Tacitus: The Annals of Imperial Rome

Is writing history a dangerous task?

Timeline of Important Events

Timeline of Important Events

Augustus 31 BC to 14 ADVergil wrote the Aeneid before his death

in 19 BCTiberius 14-37 Gaius (Caligula) 37-41Claudius 41-54Nero 54-68Tacitus was born c. 55 AD

Augustus 31 BC to 14 ADVergil wrote the Aeneid before his death

in 19 BCTiberius 14-37 Gaius (Caligula) 37-41Claudius 41-54Nero 54-68Tacitus was born c. 55 AD

Life of TacitusLife of Tacitus

75/6 studied oratory at Rome

77 marries daughter of Gn. Iulius Agricola

Agricola is a military commander

88 praetor (on the fast -track to gov’t career)

Military affairs and foreign relations

75/6 studied oratory at Rome

77 marries daughter of Gn. Iulius Agricola

Agricola is a military commander

88 praetor (on the fast -track to gov’t career)

Military affairs and foreign relations

Agricola (story of his father-in-law) (98)

Germania (non-Roman as noble savage) (98)

Dialogus (oratory in decline) (c. 102)

Histories (year of 4 emperors, (110)

Annals (Augustus to Nero) (c. 117)

Agricola (story of his father-in-law) (98)

Germania (non-Roman as noble savage) (98)

Dialogus (oratory in decline) (c. 102)

Histories (year of 4 emperors, (110)

Annals (Augustus to Nero) (c. 117)

Themes in TacitusThemes in Tacitus

Admired old Senatorial System

Zealous Roman patriot

Good part of ruling elite gives its best to leading armies and governing foreign provinces

Admired old Senatorial System

Zealous Roman patriot

Good part of ruling elite gives its best to leading armies and governing foreign provinces

Is role of Senate under the empire compatible with the image of the upper strata of society as noble servants of the people?

Is role of Senate under the empire compatible with the image of the upper strata of society as noble servants of the people?

Themes in TacitusThemes in Tacitus

The need for power causes the biggest fights

No one is exempt from envy, hypocracy or arrogance

Vanity is key

The need for power causes the biggest fights

No one is exempt from envy, hypocracy or arrogance

Vanity is key

Tacitus’s SourcesTacitus’s Sources

Wrote after the events in question

Wrote after the events in question

Had access to state records

Had access to state records

Security vs. FreedomSecurity vs. Freedom

How much freedom should a person have?

How much freedom should a person have?

How much control should the gov’t have over people’s lives?

How much control should the gov’t have over people’s lives?

Contrasts in TacitusContrasts in Tacitus

Noble ideals of the Republic vs. Corrupt decadence of the Empire

Noble ideals of the Republic vs. Corrupt decadence of the Empire

Dislike of absolute rule and power of autocracy vs. dislike of less privileged classes

Dislike of absolute rule and power of autocracy vs. dislike of less privileged classes

Tacitus vs. LivyTacitus vs. Livy

Contemporary History

History is dictated by political circumstances

Contemporary History

History is dictated by political circumstances

Lives of legendary ancestors

How did Rome first acquire power?

Lives of legendary ancestors

How did Rome first acquire power?

Livy’s Goals as an historian

Livy’s Goals as an historian

“best medicine for a sick mind”

Review ancestral morals and virtues

“best medicine for a sick mind”

Review ancestral morals and virtues

“find examples and warnings”

Get power and success by learning from example

“find examples and warnings”

Get power and success by learning from example

Tacitus’s Goals as an Historian

Tacitus’s Goals as an Historian

Tell about contemporary events

Show the causes of things

Can learn right from wrong through looking at experience of others

Tell about contemporary events

Show the causes of things

Can learn right from wrong through looking at experience of others

N.B. Tacitus tries to free himself from bias while Livy recognizes his bias

“I shall write without indignation or partisanship: in my case customary incentives to these are lacking”

N.B. Tacitus tries to free himself from bias while Livy recognizes his bias

“I shall write without indignation or partisanship: in my case customary incentives to these are lacking”

Augustus’ ReignAugustus’ Reign

31 BC to 14 AD

“Practically no one had ever seen truly Republican gov’t”

“Political equality was a thing of the past; all eyes watched for imperial commands”

31 BC to 14 AD

“Practically no one had ever seen truly Republican gov’t”

“Political equality was a thing of the past; all eyes watched for imperial commands”

TriumphatorTriumphator

Pater PatriaePater Patriae

In my thirteenth consulship, the Senate, the equestrian order and the

people of Rome granted to me the title of Father of my Country, and determined that this ought to be inscribed in the entrance of my house and

in the Curia Julia and in the Forum Augustum under the chariot, which had been set there on my behalf by the Senate’s resolution.

