Historians of Ancient RomeBy: Isaac Ilivicky

Cornelius Tacitus & Suetonius Tranquillus

Cornelius Tacitus

Realistically, very littleBorn to an equestrian family in 56 ADLoved hunting and the outdoorsMarried Julia Agricola, daughter of the

famous general AgricolaBegan his political career in 82 AD as a

quaestor under Titus, and acquired significant political status very quickly, including being a senator and an orator

Died 117 AD

What We Know About Him

(98) De vita Iulii Agricolae (The Life of Agricola)

(98) De origine et situ Germanorum (Germania)

(102) Dialogus de oratoribus (Dialogue on Oratory)

(105) Historiae (The Histories)(117) Ab excessu divi Augusti (The Annals)

The Fives Works That Have Survived

Known for his dense prose that covers all of the factsClear descriptions that often include a great use of

rhetoricTerse, powerful, and abruptFocuses on the small details, focusing on the connection

between the political and psychological aspects of politicsDoes not fear to praise and to critique the same person,

often noting what he takes to be their more-admirable and less-admirable properties

"inde consilium mihi ... tradere ... sine ira et studio, quorum causas procul habeo.”“my purpose is to relate ... without either anger or zeal,

motives from which I am far removed.”

Literary Style

Covers the period from the civil wars of the Year of the Four Emperors, 69 AD (Galba, Otho, Vitellis, and Vespasian) and ends with the rule of the Flavians

The fifth book is known for its invaluable record of Roman attitudes towards the Jews, as described in the period right before Titus’ suppression of the Great Jewish Revolt

The Histories

“Galba was weak and old. Titus Vinius and Cornelius Laco, the former the worst of men, the latter the laziest, proved his ruin, for he had to bear the burden of the hatred felt for the crimes of Titus and of men's scorn for the lethargy of Cornelius.” (Book 1.6)

Sample of his concise rhetoric

Sample from the The Histories

Tacitus’ final work, covering the period from the death of Augustus Caesar to Nero

He wrote at least 16 books, but books 7–10 and parts of books 5, 6, 11 and 16 are missing

Considered his greatest writing, and often the pinnacle of Roman history writing

The Annals

Often considered the greatest Roman historianScrupulous historian who paid very careful attention to

his sourcesHis accounts of these time periods are often considered

the most accurate in comparison to other writingsFound great interest in discussing the corruption within

the power balance between the Senate and the Emperors, and greatly explored the great imperfections within the Roman political system

Political lessons from his work have been taken in different directions – “Red Tacitists” and “Black Tacitists”Moral foundation vs. Practical Foundation for Government

Importance and Influence

Suetonius Tranquillus

Born in 69 AD to a family of the equestrian order

Wrote during the Imperial era of the Roman Empire

Also schooled in rhetoricCame into favor with Emperors Trajan and

HadrianUnder Trajan, he was the secretary of studies

and director of Imperial archivesUnder Hadrian, he was his personal secretary,

but was dismissed in 119 AD for having an affair with the Empress Vibia Sabina

Died in 122 AD

What We Know About Him

(121 AD) De Vita Caesarum (The Twelve Caesars)

He had numerous other works that have been lost over time, with parts of other historical accounts surviving, including;The Life of ClaudiusLives Of the GrammariansLives of the RhetoriciansLives of the Poets

His Most Famous Work

Did not include much rhetoric and was unpretentious in his descriptions

Capable of molding complex events into simple expression

Also included lots of detailDid not order his work like most other

authors (chronologically,) but by subject manner

Literary Style

A collective biography of the Roman Empire’s first twelve emperors; Julius Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian

Each Caesar’s life is told in the same manner, focusing on descriptions of appearance, omens, family history, and other topics within their lives

The Twelve Caesars

Book 1.63“His presence of mind was no less renowned, and the

instances of it will appear even more striking. After the battle of Pharsalus, when he had sent on his troops and was crossing the strait of the Hellespont in a small passenger boat, he met Lucius Cassius, of the hostile party, with ten armoured ships, and made no attempt to escape, but went to meet Cassius and actually urged him to surrender; and Cassius sued for mercy and was taken on board.” (Book 1.63)

Example of Suetonius’ ability to portray a vivid scene with little embellishment

Sample from The Twelve Caesars

The Twelve Caesars is considered a primary source of Roman history, often considered one of the most accurate reports of this eraConsidered the main source for the life of Caligula, his uncle

Claudius, and VespasianDiscusses a critical period while focusing on other aspects

often overlooked by other writers, such as the heritage, personal habits, and the physical appearance of each of the emperors

Includes much of the gossip and more personal stories of the time, which other contemporaries chose not to include

Through his other literary accounts, he provided great insight into many different lives present within Roman society

Importance and Influence

What I Chose to Overlook Until Now

They were both very close with Pliny the Younger, who acted as a source of information and also helped aid them both in their political spheres

Despite their different writing styles, their accounts are often compared as two leading primary sources for the same era of Roman history concerning the first Emperors

Their Lasting Impact by being two of the first reliable secular accounts of Jesus

Their Many Similarities and True Lasting Impact

References to Jesus in their Texts“…on a class hated for

their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus…” (Cornelius Tacitus, Annals 15.44).

“Since the Jews constantly made disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, [Nero] expelled them from Rome.” (Suetonius Tranquillus, The Life of Claudius 25.4)

They Establish Three Separate facts concerning Rome 60 ADThere were many Christians in Rome It was possible to distinguish between Christians and JewsPagans realized the connection between Christianity in Rome

and its origin in JudeaThey both connect Jesus with the harshness of Nero, with

Tacitus explaining how Nero blames the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD on the Christians and for that reason they were expelled from the city, while Tranquillus reflects upon Nero’s punishment towards early Christians

They are both direct accounts from non-Christian sources that confirm the existence of Christians and the crucifixion of Jesus by Pontius Pilate

The Profound Importance of These Passages

http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/historianstacitus/a/Tacitus.htm

http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Tacitus/home.html

http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/home.html

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/571641/Suetonius

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacitushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suetoniushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twelve_Caesarshttp://www.ourcivilisation.com/smartboard/shop/tacitusc/

about.htm

Blibliography