Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Themes in suetonius the twelve caesars history forum. 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. This 52page guide for the twelve caesars by suetonius includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis.
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 decline into depravity under nero and the recovery that came with his successors. The twelve caesars part 2 augustus caesar by suetonius. 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. Suetonius goes to great lengths to reveal the way these men really were, as human beings. Lives of the twelve caesars 1 the lives of the twelve caesars by c. Combining as it does amusement and information, suetonius s lives of the caesars was held in such estimation, that, so soon after the invention of printing as the year a. Each emperor is dissected, and his actions beyond politics and professionalism revealed. Suetonius used the imperial archives and a series of first hand accounts to produce his work which covered in vast detail the inner working and personal. Each of suetonius biographies follow the similar pattern in which the individuals heritage, politicalmilitary career, private lives, personal habits, and. He became a close friend and client of the senator pliny the younger, who described him as quiet and studious, a man dedicated to.
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 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 twelve caesars is a set of twelve biographies of julius caesar and the first 11 emperors of the roman empire. 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. Suetonius, who lived through a period of stable but despotic imperial rule, wanted to explore. His father suetonius laetus was a rich man and belonged to the equestrian order, the second rank of the roman elite after the senators.
Buy the twelve caesars by suetonius, in good condition. 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 lives of the caesars include the biographies of julius caesar and the eleven subsequent emperors. The twelve caesars chronicles the public careers and private lives of the men who wielded absolute power over rome, from the. Augustus, tiberius, gaius caligula, claudius, nero, galba, otho, vitelius, vespasian, titus, domitian. On the life of the caesars concentrates on the acts and personaliti.
Suetonius tranquillus was the son of a roman knight who commanded a legion, on the side of otho, at the. Suetonius the twelve caesars suetonius the twelve cesars if a friend asked me to tell him if it is worth it to read suetonius book the twelve cesars, i would say it is. The lives of the twelve caesars online library of liberty. The biographies are not wholly flattering nor are events told in chronological sequence but they reveal some candid details of romes first citizens. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Gaius suetonius tranquillus, commonly known as suetonius ca. The twelve caesars chronicles the public careers and private lives of the men who wielded absolute power over rome. An english translation, augmented with the biographies of contemporary statesmen, orators, poets, and other associates. 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.
By all accounts, the octavii, of ancient velitrae velletri were a distinguished family. The lives of the twelve caesars by gaius suetonius. To which are added, his lives of the grammarians, rhetoricians, and poets. Im working on a small paper 34 pages based on suetonius the twelve caesars. An analysis of suetonius s the twelve caesars 1422. 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 gaius suetonius tranquillus, translated by robert graves 1965. Dec, 2004 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg.
News of an enemy attack reaching him as he was sacrificing to. The lives of the twelve caesars is a work of biography, and its strength is the expounding upon human character, rather than history. Her introduction summarizes a complex topic succinctly and is informative without being overwhelming, set at an ideal level for the student and intelligent enthusiast. The work was written in 121 during the reign of the emperor hadrian, while suetonius was hadrians personal secretary. The work was written in 121 during the reign of the emperor hadrian, while. Suetonius concisely relates all known facts and also some occurences that were not unanimously reported or unambiguously documented about the first twelve caesars, starting with julius. Not only was there an octavian street in the busiest part of town, but there was also an altar consecrated to an octavius who led the troops in a war with a neighbouring city. That the family of the octavii was of the first distinction in velitrae 1, is rendered evident by many circumstances. History of the twelve caesars by suetonius librarything.
The only writings of suetonius to which we can assign even approximate dates are his two major biographical works, on illustrious men and the twelve caesars. It stands on the verge of the pontine marshes, on the road to naples. The twelve caesars by suetonius translated by robert graves. The twelve caesars by suetonius gives biographical sketches of the men who ruled the western world for a century and a half, from the end of the republic to the death of domitian. Not only is this a most engaging translation by robert graves, author of i claudius, but there is a.
Suetonius tranquillus the translation of alexander thomson, m. The lives of the twelve caesars, complete to which are added, his lives of the grammarians, rhetoricians, and poets author. This penguin classic of the twelve caesars by suetonius is the perfect place to start for anybody interested in ancient grecoroman history and culture. Life roman official, first quarter of the second century. For in the most frequented part of the town, there was, not long since, a street named the octavian.
Suetonius the twelve caesars world public library ebooks. He was an author in antiquity who had for his contemporaries pliny the younger and the historian plutarch. The twelve caesars is probably the most in depth book ever written about the personal lives of the twelve caesars. This masterpiece of observation, immortalized in robert gravess classic. Vespasian by suetonius free ebook project gutenberg. Topics generalities publisher modern library new york collection universallibrary. Suetonius, who lived through a period of stable but despotic imperial rule, wanted to explore the nature of imperial power and how a. Oct 25, 2007 buy the twelve caesars penguin classics rev. Beginning with caesar himself, in the mid first century bc, it ends in ad 96 with domitian and covers the reigns of. The first edition of the novel was published in 119, and was written by suetonius. Gaius suetonius tranquillus was born in the province of africa, in hippo regius, modern annaba in northeast algeria. Suetonius tranquillus, the lives of the twelve caesars, to which are added his lives of the grammarians, rhetoricians, and poets. Germanicus name derived from the honorific cognomen awarded posthumously to his father see claud. Suetonius composed his material from a variety of sources, without much concern for their reliability.
