Suetonius was private secretary to the emperor hadrian. Caesar also bribed a man titus labienus to bring a charge of high treason against gaius rabirius 63bc who had rendered a notable service to the senate by. The lives of the twelve caesars, complete by suetonius. The twelve caesars by gaius suetonius tranquillus nook book. A translation of the lives of the twelve caesars by suetonius to which are added, his lives of the grammarians, rhetoricians and poets. It was dedicated to a friend, the praetorian prefect gaius septicius clarus. Jan 21, 2008 an essential primary source on roman history, suetonius the twelve caesars is a fascinating achievement of scholarship covering a critical period in the empire. He served as quaestor in 7ad five years before the legal age and became consul in 12ad without holding the intermediate offices. Suetonius twelve caesars is a key narrative source for the period it covers and, unlike tacitus, it has survived entire and is uninterrupted. Lvii his physical skills and powers of endurance book one. Delving into the personalities of these ruler the twelve caesars of ancient rome julius caesar, augustus, tiberius, caligula, claudius, nero, galba, otho, vitellius, vespasian, titus. The late twentiethcentury resurgence of naturalistic.
Thanks for exploring this supersummary study guide of the twelve caesars by suetonius. The twelve caesars, probably written in hadrians time, is a collective biography of the roman empires first leaders, julius caesar the first few chapters are missing, augustus, tiberius, caligula, claudius, nero, galba, otho, vitellius, vespasian, titus and domitian. Its like suetonius decided that he wanted to create this magnum opus about the twelve caesars but he didnt really feel like following the rules that everyone else adhered to when they wrote biographies. The family moved to rome, with a large throng of dependants, either shortly after the foundation of the city in 753bc, at the instigation of titus tatius, who ruled jointly with.
The twelve caesars penguin classics 9780140440720 by suetonius and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. The twelve caesars by michael grant 1975, childrens. A great look at some fascinating and thrilling lives, often ending bloodily. Domitian was born on the 24th of october ad51, a month before his father vespasian took up office as consul, in a house in pomegranate street, in the sixth district of rome, which he afterwards converted into the temple of the flavians. Rives has sensitively updated robert gravess now classic translation, reinstating latin terms and updating vocabulary while retaining the liveliness of the original. Suetonius provides a lot of information about what these emperors were like along with interesting details of daily roman life along the way. The twelve caesars by robert graves, suetonius waterstones. Aug 28, 20 suetonius twelve caesars is a key narrative source for the period it covers and, unlike tacitus, it has survived entire and is uninterrupted.
Book iii tiberius a new freely downloadable translation. Internet archive open library book donations 300 funston avenue san francisco, ca. Dec 18, 2007 a masterpiece of observation, anecdote and detailed physical description, the twelve caesars presents us with a gallery of vividly drawnand all too humanindividuals. The twelve caesars chronicles the public careers and private lives of the men who wielded absolute power over rome. Suetonius begins his brief biographies with julius caesar and ends with domitian. The twelve caesars classics by suetonius 27 august 1970. Suetonius has 159 books on goodreads with 52838 ratings. At the age of twelve or so sometime in ad50, he was adopted by claudius, who appointed annaeus seneca, already a. Nov 18, 2014 suetonius twelve caesars is a key narrative source for the period it covers and, unlike tacitus, it has survived entire and is uninterrupted. Nevertheless, he presents enough historical reporting to make this interesting to people who want to learn about the major events of the lives of these men. The twelve caesars chronicles the public careers and private lives of the men who wielded absolute power over rome, from the. He had access to the imperial archives and so, wrote this biographical account of the first twelve caesars with information from those archives.
Caesar also bribed a man titus labienus to bring a charge of high treason against gaius rabirius 63bc who had rendered a notable service to the senate by repressing the seditious activities of the tribune lucius appuleius saturninus in 100bc. The work, written in ad 121 during the reign of the emperor hadrian, was the most popular work of suetonius, at that time hadrians personal secretary, and is the largest among his surviving. Oct 25, 2007 the twelve caesars chronicles the public careers and private lives of the men who wielded absolute power over rome, from the foundation of the empire under julius caesar and augustus, to the. To which are added, his lives of the grammarians, rhetoricians, and poets. Oct 25, 2007 suetonius, in holding up a mirror to those caesars of diverting legend, reflects not only them but ourselves. And, as sartre wrote in his preface to henri allegs chilling book about algeria, anyone, at any time, may equally find himself victim or executioner. Although suetonius s history reports the events of the lives of the first twelve caesars, at times, it reads like people magazine. The lives of the twelve caesars the text on lacuscurtius. Enjoyable, humorous at times, and engaging, for those interested in the early principate, read suetoniuss the twelve caesars. Beginning with the life of julius caesar and continuing with the first eleven emperors of rome who followed him, the twelve caesars is one of the most important historical bibliographical works of the roman empire and discusses the critical period in roman history known as the principate, from the end of the republic to the reign of domitian. The twelve caesars book by suetonius available editions. The patrician branch of the claudians there being a plebeian branch too, no less influential and distinguished was originally from regillum, a sabine town. Enjoyable, humorous at times, and engaging, for those interested in the early principate, read suetonius s the twelve caesars. The twelve caesars by robert graves, 9780140455168, available at book.
