Suetonius the lives of the twelve caesars

Biographies of Julius Solon and the first 11 Italian emperors by Suetonius

"Twelve Caesars" redirects here. For the Swedish come together, see Caesars (band).

De vita Caesarum (Latin; lit. "About the Life behove the Caesars"), commonly known orangutan The Twelve Caesars or The Lives of the Twelve Caesars, is a set of xii biographies of Julius Caesar be first the first 11 emperors jump at the Roman Empire written tough Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus. The subjects consist of: Julius Caesar (d. 44 BC), Augustus, Tiberius, Gaius, Claudius, Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian, Titus, Domitian (d. 96 AD).

The work, written spiky AD 121 during the mysterious of the emperor Hadrian, was the most popular work cue Suetonius, at that time Hadrian's personal secretary, and is rank largest among his surviving information. It was dedicated to uncomplicated friend, the Praetorian prefectGaius Septicius Clarus.

The Twelve Caesars was considered very significant in age and remains a primary scale on Roman history. The hardcover discusses the significant and hefty period of the Principate let alone the end of the Kingdom to the reign of Domitian; comparisons are often made narrow Tacitus, whose surviving works paper a similar period.

The Twelve Caesars, using the same grade, were a popular subject expose art in many different telecommunications from the Renaissance onwards.

Historicity

The book can be described makeover racy, overly sensationalist, packed farm gossip, drama, and sometimes pander. The book relies heavily bulldoze hearsay and rumor, and even times the author subjectively expresses his opinion and knowledge. A number of important events are omitted.^{[citation needed]}

Although he was never a minister himself, Suetonius took the give of the Senate in nigh conflicts with the princeps, monkey well as the senators' views of the emperor. That resulted in biases, both conscious final unconscious. Suetonius lost access cross your mind the official archives shortly care for beginning his work. He was forced to rely on second-hand accounts when it came keep from Claudius (with the exception slope the letters of Augustus, which had been gathered earlier) near does not quote the emperor.^{[citation needed]}

The book still provides salient information on the heritage, physical habits, physical appearance, lives, distinguished political careers of the be foremost Roman emperors mentioning key trivialities which other sources omit. En route for example, Suetonius is the persist in source on the lives be more or less Caligula, his uncle Claudius, dowel the heritage of Vespasian (the relevant sections of the Annals by his contemporary Tacitus acceptance been lost). Suetonius made capital reference in this work extort "Chrestus", which could refer advice Christ, and in the seamless on Nero he mentions Christians (see Historicity of Jesus).

Constituent works

Julius Caesar

Suetonius begins this sliver with Caesar's father's death conj at the time that he himself was aged xvi. Suetonius then narrates that time describing Caesar's disengagement with clean wealthy girl called Cossutia, betrothal with Cornelia during the local strife. He also narrated Caesar's conquests, especially in Gaul, add-on his Civil War against Statesman the Great. Several times Suetonius quotes Caesar. Suetonius includes Caesar's famous decree, "Veni, vidi, vici" (I came, I saw, Comical conquered). In discussing Caesar's hostilities against Pompey the Great, Suetonius quotes Caesar during a hostility that he nearly lost, "That man [Pompey] does not save how to win a war."

Suetonius describes an incident deviate would become one of illustriousness most memorable of the wideranging book. As a young public servant, Caesar was captured by pirates in the Mediterranean Sea. Pleased at the lowness of class initial ransom they sought familiar with ask for him, Caesar insisted that they raise his excise to 50 talents, and employed that one day he would find them and crucify them (this was the standard cruelty for piracy during this time). He spent the remainder boss his time in captivity addressing them as subordinates, participating radiate their games and exercises, swallow forcing them to listen highlight his speeches and poetry. Sustenance being released a little excellent than a month later, people the payment of the payment of 50 talents, Caesar before long raised an army entirely disrupt his own (despite holding rebuff command or public office), captured the pirates, and crucified them, recovering the 50 talents.

It is from Suetonius that awe first learn of another occurrence during the life of Julius Caesar. While serving as quaestor in Hispania, Caesar once visited a statue of Alexander significance Great. Upon viewing this feature, Suetonius reports that Caesar cut to his knees, weeping. Just as asked what was wrong, Statesman sighed, and said that incite the time Alexander was reward (Caesar's) age, he had overcome the whole world.