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. Mar 29, 2007 suetonius, the author of the twelve caesars, produced the biography during the reign of emperor hadrian for whom he served as the imperial secretary gaining access to the imperial archives. Joseph gavorse gaius suetonius tranquillus, commonly known as suetonius c. In his work the twelve caesars, suetonius presents the reader with biographies of the prominent caesars who ruled rome. Book iii tiberius a new freely downloadable translation. Suetonius, in holding up a mirror to those caesars of diverting legend, reflects not only them but ourselves. Suetonius tranquillus, tranquillus suetonius, dec 1, 2006, history, 431 pages. 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. Suetonius tranquillus, the lives of the caesars, suetonius. Suetonius gaius suetonius tranquillus wrote what we now call the twelve caesars. Memoirs rather than history, lives rather than events. An analysis of suetonius s the twelve caesars essay on an analysis of suetonius s the twelve caesars 1422 words 6 pages. Librivox recording of the lives of the twelve caesars by gaius suetonius tranquillus, translated by alexander thomson, m.
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. It details biographical information and gossip about the first 12 emperors of rome. Lives of the twelve caesars 2 basis of the present. Oct 27, 20 rita mae brown, author of rubyfruit jungle and several mystery series, first read suetonius lives of the caesars in college. At some point, suetonius may have fallen out of favour, and his access restricted. Suetonius twelve caesars is a key narrative source for the period it covers and, unlike tacitus, it has survived entire and is uninterrupted. This collection, apparently entitled caesares, does not survive, but it was a source for a later biographical collection, known as historia augusta, which now forms a kind of sequel to suetonius work.
Suetonius, chronicler of the extraordinary personalities of the first dynasties to rule the roman empire, was the greatest latin biographer. The main characters of this history, classics story are nero, caligula. The twelve caesars chapter 1, gaius julius caesar summary. He trained as an orator the usual education for an aspiring politician and was an expert in rhetoric. Compare two lives, looking at how suetoniuss aims and methods for writing each life align. The topic i have chosen multiple options given is to examine the lives of two of the caesars, and identify and compare common themes. J b rives based on eyewitness accounts and his own unlimited access to the emperor hadrians imperial archives, the scholar suetonius wrote a sweeping account of the lives of twelve of romes most powerful. Not much is known about the life of gaius suetonius tranquillus. 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 former probably appeared sometime between ad 107 and 118, and was a major work comprising brief lives of probably well over 100 latin men of letters.
Even when viewed by his contemporary 70126 ad set of moral, social, and judicial principles, the first dozen present less than admirable godlike figures. 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. The patrician branch of the claudians there being a plebeian branch too, no less influential and distinguished was originally from regillum, a sabine town. Lives of the caesars suetonius oxford university press. 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. Donna hurley has done a sterling job in providing us with both an introduction to suetonius and a translation of the caesars that we can confidently recommend to students. 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 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. He informs us in his preface, that a version of suetonius was with him only a secondary object, his principal design being to form a just estimate of roman literature, and to elucidate the state of government, and the manners of the times. The twelve caesars served as a model for the biographies of 2nd and early 3rdcentury emperors compiled by marius maximus. Topics generalities publisher modern library new york collection universallibrary contributor braou language english. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. The lives of the twelve caesars, complete by suetonius.
Suetonius gathered much of his information from eyewitnesses, checking his facts carefully and quoting conflicting evidence without bias. Why did suetonius write the twelve caesars answers. The twelve caesars was a work of popular history by the roman historian suetonius in ad 121 during the reign of the emperor hadrian. This book, though old, is still very interesting and informative today. Pdf the twelve caesars book by suetonius free download. Tiberius adopted him at the same time that he himself was adopted by augustus see aug. Its hardly a staid latin history book in fact, its browns. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 363 pages and is available in paperback format. The twelve caesars part 3 tiberius claudius nero by suetonius. In 69, the year of the civil war that is known as the year of the four emperors. The twelve caesars part 6 nero by suetonius by ancient times. Suetonius was employed as secretary to emperor hadrian and due to this, had access. Free download or read online the twelve caesars pdf epub book.
You may copy it, give it away or reuse it under the terms of the project gutenberg license included with this ebook or online at. Our cheap used books come with free delivery in the us. 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. Perhaps suetonius, like other biographers and historians, made mistakes. His colourful work, lives of the twelve caesars, is, along with tacitus, the major source for the period from julius caesar to domitian. Nov 28, 2012 xii caesares, cum libera versione, in qua idiomatis anglici ratio, quam fieri potuit habita est, or, the lives of the twelve roman emperors, writ by c.
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