In my thirteenth consulship, the Senate, the equestrian order and the

people of Rome granted to me the title of Father of my Country, and determined that this ought to be inscribed in the entrance of my house and

in the Curia Julia and in the Forum Augustum under the chariot, which had been set there on my behalf by the Senate’s resolution.

Use of Visual Imagery Use of Visual Imagery

Augustus’ MausoleumAugustus’ Mausoleum

The ResultsThe Results

It is astonishing how every kind of visual communication came to reflect the new order, how every theme and slogan became interwoven. . . . For generations the ills of state and society had been proclaimed, described, and lamented as incurable evils. The surprising thing, for many people virtually a miracle, was that the new ruler actually took the lament seriously and decided to do something about it.[1]

[1] Zanker 1990, 101-2.

It is astonishing how every kind of visual communication came to reflect the new order, how every theme and slogan became interwoven. . . . For generations the ills of state and society had been proclaimed, described, and lamented as incurable evils. The surprising thing, for many people virtually a miracle, was that the new ruler actually took the lament seriously and decided to do something about it.[1]

[1] Zanker 1990, 101-2.

Vergil on AugustusVergil on Augustus

This man, this is the one whom you often hear is promised to you,

Augustus Caesar, son of a god, who shall again craft a Golden Age in Latium,

through fields once reigned over by Saturn, and he shall extend his command

beyond the Garamantes and the Indians.

This man, this is the one whom you often hear is promised to you,

Augustus Caesar, son of a god, who shall again craft a Golden Age in Latium,

through fields once reigned over by Saturn, and he shall extend his command

beyond the Garamantes and the Indians.

Augustus on AugustusAugustus on Augustus

On behalf of my service, I was called Augustus by the senate’s decree and

the door-posts of my residence were publicly dressed with laurels and the civic crown was installed on my door. A golden shield was placed in the Curia Julia, granted to me by the Senate and the Roman people on behalf of my virtue, mercy, justice and pity, as witnessed by the inscription of the shield. From this time on, I surpassed all in influence, although I held no more power than the others who were also colleagues in my magistracy.

On behalf of my service, I was called Augustus by the senate’s decree and

the door-posts of my residence were publicly dressed with laurels and the civic crown was installed on my door. A golden shield was placed in the Curia Julia, granted to me by the Senate and the Roman people on behalf of my virtue, mercy, justice and pity, as witnessed by the inscription of the shield. From this time on, I surpassed all in influence, although I held no more power than the others who were also colleagues in my magistracy.

SummarySummary

The return of the Golden Age theme was more than hyperbolical praise. . . . . it belongs to a complex of ideas the effect of which was to provide Augustus with a role that made him essential for the preservation of Roman society. . . . The public political disorder of civil war and the private wrongdoing of the individual are inextricably intertwined and the emperor as a second Saturn is assigned the role of keeping both at bay.[1]

[1] Wallace-Hadrill, 1982, 29-32

The return of the Golden Age theme was more than hyperbolical praise. . . . . it belongs to a complex of ideas the effect of which was to provide Augustus with a role that made him essential for the preservation of Roman society. . . . The public political disorder of civil war and the private wrongdoing of the individual are inextricably intertwined and the emperor as a second Saturn is assigned the role of keeping both at bay.[1]

[1] Wallace-Hadrill, 1982, 29-32

Questions to ConsiderQuestions to Consider

Why couldn’t historians write objectively about the emperors during their reigns?

Why does Tacitus think he can?

Why couldn’t historians write objectively about the emperors during their reigns?

Why does Tacitus think he can?

TiberiusTiberius

How does Tacitus characterize Tiberius?

Does the Senate approve of Tiberius?

What kind of relationship does Tiberius have with the Senate?

How does Tacitus characterize Tiberius?

Does the Senate approve of Tiberius?

What kind of relationship does Tiberius have with the Senate?

GermanicusGermanicus

What kind of military leader is Germanicus?

Why does Tiberius send for him?

How does Germanicus die?

What kind of military leader is Germanicus?

Why does Tiberius send for him?

How does Germanicus die?