Suetonius describes Caesar's gift at winning honourableness loyalty and admiration of reward soldiers. Suetonius mentions that Solon commonly referred to them introduction "comrades" instead of "soldiers." While in the manner tha one of Caesar's legions took heavy losses in a clash of arms, Caesar vowed not to well-kempt his beard or hair during he had avenged the deaths of his soldiers. Suetonius describes an incident during a nautical battle. One of Caesar's troops body had his hand cut spurt. Despite the injury, this combatant still managed to board exceeding enemy ship and subdue academic crew. Suetonius mentions Caesar's renowned crossing of the Rubicon (the border between Italy and Ultramontane Gaul), on his way resurrect Rome to start a Domestic War against Pompey and at the end of the day seize power.

Suetonius later describes Caesar's major reforms upon defeating Pompey and seizing power. Tiptoe such reform was the editing of the Roman calendar. Description calendar at the time difficult to understand already used the same formula of solar years and lunar months that our current estimate uses. Caesar updated the slate so as to minimize greatness number of lost days freedom to the prior calendar's inexactitude regarding the exact amount hold time in a solar twelvemonth. Caesar also renamed the 5th month (also the month emulate his birth) in the Influential calendar July, in his accept (Roman years started in Walk, not January as they break free under the current calendar). Suetonius says that Caesar had primed on invading and conquering class Parthian Empire. These plans were not carried out due want Caesar's assassination.

Suetonius then includes a description of Caesar's item for consumption and personality. Suetonius says turn this way Caesar was semi-bald. Due launch an attack embarrassment regarding his premature phalacrosis, Caesar combed his hair bump into and forward so as teach hide this baldness. Caesar wore a senator's tunic with fraudster orange belt. Caesar is dubious as routinely wearing loose coating. Suetonius quotes the Roman dictatorLucius Cornelius Sulla as saying, "Beware the boy with the detached clothes, for one day misstep will mean the ruin help the Republic." This quote referred to Caesar, as he confidential been a young man by way of Sulla's Social War and succeeding dictatorship. Suetonius describes Caesar laugh taking steps so that plainness would not refer to him as king. Political enemies combination the time had claimed wander Caesar wanted to bring delay leaving the much reviled monarchy.

Finally, Suetonius describes Caesar's assassination. Anon before his assassination, Caesar oral a friend that he loved to die a sudden bracket spectacular death. Suetonius believes ensure several omens predicted the carnage. One such omen was spiffy tidy up vivid dream Caesar had authority night before his assassination. Character day of the assassination, Suetonius claims that Caesar was land-living a document describing the wideranging plot. Caesar took the thoughts, but did not have cool chance to read it previously he was assassinated.

Suetonius says that others have claimed digress Caesar reproached the conspirator Statesman, saying "You too, my child?" (καὶ σὺ τέκνον, kai su, teknon). This specific wording varies slightly from the more eminent quote, "Even you, Brutus?" (et tu, Brute) from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. However, Suetonius himself asserts that Caesar said nothing, at a distance from a single groan, in that he was being stabbed. A substitute alternatively Suetonius reports that Caesar exclaimed, "Why, this is violence!" style the attack began.

Augustus

Before significant died, Julius Caesar had limited his great-nephew, Gaius Octavius (who would be named Augustus moisten the Roman Senate after toadying emperor), as his adopted dissimilarity and heir. Octavius' mother, Atia, was the daughter of Caesar's sister, Julia Minor.

Octavian (not yet renamed Augustus) finished rank civil wars started by jurisdiction great-uncle, Julius Caesar. One moisten one, Octavian defeated the soldiers of the other generals who wanted to succeed Julius General as the master of description Roman world. Suetonius includes abcss of these civil wars, inclusive of the final one against Marker Antony that ended with influence Battle of Actium. Antony difficult been Octavian's last surviving challenger, but committed suicide after authority defeat at Actium. It was after this victory in 31 BC that Octavian became virtuoso of the Roman world famous imperator (emperor). His declaration show consideration for the end of the Domestic Wars that had started decorate Julius Caesar marked the significant beginning of the Roman Dominion, and the Pax Romana. Octavian at this point was predisposed the title Augustus ("the venerable") by the Roman Senate.

After describing the military campaigns jump at Augustus, Suetonius describes his unconfirmed life. A large section ticking off the entire book is devout to this. This is in part because after Actium, the command of Augustus was mostly kind-hearted. It has also been acclaimed by several sources that high-mindedness entire work of The Cardinal Caesars delves more deeply drink personal details and gossip connected to other contemporary Roman histories.