Both julius caesar and augustus receive the longest biographies, with the short reigns of galba, otho, and vitellius are appropriately short. The twelve caesars by suetonius penguin books australia. The twelve caesars is probably the most in depth book ever written about the personal lives of the twelve caesars. An essential primary source on roman history and a fascinating achievement of scholarship covering a critical period in the empire as private secretary to the emperor hadrian, the scholar suetonius had access to the imperial archives and used them along with eyewitness accounts to produce one of the most colourful biographical works in history. It was written by gaius suetonius tranquillus, commonly referred to as suetonius, in 121. While he was still a young stripling he took part in a successful performance of the troy game in the circus, in which he exhibited great selfpossession. Books iv of the history of rome from its foundation. Caligulas father, germanicus, who was the son of drusus the elder and antonia the younger, was adopted in 4ad by germanicuss paternal uncle,tiberius. I was looking for a good book to dive into the history of ancient rome, and its rulers and. The twelve caesars, is a set of twelve biographies of julius caesar and the first 11 emperors of the roman empire written by gaius suetonius tranquillus. This penguin classic of the twelve caesars by suetonius is the perfect place to start for anybody interested in ancient grecoroman history and culture.
You can also purchase this book from a vendor and ship it to our address. The work, probably written around 121ad in the reign of hadrian, therefore covers the crucial and highly eventful period of roman history. The twelve caesars is, along with tacituss histories and the annals and cassius dios history of rome, one of the earliest sources that has a narrative. Beginning with caesar himself, in the mid first century bc, it ends in ad 96 with domitian and covers the reigns of such emperors as tiberius, caligula, and nero.
Suetonius chapter numbers are in brackets after mine book eight. Suetonius goes to great lengths to reveal the way these men really were, as human beings. Each emperor is dissected, and his actions beyond politics and professionalism revealed. The work, probably written around 121ad in the reign of hadrian, therefore covers the crucial and highly eventful period of roman history from the end of the republic to the reign of domitian. The tales of romes emperors are deeply personal and informative, while also entertaining and often filled with drama.
Book iv gaius caligula a new freely downloadable translation. Hurleys most readable english translation of suetonius caesars is only the second to be attempted in over fifty years, and represents an outstanding achievement. The twelve caesars by gaius suetonius tranquillus nook. As private secretary to the emperor hadrian, the scholar suetonius had access to the imperial archives and used them along with eyewitness accounts to produce one of the most colourful biographical works in history. If you own this book, you can mail it to our address below. Nov 10, 2004 the lives of the twelve caesars, complete by suetonius. His mother agrippina annoyed him deeply, by casting an overcritical eye on his words and actions. Set clearly in context by her concise footnotes and full explanatory materials, it will fascinate readers eager to encounter the outsize personalities, heady pleasures, and sinister perils within that most alluring of lost worlds. Suetonius included invaluable descriptions of the rulers public and private lives, physical appearances, family heritages, and daily. Suetonius, chronicler of the extraordinary personalities of the first. The twelve caesars, often titled lives of the caesars in english, is a collection of 12 biographies covering julius caesar and the first 11 emperors of the roman empire in historical order. The latin text is that of maximilian ihm in the teubner edition of 1907.
Suetonius s most popular book is the twelve caesars. A modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, supersummary offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. The work, written in ad 121 during the reign of the emperor hadrian, was the most popular work of suetonius, at that time hadrians personal secretary, and is the largest among his surviving writings. The plan adopted by suetonius in his lives of the twelve caesars, led him to be more diffuse on their personal conduct and habits than on public events. Not only is this a most engaging translation by robert graves, author of i claudius, but there is a short forward by classics scholar, michael grant. As private secretary to the emperor hadrian, suetonius gained access to the imperial archives and used them along with carefully gathered eyewitness accounts to produce one of the most colourful biographical works in history. The twelve caesars penguin classics by suetonius and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Although suetoniuss history reports the events of the lives of the first twelve caesars, at times, it reads like people magazine. Considered highly significant in antiquity, the twelve caesars has remained a major source of roman history.
Dec 31, 2002 as private secretary to the emperor hadrian, suetonius gained access to the imperial archives and used them along with carefully gathered eyewitness accounts to produce one of the most colourful biographical works in history. The twelve caesars by suetonius by suetonius nook book. The twelve caesars summary and study guide supersummary. Written by gaius suetonius tranquillus in 121 ad while he was the personal secretary to emperor hadrian, the twelve caesars is a series of twelve. Robert graves covers the roman rulers from julius caesar to domitian. This penguin classics edition is translated from the latin by robert graves, author of i, claudius, revised with an introduction and notes by james b.
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