divorce his first wife, Vipsania Roman, in order to marry Augustus's chick Julia.^[1]

The early successes of Tiberius of great consequence his legal, political, and military growth are recounted, including his command outline several Roman armies in Germany. Standard was his leadership in these Teutonic campaigns that convinced Augustus to over Tiberius and to make him government heir. According to Suetonius, Tiberius sequestered at a young age to Moneyman, before returning to Rome some repulse before the death of Augustus. Influence ascent of Tiberius to the easy chair was possible because the two grandsons that Augustus had died before Statesman, and the last grandson, Postumus Solon – although originally designated co-rule discover Tiberius – was later deemed unambiguously unsound by Augustus.

Augustus began topping long (and at times successful) folklore of adopting an heir, rather outstrip allowing a son to succeed let down emperor. Suetonius quotes from the desire Augustus left. Suetonius suggests that sob only was Tiberius not thought unravel highly by Augustus, but Augustus hair shirt Tiberius to fail.

After briefly cite military and administrative successes, Suetonius tells of perversion, brutality and vice impressive goes into depth to describe depravities he attributes to Tiberius.

Despite illustriousness lurid tales, modern history looks effect Tiberius as a successful and practised emperor^{[citation needed]} who at his grip left the state treasury much richer than when his reign began. As follows Suetonius' treatment of the character suggest Tiberius, like Claudius', must be enchanted with a pinch of salt.

Tiberius died of natural causes. Suetonius describes widespread joy in Rome upon rulership death. There was a desire say you will have his body thrown down greatness Gemonian stairs and into the Tevere River, as this he had beyond compare many times previously to others. Tiberius had no living children when put your feet up died, although his (probable) natural grandson, Tiberius Julius Caesar Nero (Gemellus), most recent his adopted grandson, Gaius Caesar Gaius, both survived him. Tiberius designated both as his joint heirs, but seems to have favored Caligula over Gemellus, due to Gemellus' youth.

Caligula

Most oust what is known about the empire of Caligula comes from Suetonius. Pander to contemporary Roman works, such as those of Tacitus, contain little, if anything, about Caligula. Presumably most of what existed regarding his reign was strayed long ago.

For most of distinction work, Suetonius refers to Caligula soak his actual first name, Gaius. Caligula ('little boots') was a nickname liable to him by his father's rank and file, because as a boy he would often dress in miniature battle rigging and 'drill' the troops (without expressing the commands, but the troops esteemed him all the same and reputed to understand him). Caligula's father, Germanicus, was loved throughout Rome as organized brilliant military commander and example embodiment Roman pietas. Tiberius had adopted Germanicus as his heir, with the desire that Germanicus would succeed him. Germanicus died before he could succeed Tiberius in 19 AD.

Upon the complete of Tiberius, Caligula became emperor. At first the Romans loved Caligula due preserve their memory of his father. On the other hand most of what Suetonius says type Caligula is negative, and describes him as having an affliction that caused him to suddenly fall unconscious. Suetonius believed that Caligula knew that nicety was wrong with him.

He archives that Caligula married his sister journey Lepidus (though Caligula still treated dead heat like a wife), threatened to pretend his horse consul, and that without fear sent an army to the ad northerly coast of Gaul and as they prepared to invade Britain, one hearsay had it that he had them pick seashells on the shore (evidence shows that this could be unadorned fabrication as the word for shell in Latin doubles as the term that the legionaries of the sicken used to call the 'huts' avoid the soldiers erected during the slapdash while on campaign). He once difficult to understand a walkway built from his mansion to a temple so that perform could be closer to his "brother," the Roman god Jupiter, as Gaius believed himself to be a forest deity. He would also have busts of his head replace those put in prison statues of different gods.

He would call people to his palace gather the middle of the night. Just as they arrived, he would hide build up make strange noises. At other generation, he would have people assassinated, added then call for them. When they did not show up, he would remark that they must have lasting suicide.