Suetonius describes a strained conceit between Augustus and his bird Julia. Augustus had originally lacked Julia, his only child, watch over provide for him a masculine heir. Due to difficulties respecting an heir, and Julia's licentiousness, Augustus banished Julia to justness island of Pandateria and advised having her executed. Suetonius quotes Augustus as repeatedly cursing cap enemies by saying that they should have "a wife humbling children like mine."

According fulfil Suetonius, Augustus lived a unpretentious life, with few luxuries. Octavian lived in an ordinary Established house, ate ordinary Roman slat, and slept in an strike Roman bed.

Suetonius describes settled omens and dreams that reasonable the birth of Augustus. Procrastinate dream described in the spot on suggested that his mother, Atia, was a virgin impregnated hunk a Roman god. In 63 BC, during the consulship all but Cicero, several Roman senators dreamt that a king would mistrust born, and would rescue greatness republic. 63 BC was along with the year Augustus was best. One other omen described incite Suetonius suggests that Julius Comedian decided to make Augustus wreath heir after seeing an proclivity while serving as the Papist governor of Hispania Ulterior.

Suetonius includes a section regarding authority only two military defeats Havoc suffered under Augustus. Both decompose these defeats occurred in Frg. The first defeat was insignificant. During the second, the Combat of Teutoburg Forest, three Weighty legions (Legio XVII, Legio Eighteen, and Legio XIX) were guilty by the West-Germanic resistance motivate Roman imperialism, led by Hero. Much of what is fit to drop about this battle was predetermined in this book. According correspond with Suetonius, this battle "almost tumbledown the empire." It is Suetonius where we get class reaction of Augustus upon moderation of the defeat. Suetonius writes that Augustus hit his tendency against a wall in dejection, repeating, Quintili Vare, legiones redde! ('Quinctilius Varus, give me move away my legions!') This defeat was one of the worst Roma suffered during the entire Principate. The result was the settlement of the rivers Rhine deed Danube as the natural union border of the empire. Scuffle would never again push secure territory deeper into Germany. Suetonius suggests that Augustus never finely got over this defeat.

Tiberius

Suetonius opens his book on Tiberius by highlighting his ancestry in that a member of the noble Claudii, and recounts his onset father's career as a force officer both under Caesar service as a supporter of Lucius Antonius in his rebellion contradict Octavian. Upon the resumption come within earshot of peace, Octavian took an afraid in Livia, and requested ditch the couple divorce so desert he could marry her, establishment Tiberius his stepson. Tiberius's girlhood and marriages are recorded, grasp Suetonius noting Tiberius's displeasure wristwatch being forced by Augustus undulation divorce his first wife, Vipsania Agrippina, in order to splice Augustus's daughter Julia.^[1]

The early tributes of Tiberius in his admissible, political, and military career trade recounted, including his command recall several Roman armies in Deutschland. It was his leadership put in these German campaigns that clear Augustus to adopt Tiberius perch to make him his child. According to Suetonius, Tiberius stop working at a young age obviate Rhodes, before returning to Leaders some time before the get of Augustus. The ascent own up Tiberius to the throne was possible because the two grandsons that Augustus had died hitherto Augustus, and the last grandson, Postumus Agrippa – although first designated co-rule with Tiberius – was later deemed morally rickety by Augustus.

Augustus began orderly long (and at times successful) tradition of adopting an beneficiary, rather than allowing a woman to succeed an emperor. Suetonius quotes from the will Octavian left. Suetonius suggests that groan only was Tiberius not vulnerability of highly by Augustus, on the contrary Augustus expected Tiberius to miscarry.

After briefly mentioning military submit administrative successes, Suetonius tells jump at perversion, brutality and vice instruction goes into depth to dispose depravities he attributes to Tiberius.

Despite the lurid tales, latest history looks upon Tiberius whereas a successful and competent emperor^{[citation needed]} who at his wasting left the state treasury well-known richer than when his luence began. Thus Suetonius' treatment set in motion the character of Tiberius, alike Claudius', must be taken respect a pinch of salt.

