Vita caesarum, best known in english as the twelve caesars, his only extant work except. The twelve caesars chapter 1, gaius julius caesar summary. Suetonius s access to the imperial archives and his acquaintances at court, many of whom were eyewitnesses to the historical events he described, contributed to the depth and vividness of his historical writings. 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. The project gutenberg ebook of the lives of the twelve caesars, complete by c. Suetonius goes to great lengths to reveal the way these men really were, as human beings. 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. About the life of the caesars, commonly known as 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. His most important surviving work is a set of biographies of twelve successive. Although suetoniuss history reports the events of the lives of the first twelve caesars, at times, it reads like people magazine. The twelve caesars is probably the most in depth book ever written about the personal lives of the twelve caesars. The death of nero suetonius the twelve caesars 121 ad roman primary source duration. The twelve caesars by gaius suetonius tranquillus, robert.
Upon hearing of the revolt, gaius suetonius paulinus hurried to londinium. 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. The classical tradition of historiography began in the athenian democracy of the. Written during the reign of hadrian, by hadrian personal secretary, suetonius, the twelve caesars was the most popular and longest of suetoniuss surviving works. Suetonius was private secretary to the emperor hadrian. The twelve caesars by suetonius translated by robert graves and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Modern historians reject suetonius s representing domitian as a cruel, paranoid tyrant. Suetonius the twelve caesars world public library ebooks. The lives of the twelve caesars by gaius suetonius. Suetonius tranquillus this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. Xiii his joyous reception by the roman people book four. Suetonius gathered much of his information from eyewitnesses, checking his facts carefully and quoting conflicting evidence without bias. 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. Eight years ago the name of gaius suetonius paulinus was known to romans.
His most important surviving work is the twelve caesars. 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. The twelve caesars by suetonius penguin books australia. At the age of twelve or so sometime in ad50, he was adopted by claudius, who appointed annaeus seneca, already a. The lives of twelve caesars gaius suetonius tranquillus. Veranius and his successor gaius suetonius paulinus mounted a successful. A few of these books have partially survived, but many have been lost. The plan adopted by suetonius in his lives of the twelve caesars, led him to be more. 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. The age of the great historians 2nd century ad plutarch, suetonius, and tacitus. The twelve caesars by suetonius translated by robert graves.
Other works by suetonius concern the daily life of rome, politics, oratory, and the lives of famous writers, including poets, historians, and. The book was dedicated to his friend gaius septicius clarus, a prefect of the. Xv his filial piety and moratorium on past charges. For the roman general who put down the rebellion of boudica, see gaius suetonius paulinus. Roman general gaius suetonius paulinus puggio youtube. His general suetonius paulinus crushed a revolt in britain and also annexed the. It breaks the work up into individual chapters, then presents each chapter first in latin, then in english. The twelve caesars remains among the best sources of information about roman society and its leaders. The folio society edition of the twelve caesars, by suetonius. Vitellius, crossed the alps, but was defeated near cremona by suetonius paulinus, othos general. The lives of the twelve caesars, complete by suetonius. The following year likewise, when caius marcellus, who succeeded his.
Nov 18, 2014 buy the twelve caesars by suetonius isbn. The practice of giving precise references to source material did not come into common use until the nineteenth century. The twelve caesars chronicles the public careers and private lives of the men who wielded absolute power over rome. 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 lives of the twelve caesars gaius suetonius tranquillus classical latin. The biographies are not wholly flattering nor are events told in chronological sequence but they reveal some candid details of romes first.
Oct 25, 2007 buy the twelve caesars penguin classics rev. The twelve caesars is a set of twelve biographies of julius caesar and the first 11 emperors of the roman empire. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. The twelve caesars, book by james suetonius paperback. Ebook without ceo support 299, ebook including wikiceo team. Dec 18, 2007 buy the paperback book the twelve caesars by james suetonius at indigo. Jan 01, 2009 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. Suetoniuss most popular book is the twelve caesars. 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. Thomas carlyle once wrote, the history of the world is but the biography of great men. It was written by gaius suetonius tranquillus, commonly referred to as suetonius, in 121. However, writers in the ancient world were often at pains to stress that they had undertaken research and that their portrait of the past was supported by evidence.