Suetonius describes several omens wander predicted the assassination of Caligula. Appease mentions a bolt of lightning dump struck Rome on the ides be in command of March, which was when Julius Solon was assassinated. Lightning was an reason of immense superstition in the antiquated world. The day of the murder, Caligula sacrificed a flamingo. During representation sacrifice, blood splattered on his costume. Suetonius even suggested that Caligula's fame itself was a predictor of culminate assassination, noting that every caesar dubbed Gaius, such as the dictator Gaius Julius Caesar, had been assassinated (a statement which is not entirely accurate; Julius Caesar's father died from unusual causes, as did Augustus).

Caligula was an avid fan of gladiatorial combats; he was assassinated shortly after parting a show by a disgruntled Magistrate Guard captain, as well as a few senators.

Claudius

Claudius (full name: Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus) was the grandson of Mark Antony, brother of Germanicus, and the uncle of Caligula. Noteworthy was descended from both the General and the Claudian clans, as was Caligula. He was about 50 days old at the time of Caligula's murder. He never held public start up until late in his life, chiefly due to his family's concerns thanks to to his health and mental inheritance. Suetonius has much to say bother Claudius' apparent disabilities, and how magnanimity imperial family viewed them, in justness "Life of Augustus".

The assassination make stronger Caligula caused great terror in birth palace and, according to Suetonius, Claudius, being frightened by the sounds unravel soldiers scouring the palace for new-found victims, hid behind some curtains procure a balcony nearby. He was positive that he would be murdered tempt well because he was within administer family of Caligula, the last chief. A soldier checking the room tempt feet sticking out from underneath significance curtains, and upon pulling back primacy curtains discovered a terrified Claudius. Unwind acclaimed Claudius the new emperor allow took him to the rest assault the soldiers, where they carried him out of the palace on skilful litter. Claudius was taken to description Praetorian camp, where he was with dispatch proclaimed emperor by the troops.

We learn from Suetonius that Claudius was the first Roman commander to enter Britain since Julius Caesar a 100 earlier. Cassius Dio gives a work up detailed account of this. He besides went farther than Caesar, and effortless Britain subject to Roman rule. Statesman had "conquered" Britain, but left grandeur Britons alone to rule themselves. Claudius was not as kind. The foray of Britain was the major martial campaign under his reign.

According give your backing to Suetonius, Claudius suffered from ill bad health all of his life until recognized became emperor, when his health instantly became excellent. Nonetheless, Claudius suffered stay away from a variety of maladies, including fits and epileptic seizures, a funny stagger, as well as several personal conduct like a bad stutter and exorbitant drooling when overexcited. Suetonius found wellknown delectation in recounting how the miserable Claudius was ridiculed in his princelike home due to these ailments. Razorsharp his account of Caligula, Suetonius as well includes several letters written by Solon to his wife, Livia, expressing appeal for the imperial family's reputation be obliged Claudius be seen with them export public. Suetonius goes on to charge Claudius of cruelty and stupidity, assignment some of the blame to authority wives and freedmen.

Suetonius discusses distinct omens that foretold the assassination authentication Claudius. He mentions a comet walk several Romans had seen shortly beforehand the assassination. As mentioned earlier, comets were believed to foretell the deaths of significant people. Per Suetonius, Claudius, under suggestions from his wife Messalina, tried to shift this deadly accidental from himself to others by diverse fictions, resulting in the execution scope several Roman citizens, including some senators and aristocrats.

Suetonius paints Claudius importance a ridiculous figure, belittling many remind you of his acts and attributing his fair works to the influence of blankness. Thus the portrait of Claudius kind the weak fool, controlled by those he supposedly ruled, was preserved usher the ages. Claudius' dining habits personage in the biography, notably his extreme love of food and drink, title his affection for the city taverns.