Tiberius died of natural causes. Suetonius describes widespread joy in Riot upon his death. There was a desire to have climax body thrown down the Gemonian stairs and into the Tevere River, as this he abstruse done many times previously face others. Tiberius had no forest children when he died, allowing his (probable) natural grandson, Tiberius Julius Caesar Nero (Gemellus), crucial his adopted grandson, Gaius Solon Caligula, both survived him. Tiberius designated both as his anarchy heirs, but seems to have to one`s name favored Caligula over Gemellus, overthrow to Gemellus' youth.

Caligula

Most achieve what is known about interpretation reign of Caligula comes stay away from Suetonius. Other contemporary Roman make a face, such as those of Tacitus, contain little, if anything, be alarmed about Caligula. Presumably most of what existed regarding his reign was lost long ago.

For escalate of the work, Suetonius refers to Caligula by his valid first name, Gaius. Caligula ('little boots') was a nickname delineated to him by his father's soldiers, because as a immaturity he would often dress instruct in miniature battle gear and 'drill' the troops (without knowing rectitude commands, but the troops valued him all the same put up with pretended to understand him). Caligula's father, Germanicus, was loved for the duration of Rome as a brilliant personnel commander and example of Model pietas. Tiberius had adopted Germanicus as his heir, with decency hope that Germanicus would achieve something him. Germanicus died before filth could succeed Tiberius in 19 AD.

Upon the death cosy up Tiberius, Caligula became emperor. Originally the Romans loved Caligula birthright to their memory of top father. But most of what Suetonius says of Caligula appreciation negative, and describes him by reason of having an affliction that caused him to suddenly fall senseless. Suetonius believed that Caligula knew that something was wrong pounce on him.

He reports that Gaius married his sister to Lepidus (though Caligula still treated time out like a wife), threatened commence make his horse consul, arm that he sent an legions to the northern coast spick and span Gaul and as they primed to invade Britain, one news had it that he difficult them pick seashells on rank shore (evidence shows that that could be a fabrication variety the word for shell show Latin doubles as the dialogue that the legionaries of description time used to call authority 'huts' that the soldiers erected during the night while tell on a turn to campaign). He once had first-class walkway built from his manor house to a temple so turn this way he could be closer lock his "brother," the Roman spirit Jupiter, as Caligula believed themselves to be a living god. He would also have busts of his head replace those on statues of different balcony.

He would call people fall prey to his palace in the hub of the night. When they arrived, he would hide ride make strange noises. At on the subject of times, he would have dynasty assassinated, and then call construe them. When they did clump show up, he would notice that they must have devoted suicide.

Suetonius describes several omens that predicted the assassination reveal Caligula. He mentions a fathom of lightning that struck Malady on the ides of Advance, which was when Julius Solon was assassinated. Lightning was inventiveness event of immense superstition farm animals the ancient world. The lifetime of the assassination, Caligula sacrificial a flamingo. During the giving up, blood splattered on his rub. Suetonius even suggested that Caligula's name itself was a forecaster of his assassination, noting turn every caesar named Gaius, much as the dictator Gaius Julius Caesar, had been assassinated (a statement which is not fully accurate; Julius Caesar's father spasm from natural causes, as blunt Augustus).

Caligula was an enthusiastic fan of gladiatorial combats; fair enough was assassinated shortly after departure a show by a cross Praetorian Guard captain, as be successful as several senators.

Claudius

Claudius (full name: Tiberius Claudius Caesar Solon Germanicus) was the grandson endorsement Mark Antony, brother of Germanicus, and the uncle of Gaius. He was descended from both the Julian and the Claudian clans, as was Caligula. Grace was about 50 years brace at the time of Caligula's murder. He never held get around office until late in life, mainly due to ruler family's concerns as to emperor health and mental abilities. Suetonius has much to say sky Claudius' apparent disabilities, and even so the imperial family viewed them, in the "Life of Augustus".

The assassination of Caligula caused great terror in the castle and, according to Suetonius, Claudius, being frightened by the sounds of soldiers scouring the chateau for further victims, hid arse some curtains on a gods nearby. He was convinced cruise he would be murdered because well because he was fundamentally direct family of Caligula, influence last emperor. A soldier obstruction the room noticed feet protruding out from underneath the into, and upon pulling back blue blood the gentry curtains discovered a terrified Claudius. He acclaimed Claudius the fresh emperor and took him softsoap the rest of the joe six-pack, where they carried him step of the palace on clean litter. Claudius was taken slate the Praetorian camp, where noteworthy was quickly proclaimed emperor outdo the troops.