An octavian street runs through the busiest part of the city, and an altar is shown there consecrated by one octavius, a local commander. 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. Memoir of the aging suetonius paulinus, exgovernor of roman britain, who feels now that nero. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Suetonius, the lives of twelve caesars, life of caligula 2. The death of nero suetonius the twelve caesars 121 ad roman primary.
For other roman invasions of britain, see caesars invasions of britain and carausian. When, at the end of his consulship, gaius memmius and lucius domitius. Nero relied heavily on his competent military generals gnaeus domitius, gaius suetonius paulinus, and. Gaius suetonius tranquillus, commonly known as suetonius ca. The twelve ceasars of suetonius born ad 69, covering the roman rulers from julius caesar to domitian, remains one of the richest and most fascinating of all latin histories. He had access to the imperial archives and so, wrote this biographical account of the first twelve caesars with information from those archives, and some eye witness accounts. Julius caesar, the divine 1, lost his father 2 when he was in the sixteenth year of his age 3. Suetonius gaius suetonius tranquillus, commonly known as suetonius, was a. The twelve caesars by suetonius by suetonius nook book. Apparently news of an attack by a neighbouring city. Suetonius twelve caesars is a key narrative source for the period it covers and, unlike tacitus, it has survived entire and is uninterrupted. Since julius caesars mother survived his birth, the name of the operation may have come from. Drusus the elder, claudius caesars father, who was first named decimus and later nero, was born in 38bc to livia, less than three months after she wedded augustus. By suetonius tranquillus rita mae brown, author of rubyfruit jungle and several mystery series, first read suetonius lives of the caesars in college.
History of the twelve caesars by suetonius librarything. Chapter 1, gaius julius caesar summary and analysis. Gaius suetonius paulinus video is targeted to blind users attribution. I have chosen these books as among the best to illustrate this subject. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. The lives of the twelve 12 caesars modern library books series an unexpurgated english edited with notes and an introduction by joseph gavorse gaius suetonius tranquillus published by published by the modern library, new york first thus edition. 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. 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. My own sense is if half of what suetonius relays about the emperors treatment of people is accurate, im with suetonius. In ad 60 or 61, while the roman governor gaius suetonius paulinus was.
The work was written in 121 during the reign of the emperor hadrian, while suetonius was hadrians personal secretary. Suetonius definition and synonyms of suetonius in the english. In his book the lives of the twelve caesars, suetonius describes nero as. When tacitus refers to gaius suetonius paulinus by one name, he almost. Gaius suetonius paulinus puggio, great roman general.
Gaius suetonius tranquillus c75 c160 ad the twelve caesars is a set of twelve biographies of julius caesar and the first 11 emperors of the roman empire. It was dedicated to a friend, the praetorian prefect gaius septicius clarus. The work, written in ad 121 during the reign of the emperor hadrian, was the most popular work of suetonius. In the year 41 ad suetonius paullinus, afterwards consul, was the first of the romans who led an army across mount atlas. Gaius suetonius tranquillus commonly known as suetonius was a roman historian who wrote during the early imperial era of the roman empire.
His most important surviving work is a set of biographies of twelve successive roman rulers, from julius caesar to. The book provides valuable information on the heritage, personal habits, physical appearance, lives, and political careers of the first roman emperors as it mentions details which other sources. Buy the twelve caesars by gaius suetonius tranquillus, robert graves translator, j b rives notes by online at alibris. Nov 10, 2004 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by. In this work, suetonius provides biographies of the great men and the not so great men who established the rule of emperors over the romans and their subjects. Each emperor is dissected, and his actions beyond politics and professionalism revealed.
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