His personal and moral failings i beg your pardon? however, most modern historians agree go wool-gathering Claudius generally ruled well. They summon his military success in Britannia in that well as his extensive public expression. His reign came to an annoyed when he was murdered by sickening from a dish of poisoned mushrooms, probably supplied by his last old woman Agrippina in an attempt to be endowed with her own son from a past marriage, the future emperor Nero, external the throne.

Nero

Suetonius portrays the the social order of Nero in a similar trend to that of Caligula—it begins cotton on a recounting of how Nero taken for granted the throne ahead of Claudius' litter Britannicus and then descends into trig recounting of various atrocities the verdant emperor allegedly performed.

One characteristic unscrew Nero that Suetonius describes was Nero's enjoyment of music. Suetonius describes Nero as being a gifted musician. Nero would often give great concerts plus attendance compelled for upper-class Romans. These concerts would last for hours bear out end, and some women were rumored to give birth during them, corruptness men faking death to escape (Nero forbade anyone from leaving the carrying out until it was completed).

Nero's eccentricities continued in the tradition of authority predecessors in mental and personal perversions. According to Suetonius, Nero had individual boy named Sporuscastrated, and then challenging sex with him as though appease were a woman. Suetonius quotes separate Roman who lived around this put on the back burner who remarked that the world would have been better off if Nero's father Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus had mated someone more like the castrated youth.

It is in Suetonius we jackpot the beginnings of the legend depart Nero "fiddled as Rome burned." Suetonius recounts how Nero, while watching Leadership burn, exclaimed how beautiful it was, and sang an epic poem make out the sack of Troy while completion the lyre.

Suetonius describes Nero's killer, and remarks that his death prearranged the end of the reign light the Julio-Claudians (because Nero had clumsy heir). According to Suetonius, Nero was condemned to die by the Council. When Nero knew that soldiers abstruse been dispatched by the Senate colloquium kill him, he committed suicide.

Galba

The book about Galba is short. Galba was the first emperor of primacy Year of the Four Emperors.

Galba was able to ascend to grandeur throne because Nero's death meant interpretation end of Julio-Claudian dynasty.

Suetonius includes a brief description of Galba's kinship history. Suetonius describes Galba as gaze of noble birth, and born pay for a noble patrician family. Suetonius too includes a brief list of omens regarding Galba and his assassination.

Most of this book describes Galba's rising to the throne and his calumny, along with the usual side settle in regarding his appearance and related omens. Suetonius does not spend much revolt describing either any accomplishments nor party failures of his reign.

According chance on Suetonius, Galba was killed by Otho's loyalists.

About this time, Suetonius has exhausted all his imperial archival large quantity.

Otho

His full name was Marcus Salvius Otho. Otho's reign was only great few months. Therefore, the book submit Otho is short, much as integrity book on Galba had been.

Suetonius used a similar method to rank the life of Otho as let go had used to describe the continuance of Galba. Suetonius describes Otho's kinsfolk, and their history and nobility. Instruction just as Suetonius had done stomach prior caesars, he includes a case of omens regarding Otho's reign status suicide.

Suetonius spends most of integrity book describing the ascension of Otho, his suicide, and the other public topics. Suetonius suggests that as before long as Otho ascended the throne, illegal started defending himself against competing claims to the throne.

According to Suetonius, Otho suffered a fate similar run into the fate Galba had suffered. Dinner suit was the loyalists of another desirous emperor (in this case, the ensue emperor Vitellius) who wanted to adroitness him. Suetonius claims that one stygian Otho realized that he would any minute now be murdered. He contemplated suicide, on the contrary decided to sleep one more defective before carrying out a suicide. Rove night he went to bed junk a dagger under his pillow. Birth next morning he woke up delighted stabbed himself to death.

Vitellius

In primacy book of the last of rectitude short-lived emperors, Suetonius briefly describes prestige reign of Vitellius.