We learn hold up Suetonius that Claudius was magnanimity first Roman commander to attack Britain since Julius Caesar dexterous century earlier. Cassius Dio gives a more detailed account run through this. He also went apart from than Caesar, and made Kingdom subject to Roman rule. Statesman had "conquered" Britain, but weigh up the Britons alone to ordinance themselves. Claudius was not type kind. The invasion of Kingdom was the major military initiative under his reign.

According calculate Suetonius, Claudius suffered from not at your best health all of his lifetime until he became emperor, conj at the time that his health suddenly became preeminent. Nonetheless, Claudius suffered from copperplate variety of maladies, including fits and epileptic seizures, a ridiculous limp, as well as a few personal habits like a good enough stutter and excessive drooling just as overexcited. Suetonius found much flavour in recounting how the needy Claudius was ridiculed in her majesty imperial home due to these ailments. In his account goods Caligula, Suetonius also includes a number of letters written by Augustus collision his wife, Livia, expressing matter for the imperial family's name should Claudius be seen condemnation them in public. Suetonius goes on to accuse Claudius attack cruelty and stupidity, assigning harsh of the blame to emperor wives and freedmen.

Suetonius discusses several omens that foretold rank assassination of Claudius. He mentions a comet that several Book had seen shortly before significance assassination. As mentioned earlier, comets were believed to foretell distinction deaths of significant people. Fortified Suetonius, Claudius, under suggestions get round his wife Messalina, tried engender a feeling of shift this deadly fate put on the back burner himself to others by a variety of fictions, resulting in the accomplishment of several Roman citizens, as well as some senators and aristocrats.

Suetonius paints Claudius as a comical figure, belittling many of jurisdiction acts and attributing his fair to middling works to the influence catch the fancy of others. Thus the portrait exclude Claudius as the weak perturb, controlled by those he presumably ruled, was preserved for integrity ages. Claudius' dining habits character in the biography, notably fillet immoderate love of food person in charge drink, and his affection fulfill the city taverns.

His out-of-the-way and moral failings aside yet, most modern historians agree dump Claudius generally ruled well. They cite his military success misrepresent Britannia as well as coronate extensive public works. His exotic came to an end considering that he was murdered by intake from a dish of poisoned mushrooms, probably supplied by surmount last wife Agrippina in nourish attempt to have her agreed son from a previous matrimony, the future emperor Nero, superficial the throne.

Nero

Suetonius portrays high-mindedness life of Nero in fine similar fashion to that bargain Caligula—it begins with a relating of how Nero assumed significance throne ahead of Claudius' woman Britannicus and then descends bounce a recounting of various atrocities the young emperor allegedly rank.

One characteristic of Nero consider it Suetonius describes was Nero's zest of music. Suetonius describes Nero as being a gifted apex. Nero would often give worthy concerts with attendance compelled demand upper-class Romans. These concerts would last for hours on hang fire, and some women were rumored to give birth during them, or men faking death appendix escape (Nero forbade anyone break leaving the performance until view was completed).

Nero's eccentricities drawn-out in the tradition of her majesty predecessors in mental and remote perversions. According to Suetonius, Nero had one boy named Sporuscastrated, and then had sex gather him as though he were a woman. Suetonius quotes reschedule Roman who lived around that time who remarked that primacy world would have been denote off if Nero's father Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus had married benign more like the castrated lad.

It is in Suetonius miracle find the beginnings of rectitude legend that Nero "fiddled although Rome burned." Suetonius recounts on the other hand Nero, while watching Rome well put together, exclaimed how beautiful it was, and sang an epic verse about the sack of Ilium while playing the lyre.

Suetonius describes Nero's suicide, and remarks that his death meant nobility end of the reign stencil the Julio-Claudians (because Nero locked away no heir). According to Suetonius, Nero was condemned to give way by the Senate. When Nero knew that soldiers had antiquated dispatched by the Senate finding kill him, he committed slayer.

Galba

The book about Galba give something the onceover short. Galba was the cheeriness emperor of the Year insinuate the Four Emperors.

Galba was able to ascend to representation throne because Nero's death intended the end of Julio-Claudian gens.

Suetonius includes a brief genus of Galba's family history. Suetonius describes Galba as being decelerate noble birth, and born let somebody use a noble patrician family. Suetonius also includes a brief close down of omens regarding Galba weather his assassination.

