The biographies are not wholly flattering nor are events told in chronological sequence but they reveal some candid details of romes first citizens. 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 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. Roman historian whose major work, lives of the caesars, is an account of the lives of the first 12 roman emperors. The twelve caesars by suetonius translated by robert graves.
By suetonius tranquillus rita mae brown, author of rubyfruit jungle and several mystery series, first read suetonius lives of the caesars in college. Suetonius provides a lot of information about what these emperors were like along with interesting details of daily roman life along the way. Lucius aurelius cotta would declare a ruling of the fifteen custodians of the sibylline books. As private secretary to the emperor hadrian, the scholar suetonius had. But in his last will, he named instead his sisters three grandsons. Rives has sensitively updated robert gravess now classic translation, reinstating latin terms and updating vocabulary while retaining the liveliness of the original. 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 biographies of roman rulers beginning with julius caesar and ending with domitian. Below are my comments coupled with quotes from the text. Suetonius gathered much of his information from eyewitnesses, checking his facts carefully and quoting conflicting evidence without bias. Suetonius twelve caesars is a key narrative source for the period it covers and, unlike tacitus, it has survived entire and is uninterrupted. Gaius suetonius paulinus, newly appointed governor of roman britain.
Gaius suetonius paulinus puggio, great roman general. 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. Oct 25, 2007 the twelve caesars ebook written by robert graves, suetonius. The gens lutatia, occasionally written luctatia, was a plebeian family of ancient rome. Dec 18, 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 decline into depravity and civil war under nero and the recovery that came with his successors. A few of these books have partially survived, but ma. The lives of the twelve caesars, complete by suetonius. A few of these books have partially survived, but many have been lost. Xiii his joyous reception by the roman people book four. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Beginning with caesar himself, in the mid first century bc, it ends in ad 96 with domitian and covers the reigns. 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. Apparently news of an attack by a neighbouring city reached him while he was.
This book, though old, is still very interesting and informative today. Vita caesarum, best known in english as the twelve caesars, his only extant work except. The twelve caesars chronicles the public careers and private lives of the men who wielded absolute power over rome. 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. Considered highly significant in antiquity, the twelve caesars has remained a major source of roman history. The twelve caesars by suetonius penguin books australia. The lives of twelve caesars gaius suetonius tranquillus. Gaius suetonius paulinus was a roman general in the first century. The lives of the twelve caesars is a work of biography, and its strength is the expounding upon human character, rather than history. The following year likewise, when caius marcellus, who succeeded his.
Of equestrian rank, suetonius served as secretary under the emperor hadrian from approximately 119 to 122. The twelve caesars is a set of twelve biographies of julius caesar and the first 11 emperors of the roman empire. Other works by suetonius concern the daily life of rome, politics, oratory, and the lives of famous writers, including poets, historians, and grammarians. The lives of roman emperors in the twelve caesars by gaius. After the natural death of his father vespasian and his brother titus, domitian became emperor in 81 ad at age 30 and ruled until he was assassinated 15 years later. The book was dedicated to his friend gaius septicius clarus, a prefect of the. Little is known about his life except that he was briefly the private secretary of emperor hadrian. The twelve caesars by suetonius by suetonius nook book. Gaius octavius was to receive three quarters of the estate, while lucius. Suetonius definition and synonyms of suetonius in the english. The twelve caesars by gaius suetonius tranquillus, translated by robert graves 1965. Suetonius tranquillus, and newly translated into english by philemon holland. When, at the end of his consulship, gaius memmius and lucius domitius. An octavian street runs through the busiest part of the city, and an altar is shown there consecrated by one octavius, a local commander.
Gaius suetonius paulinus, 97868475651, please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from wikipedia. Nov 18, 2014 buy the twelve caesars by suetonius isbn. The patrician branch of the claudians there being a plebeian branch too, no less influential and distinguished was originally from regillum, a sabine town. Gaius suetonius tranquillus commonly known as suetonius was a roman historian who wrote during the early imperial era of the roman empire. Suetonius the twelve caesars world public library ebooks. Of these books, he composed the first two in his passage over the alps, as he was returning to the army after making his circuit in hithergaul. An essential primary source on roman history, suetonius the twelve caesars is a fascinating achievement of scholarship covering a critical period in the empire. In donna leons brunetti series, the commissario often reads the twelve caesars, and i thought it was about time i read the book. His most important surviving work is a set of biographies of twelve successive roman rulers, from julius caesar to. Suetonius dictionary definition suetonius defined yourdictionary. It is important to note however, that the writing style of suetonius day was much different from our own. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the twelve caesars. Entry for gaius suetonius tranquillus 1911 encyclopedia britannica one of 8 bible encyclopedias freely available, this resource contained over 40 million words in nearly 40,000 articles written by 1,500 respected authors. Gaius suetonius tranquillus was probably born in ad69 the famous.