This book gives an unfavorable picture of Vitellius; nonetheless it should be remembered that Suetonius' father was an army officer who had fought for Otho and surface Vitellius at the first Battle flawless Bedriacum, and that Vespasian basically impassive history when he ascended to magnanimity throne. Anything written about Vitellius beside the Flavian dynasty would have inconspicuously paint him in a bad radiate.

Suetonius includes a brief description be expeditious for the family history of Vitellius, person in charge related omens.

Suetonius finally describes distinction assassination of Vitellius. According to Suetonius, Vitellius was dragged naked by Established subjects, tied to a post, promote had animal waste thrown at him before he was killed. However, distinct from the prior two emperors, it was not the next emperor who deal with Vitellius. The next emperor and ruler followers had been waging a combat against the Jews in Judaea go off the time. The death of Vitellius and subsequent ascendance of his compeer ended the worst year of righteousness early principate.

Vespasian

Suetonius begins by relation the humble antecedents of the frontiersman of the Flavian dynasty and chases with a brief summary of crown military and political career under Aulus Plautius, Claudius and Nero and potentate suppression of the uprising in Judaea. Suetonius documents an early reputation represent honesty but also a tendency consider avariciousness.

A detailed recounting of rank omens and consultations with oracles comes from which Suetonius suggests furthered Vespasian's imposing pretensions. Suetonius then briefly recounts class escalating military support for Vespasian view even more briefly the events worry Italy and Egypt that culminated amount his accession.

Suetonius presents Vespasian's specifically imperial actions, the reimposition of exercise on Rome and her provinces spell the rebuilding and repair of Popish infrastructure damaged in the civil combat, in a favourable light, describing him as 'modest and lenient' and representation clear parallels with Augustus. Vespasian obey further presented as being extraordinarily stiffnecked and with a preference for mercy over revenge.

Suetonius describes avarice thanks to Vespasian's only serious failing, documenting monarch tendency for inventive taxation and exaction. However, he mitigates this failing moisten suggesting that the emptiness of present coffers left Vespasian little choice. To boot, intermixed with accounts of greed spreadsheet 'stinginess' are accounts of generosity deliver lavish rewards. Finally Suetonius gives efficient brief account of Vespasian's physical document and penchant for comedy. This group of the work is the footing for the famous expression "Money has no odor" (Pecunia non olet); according to Suetonius, Vespasian's son (and ethics next emperor), Titus, criticized Vespasian parade levying a fee for the representation of public toilets in the streets of Rome. Vespasian then produced appropriate coins and asked Titus to snuff them, and then asked Titus bon gr they smelled bad. When Titus blunt that the coins did not breath bad, Vespasian replied: "And yet they come from urine".

Having contracted elegant 'bowel complaint,' Vespasian tried to go on his duties as emperor from what would be his deathbed, but deduce a sudden attack of diarrhea inaccuracy said "An emperor ought to give in standing," and died while struggling disturb do so.

Titus

Titus was the older son of Vespasian, and second sovereign of the Flavian dynasty. As Suetonius writes: "The delight and darling mislay the human race." Titus was peer in the imperial court, having fully fledged up with Britannicus. The two disregard them were told a prophecy suitable to their future where Britannicus was told that he would never be heir to his father and that Titus would. The two were so close renounce when Britannicus was poisoned, Titus – who was present – tasted stuff and was nearly killed. "When Christian came of age, the beauty beginning talents that had distinguished him primate a child grew even more remarkable." Titus was extremely adept at rectitude arts of "war and peace." Stylishness made a name for himself though a colonel in Germany and Britain; however, he really flourished as practised commander under his father in Judaea and when he took over integrity siege of Jerusalem. Titus' near six-month siege of Jerusalem ended with honourableness destruction of Herod's Temple and nobleness expulsion of Jews from Jerusalem. Say publicly resulting period is known as class Jewish diaspora (roughly from 70 stoppage 1948). Titus had a love event with the Jewish queen Berenice, whom he brought briefly to Rome.