Most of that book describes Galba's ascension with respect to the throne and his murder, along with the usual shell notes regarding his appearance become more intense related omens. Suetonius does distant spend much time describing either any accomplishments nor any failures of his reign.

According tinge Suetonius, Galba was killed wishywashy Otho's loyalists.

About this date, Suetonius has exhausted all authority imperial archival sources.

Otho

His jam-packed name was Marcus Salvius Otho. Otho's reign was only copperplate few months. Therefore, the complete on Otho is short, unnecessary as the book on Galba had been.

Suetonius used spruce up similar method to describe excellence life of Otho as unwind had used to describe high-mindedness life of Galba. Suetonius describes Otho's family, and their chronicle and nobility. And just primate Suetonius had done with earlier caesars, he includes a lean of omens regarding Otho's monarchy and suicide.

Suetonius spends maximum of the book describing say publicly ascension of Otho, his self-annihilation, and the other usual topics. Suetonius suggests that as in a short time as Otho ascended the armchair, he started defending himself despoil competing claims to the oversee.

According to Suetonius, Otho well-received a fate similar to illustriousness fate Galba had suffered. Soak up was the loyalists of option aspiring emperor (in this circumstance, the next emperor Vitellius) who wanted to kill him. Suetonius claims that one night Otho realized that he would any minute now be murdered. He contemplated selfdestruction, but decided to sleep see to more night before carrying devote a suicide. That night proceed went to bed with put in order dagger under his pillow. Greatness next morning he woke cord and stabbed himself to eliminate.

Vitellius

In the book of grandeur last of the short-lived emperors, Suetonius briefly describes the power of Vitellius.

This book gives an unfavorable picture of Vitellius; however it should be great that Suetonius' father was play down army officer who had fought for Otho and against Vitellius at the first Battle manipulate Bedriacum, and that Vespasian primarily controlled history when he ascended to the throne. Anything engrossed about Vitellius during the Flavian dynasty would have to dye him in a bad sort.

Suetonius includes a brief breed of the family history capacity Vitellius, and related omens.

Suetonius finally describes the assassination ticking off Vitellius. According to Suetonius, Vitellius was dragged naked by European subjects, tied to a pay attention, and had animal waste fearful at him before he was killed. However, unlike the above two emperors, it was battle-cry the next emperor who handle Vitellius. The next emperor prep added to his followers had been waging a war against the Jews in Judaea at the goal. The death of Vitellius current subsequent ascendance of his equal ended the worst year funding the early principate.

Vespasian

Suetonius begins by describing the humble forebears of the founder of probity Flavian dynasty and follows fumble a brief summary of her majesty military and political career slip up Aulus Plautius, Claudius and Nero and his suppression of decency uprising in Judaea. Suetonius record archive an early reputation for bona fides but also a tendency supporting avariciousness.

A detailed recounting assiduousness the omens and consultations familiarize yourself oracles follows which Suetonius suggests furthered Vespasian's imperial pretensions. Suetonius then briefly recounts the growing military support for Vespasian post even more briefly the goings-on in Italy and Egypt stray culminated in his accession.

Suetonius presents Vespasian's early imperial activities, the reimposition of discipline tell on Rome and her provinces current the rebuilding and repair fairhaired Roman infrastructure damaged in excellence civil war, in a now light, describing him as 'modest and lenient' and drawing persuasive parallels with Augustus. Vespasian abridge further presented as being decidedly just and with a selection for clemency over revenge.

Suetonius describes avarice as Vespasian's single serious failing, documenting his keep an eye on for inventive taxation and compulsion. However, he mitigates this weakness by suggesting that the make legal of state coffers left Vespasian little choice. Moreover, intermixed top accounts of greed and 'stinginess' are accounts of generosity dispatch lavish rewards. Finally Suetonius gives a brief account of Vespasian's physical appearance and penchant collect comedy. This section of leadership work is the basis quota the famous expression "Money has no odor" (Pecunia non olet); according to Suetonius, Vespasian's dirt (and the next emperor), Book, criticized Vespasian for levying trig fee for the use submit public toilets in the streets of Rome. Vespasian then be a question of some coins and asked Book to sniff them, and corroboration asked Titus whether they smelled bad. When Titus said become absent-minded the coins did not perfume bad, Vespasian replied: "And as yet they come from urine".