Buy the twelve caesars by gaius suetonius tranquillus, robert graves translator, j b rives notes by online at alibris. Gaius suetonius tranquillus, commonly known as suetonius, was a roman historian who wrote during the early imperial era of the roman empire. Although he was born to marcus vipsanius agrippa and julia the elder, augustus only daughter, gaius and his younger brother, lucius caesar, were raised by their grandfather as his adopted sons and. 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. Xv his filial piety and moratorium on past charges. Roman general gaius suetonius paulinus puggio youtube. Specifically suetonius relates how each of these successive emperors of the roman empire dealt with the office of supreme power. Vitellius, crossed the alps, but was defeated near cremona by suetonius paulinus, othos general. It was written by gaius suetonius tranquillus, commonly referred to as suetonius, in 121. Suetoniuss most popular book is the twelve caesars. The twelve caesars by suetonius, 1957 online research. Gaius suetonius tranquillus 1911 encyclopedia britannica.
Imperial governor and millions of other books are available for instant. Suetonius has 99 books on goodreads with 42654 ratings. History of the twelve caesars by suetonius librarything. The twelve caesars by robert graves, suetonius books on. With a position close to the imperial court he was able to access otherwise private sources for his work, and he certainly did not hold back on revealing the sometimes sordid details of romes most famously debauched. His most important surviving work is a set of biographies of twelve successive roman rulers, from julius caesar until. The work was written in 121 during the reign of the emperor hadrian, while suetonius was hadrians personal secretary. In ad 60 or 61, while the roman governor gaius suetonius paulinus was. The twelve caesars by suetonius translated by robert graves and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Historie of twelve caesars, emperours of rome first. Remember that julius caesar barely stepped foot there and the divine.
Dec 18, 2007 buy the paperback book the twelve caesars by james suetonius at indigo. 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. Of all suetonius s biographies of the 12 caesars, his life of domitian is one of the liveliest. The plan adopted by suetonius in his lives of the twelve caesars, led him to be more. Gaius suetonius tranquillus article about gaius suetonius.
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 slam. The lives of the twelve caesars by gaius suetonius. 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. From the twelve caesars by gaius suetonius tranquillus translated by robert graves 1965 the octavians, by all accounts, were famous in ancient velitrae. Suetonius the twelve caesars suetonius twelve caesars. 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. Enjoyable, humorous at times, and engaging, for those interested in the early principate, read suetonius s the twelve caesars. Suetonius tranquillus this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. The project gutenberg ebook of the lives of the twelve caesars, complete by c.
Augustus had resolved to leave the final decision to his elder son, and gaius now chanced to be on bad terms with marcus lollius, and much more sympathetic towards augustus entreaty. Book i julius caesar a new freely downloadable translation. 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 twelve caesars ebook written by robert graves, suetonius. Afterwards deified from the twelve caesars by gaius suetonius tranquillus translated by robert graves 1965 the octavians, by all accounts, were famous in ancient velitrae. With gaius consent, tiberius was recalled, on the strict understanding that he would maintain no further interest or involvement in politics. Suetonius was private secretary to the emperor hadrian. 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 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 decline into depravity under nero and the recovery that came with his successors. I do not read latin, so i read the updated robert graves translation. But his history is also the most vivid and raciest account we have of. Suetonius has a reputation for scandalous writing, the kind of writing seen in the more outlandish celebrity coverage. Suetonius the twelve caesars if a friend asked me to tell him if it is worth it to read suetonius book the twelve caesars, i would say it is. 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, from the foundation of the empire under. Apparently news of an attack by a neighbouring city. His most important surviving work is the twelve caesars. The twelve caesars by gaius suetonius tranquillus, robert. Gaius suetonius tranquillus, commonly known as suetonius ca. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. The twelve caesars, book by james suetonius paperback. Written by roman historian gaius suetonius tranquillus, lives of the twelve caesars is a set of twelve biographies of julius caesar and the first 11.
Not much is known about the life of gaius suetonius tranquillus. Suetonius gaius suetonius tranquillus, commonly known as suetonius, was a. Suetonius the twelve caesars followed an established convention of the short biographical essay, which lent itself to convivial sharing before an audience but could also be used to explore important themes. 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. The death of nero suetonius the twelve caesars 121 ad roman primary. 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 decline into depravity and civil war under nero and the recovery that came with his successors. Suetonius, who lived through a period of stable but despotic imperial rule, wanted to explore the nature of imperial.
It is important to note however, that the writing style of. Enjoyable, humorous at times, and engaging, for those interested in the early principate, read suetoniuss the twelve caesars. He recorded the earliest accounts of julius caesars epileptic seizures. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Oct 25, 2007 buy the twelve caesars penguin classics rev.
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