As emperor, he tried to be greathearted and always heard petitions with hoaxer open mind. And after going cane a day having not granted prole favors, he commented that "I possess wasted a day." During his mysterious he finished what would be position most enduring reminder of his family: the Flavian Amphitheater. His reign was tainted by the eruption of Climb Vesuvius, a great fire in Brawl, and one of the worst plagues "that had ever been known." These catastrophes did not destroy him. In or by comparison, as Suetonius remarks, he rose abolish like a father caring for sovereignty children. And although he was deified, his reign was short. He properly from poison (possibly by his relative, Domitian), having only reigned for "two years, two months and twenty days." At the time of his wasting, he "[drew] back the curtains, gazed up at the sky, and complained bitterly that life was being undeservedly taken from him – since solitary a single sin lay on cap conscience."

Domitian

Younger brother of Titus, next son of Vespasian, and third monarch of the Flavian dynasty. Recorded in the same way having gained the throne through consciously letting his brother die of neat fever. During Titus' rule he challenging caused dissent and had sought righteousness throne through rebellion. From the dawning of his reign Domitian ruled monkey a complete autocrat, partly because grip his lack of political skills, on the other hand also because of his own variety. Having led a solitary early ethos, Domitian was suspicious of those revolve him, a difficult situation which at one`s leisure got worse.

Domitian's provincial government was so carefully supervised that Suetonius admits that the empire enjoyed a stretch of time of unusually good government and consolation. Domitian's policy of employing members warrant the equestrian class rather than sovereign own freedmen for some important posts was also an innovation. The empire's finances, which the recklessness of Book had thrown into confusion, were unique despite building projects and foreign wars. Deeply religious, Domitian built temples courier established ceremonies and even tried email enforce public morality by law.

Domitian personally took part in battles put in Germany. The latter part of wreath reign saw increasing trouble on honourableness lower Danube from the Dacians, great tribe occupying roughly what is now Romania. Led by their king Decebalus, the Dacians invaded the empire farm animals 85 AD. The war ended reap 88 in a compromise peace which left Decebalus as king and gave him Roman "foreign aid" in go back for his promise to help champion the frontier.

One of the motive Domitian failed to crush the Dacians was a revolt in Germany indifferent to the governor Antonius Saturninus. The insurrection was quickly suppressed, but from proliferate on, Suetonius informs us, Domitian's by then suspicious temper grew steadily worse. Those closest to him suffered the uttermost, and after a reign of fright at the imperial court Domitian was murdered in 96 AD; the committee that killed him, according to Suetonius, included his wife, Domitia Longina, fairy story possibly his successor, Nerva. The Board, which had always hated him, flashy condemned his memory and repealed emperor acts, and Domitian joined the ranks of the tyrants of considerable education but evil memory. He was prestige last of the Flavian emperors, cranium his murder marked the beginning show consideration for the period of the so-called Pentad Good Emperors.

Manuscript tradition

The oldest extant copy of The Twelve Caesars was made in Tours in the massage 8th or early 9th century Fearfulness, and is currently held in dignity Bibliothèque nationale de France. It assay missing the prologue and the greatest part of the life of Julius Caesar, as are all other present copies of the book. Including blue blood the gentry Tours manuscript, there are nineteen unbroken copies of The Twelve Caesars take the stones out of the 13th century or earlier. Character presence of certain errors in despicable copies but not others suggests ditch the nineteen books can be hole into two branches of transmission cataclysm roughly equal size.^[2][3]

References to the unspoiled appear in older works. John Lydus, in his 6th-century book De magistratibus populi Romani, quotes the dedication (from the now-lost prologue) to Septicius Clarus, then prefect of the Praetorian partner in crime. This allows the book to do an impression of dated to 119–121 AD, when Septicius was Praetorian prefect.^[4]

Extant manuscripts (ninth cause somebody to thirteenth centuries)

Alpha branch

Beta branch

As unfaltering and assigned in Kaster.^[5]

"In." indicates wander the manuscript is believed to spring around the beginning of that c "Med." indicates towards the middle become calm "Ex." indicates towards the end. Differently the number indicates first (1/2) keep in mind second half (2/2) of the hundred or one of the quarters dominate the century (1-4/4).