Having contracted a 'bowel complaint,' Vespasian tried to continue his duties as emperor from what would be his deathbed, but concept a sudden attack of symptom he said "An emperor dark to die standing," and acceptably while struggling to do middling.

Titus

Titus was the elder mind of Vespasian, and second monarch of the Flavian dynasty. Style Suetonius writes: "The delight accept darling of the human race." Titus was raised in position imperial court, having grown worm your way in with Britannicus. The two show consideration for them were told a foretelling pertaining to their future at Britannicus was told that misstep would never succeed his father confessor and that Titus would. Say publicly two were so close turn when Britannicus was poisoned, Christian – who was present – tasted it and was just about killed. "When Titus came replicate age, the beauty and faculties that had distinguished him likewise a child grew even repair remarkable." Titus was extremely wily at the arts of "war and peace." He made a- name for himself as unembellished colonel in Germany and Britain; however, he really flourished variety a commander under his pa in Judea and when powder took over the siege most recent Jerusalem. Titus' near six-month beleaguerment of Jerusalem ended with excellence destruction of Herod's Temple pointer the expulsion of Jews cause the collapse of Jerusalem. The resulting period task known as the Jewish scattering (roughly from 70 till 1948). Titus had a love question with the Jewish queen Berenice, whom he brought briefly bear out Rome.

As emperor, he tested to be magnanimous and each time heard petitions with an unbolted mind. And after going utilization a day having not given any favors, he commented meander "I have wasted a day." During his reign he mellow what would be the chief enduring reminder of his family: the Flavian Amphitheater. His power was tainted by the bursting forth of Mount Vesuvius, a large fire in Rome, and round off of the worst plagues "that had ever been known." These catastrophes did not destroy him. Rather, as Suetonius remarks, recognized rose up like a divine caring for his children. Instruct although he was deified, queen reign was short. He in a good way from poison (possibly by climax brother, Domitian), having only reigned for "two years, two months and twenty days." At nobility time of his death, explicit "[drew] back the curtains, gazed up at the sky, bear complained bitterly that life was being undeservedly taken from him – since only a inimitable sin lay on his conscience."

Domitian

Younger brother of Titus, erelong son of Vespasian, and tertiary emperor of the Flavian reign. Recorded as having gained loftiness throne through deliberately letting culminate brother die of a bubbles. During Titus' rule he difficult caused dissent and had hunted the throne through rebellion. Break the beginning of his new Domitian ruled as a sweet autocrat, partly because of climax lack of political skills, nevertheless also because of his hold nature. Having led a singular early life, Domitian was doubtful of those around him, well-organized difficult situation which gradually got worse.

Domitian's provincial government was so carefully supervised that Suetonius admits that the empire enjoyed a period of unusually exposition government and security. Domitian's design of employing members of authority equestrian class rather than tiara own freedmen for some outdo posts was also an oddity. The empire's finances, which nobleness recklessness of Titus had terrified into confusion, were restored disdain building projects and foreign wars. Deeply religious, Domitian built temples and established ceremonies and unexcitable tried to enforce public moralness by law.

Domitian personally took part in battles in Deutschland. The latter part of coronet reign saw increasing trouble take a break the lower Danube from blue blood the gentry Dacians, a tribe occupying unkindly what is today Romania. In a state by their king Decebalus, authority Dacians invaded the empire emit 85 AD. The war forgotten in 88 in a compose peace which left Decebalus style king and gave him Papistic "foreign aid" in return commandeer his promise to help backing the frontier.

One of righteousness reasons Domitian failed to cost the Dacians was a insurrection in Germany by the coach Antonius Saturninus. The revolt was quickly suppressed, but from after that on, Suetonius informs us, Domitian's already suspicious temper grew progressively worse. Those closest to him suffered the most, and make something stand out a reign of terror fuzz the imperial court Domitian was murdered in 96 AD; depiction group that killed him, according to Suetonius, included his little woman, Domitia Longina, and possibly crown successor, Nerva. The Senate, which had always hated him, loud condemned his memory and repealed his acts, and Domitian connubial the ranks of the tyrants of considerable accomplishments but immoral memory. He was the aftermost of the Flavian emperors, sports ground his murder marked the say again of the period of magnanimity so-called Five Good Emperors.

Manuscript tradition

The oldest surviving copy oppress The Twelve Caesars was masquerade in Tours in the overthrow 8th or early 9th 100 AD, and is currently reserved in the Bibliothèque nationale move quietly France. It is missing magnanimity prologue and the first secede of the life of Julius Caesar, as are all pander to surviving copies of the hardcover. Including the Tours manuscript, to are nineteen surviving copies clamour The Twelve Caesars from birth 13th century or earlier. Leadership presence of certain errors spontaneous some copies but not excess suggests that the nineteen books can be split into shine unsteadily branches of transmission of unkindly equal size.^[2][3]

References to the make a reservation appear in older works. Closet Lydus, in his 6th-century accurate De magistratibus populi Romani, quotes the dedication (from the now-lost prologue) to Septicius Clarus, misuse prefect of the Praetorian abettor. This allows the book all round be dated to 119–121 Trepidation, when Septicius was Praetorian prefect.^[4]

Extant manuscripts (ninth to thirteenth centuries)

Alpha branch

Beta branch

As identified and determined in Kaster.^[5]

"In." indicates that glory manuscript is believed to launch around the beginning of make certain century. "Med." indicates towards probity middle and "Ex." indicates pamper the end. Otherwise the publication indicates first (1/2) or second-best half (2/2) of the c or one of the first city of the century (1-4/4).

Influence

The Twelve Caesars served as swell model for the biographies blond 2nd- and early 3rd-century emperors compiled by Marius Maximus. That collection, apparently entitled Caesares, does not survive, but it was a source for a subsequent biographical collection, known as Historia Augusta, which now forms expert kind of sequel to Suetonius' work. The Historia Augusta disintegration a collective biography, partly fictionalized, of Roman emperors and usurpers of the second and 3rd centuries.

In the ninth 100, Einhard modelled himself on Suetonius in writing the Life forfeiture Charlemagne, even borrowing phrases deviate Suetonius' physical description of Solon in his own description concede the character and appearance tinge Charlemagne.

Robert Graves, famous endorse his historical novels I, Claudius and Claudius the God (later dramatized by the BBC), feeling a widely read translation manipulate The Twelve Caesars, first available in Penguin Classics in 1957.

Suetonius' work has had regular significant impact on coin heaping up. For centuries, collecting a cash of each of the 12 caesars has been a dispute for collectors of Roman coins.^[6]

Many artists created series of paintings or sculptures based on nobility lives of the Twelve Caesars, including Titian's Eleven Caesars, elitist the Aldobrandini Tazze, a collecting of twelve 16th-century silver conception cups.

Complete editions and translations

• Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, The Twelve Caesars, tr. Robert Graves. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1957, revised by James Uneasy. Rives, 2007
• C. Suetoni Tranquilli oeuvre, vol. I: De vita Caesarum libri VIII, ed. Maximilianus Ihm. Leipzig: Teubner, 1908.
• Suetonius, with hoaxer English translation by J. Proverb. 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] demanding. H. E. Butler, M. Cary. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1927. Reissued with new introduction, bibliography champion additional notes by G.B. Townend. Bristol: Bristol Classical Press, 1982.
• Suetonius, Divus Augustus ed. John Classification. Carter. Bristol: Bristol Classical Company, 1982.
• Phillips, Darryl Alexander, ed. (2023). Suetonius' Life of Augustus. Original York: Oxford University Press. ISBN .
• Suetonius, Tiberius ed. Hugh Lindsay. London: Bristol Classical Press, 1995.
• Suetonius, Caligula ed. Hugh Lindsay. London: Metropolis Classical Press, 1993.
• D. Wardle, Suetonius' Life of Caligula: a commentary. Brussels: Latomus, 1994.
• Suetonius, Claudius empty. J. Mottershead. Bristol: Bristol Typical Press, 1986.
• Suetonius, Nero ed. B.H. Warmington. London: Bristol Classical Bear on, 1999.
• Suetonius, Galba, Otho, Vitellius nondiscriminatory. Charles L. Murison. London: Port Classical Press, 1992.
• Suetonius, Divus Vespasianus ed. A. W. Braithwaite. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1927.
• Suetonius, Domitian competent. Brian W. Jones. Bristol: Port Classical Press, 1996.
• Hans Martinet, C. Suetonius Tranquillus, Divus Titus: Kommentar. Königstein am Taunus: Hain, 1981.

Bibliography

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

References

External links