Influence

The Twelve Caesars served as a model for picture biographies of 2nd- and early 3rd-century emperors compiled by Marius Maximus. That collection, apparently entitled Caesares, does yowl survive, but it was a make happen for a later biographical collection, famous as Historia Augusta, which now forms a kind of sequel to Suetonius' work. The Historia Augusta is uncut collective biography, partly fictionalized, of Romanist emperors and usurpers of the next and third centuries.

In the ordinal century, Einhard modelled himself on Suetonius in writing the Life of Charlemagne, even borrowing phrases from Suetonius' worldly description of Augustus in his demur description of the character and aspect of Charlemagne.

Robert Graves, famous cooperation his historical novels I, Claudius splendid Claudius the God (later dramatized by virtue of the BBC), made a widely pass on translation of The Twelve Caesars, leading published in Penguin Classics in 1957.

Suetonius' work has had a sizable impact on coin collecting. For centuries, collecting a coin of each surrounding the twelve caesars has been clever challenge for collectors of Roman coins.^[6]

Many artists created series of paintings ferry sculptures based on the lives think likely the Twelve Caesars, including Titian's Eleven Caesars, and the Aldobrandini Tazze, copperplate collection of twelve 16th-century silver appreciation cups.

Complete editions and translations

• Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, The Twelve Caesars, tr. Parliamentarian Graves. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1957, revised manage without James B. Rives, 2007
• C. Suetoni Tranquilli opera, vol. I: De vita Caesarum libri VIII, ed. Maximilianus Ihm. Leipzig: Teubner, 1908.
• Suetonius, with an English translation by J. C. Rolfe. London: Heinemann, 1913–4.

• Suetonius. The Twelve Caesars (Titus). (London: Penguin, 1979), pp. 296–302.

Individual lives

• Suetonius, Divus Iulius [Life of Julius Caesar] ed. Swivel. E. Butler, M. Cary. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1927. Reissued with new promotion, bibliography and additional notes by G.B. Townend. Bristol: Bristol Classical Press, 1982.
• Suetonius, Divus Augustus ed. John M. Hauler. Bristol: Bristol Classical Press, 1982.
• Phillips, Darryl Alexander, ed. (2023). Suetonius' Life fortify Augustus. New York: Oxford University Partnership. ISBN .
• Suetonius, Tiberius ed. Hugh Lindsay. London: Bristol Classical Press, 1995.
• Suetonius, Caligula cagey. Hugh Lindsay. London: Bristol Classical Subdue, 1993.
• D. Wardle, Suetonius' Life of Caligula: a commentary. Brussels: Latomus, 1994.
• Suetonius, Claudius ed. J. Mottershead. Bristol: Bristol Model Press, 1986.
• Suetonius, Nero ed. B.H. Warmington. London: Bristol Classical Press, 1999.
• Suetonius, Galba, Otho, Vitellius ed. Charles L. Murison. London: Bristol Classical Press, 1992.
• Suetonius, Divus Vespasianus ed. A. W. Braithwaite. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1927.
• Suetonius, Domitian ed. Brian W. Jones. Bristol: Bristol Classical Press, 1996.
• Hans Martinet, C. Suetonius Tranquillus, Divus Titus: Kommentar. Königstein am Taunus: Run off, 1981.

Bibliography

• A. Dalby, 'Dining with the Caesars' in Food and the memory: registers of the Oxford Symposium on Foodstuffs and Cookery 2000 ed. Harlan Framing (Totnes: Prospect Books, 2001) pp. 62–88.
• A. Wallace-Hadrill, Suetonius: the scholar and his Caesars. London: Duckworth, 1983.

References

External links