The lives of twelve caesars gaius suetonius tranquillus. Part of suetonius s lives of illustrious men of letters also survives. His colourful work, lives of the twelve caesars, is, along with tacitus, the major source for the period from julius caesar to domitian. Download suetonius s the lives of the twelve caesars, volume 03. 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.
The twelve caesars julius caesar, augustus, tiberius, caligula, claudius, nero, galba, otho, vitellius, vespasian, titus, and domitiancreated an empire which dominated the then known world and influenced it for a millennium. 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. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 363 pages and is available in paperback format. 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. The twelve caesars quotes showing 1 of nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than public opinion, nothing more deceptive than the whole political system. Suetonius, who lived through a period of stable but despotic imperial rule, wanted to explore the nature of imperial power and how a. Suetonius goes to great lengths to reveal the way these men really were, as human beings. Each emperor is dissected, and his actions beyond politics and professionalism revealed. Suetonius tranquillus was the son of a roman knight who commanded a legion, on the side of otho, at the. The lives of the twelve caesars suetonius full view 1855. The twelve caesars served as a model for the biographies of 2nd and early 3rdcentury emperors compiled by marius maximus. The lives of the twelve caesars, to which are added, his lives of the grammarians, rhetoricians, and poets.
Lives of the twelve caesars 2 basis of the present. At some point, suetonius may have fallen out of favour, and his access restricted. Suetonius, who lived through a period of stable but despotic imperial rule, wanted to explore the nature of imperial. Nov 10, 2004 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. 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. The twelve caesars suetonius robert graves download. This penguin classics edition is translated from latin by robert graves, the author of i, claudius, revised with an introduction and notes by james brivesas the private secretary of emperor hadrian, the suetone scholar. The patrician branch of the claudians there being a plebeian branch too, no less influential and distinguished was originally from regillum, a sabine town.
That the family of the octavii was of the first distinction in velitrae 1, is rendered evident by many circumstances. Enriched by anecdotes, gossip, and details of character and personal appearance, lives of the caesars by suetonius born c. The twelve caesars is a set of twelve biographies of julius caesar and the first eleven emperors of the roman empire. Free download or read online the twelve caesars pdf epub book. Suetonius family was of the knightly class, or equites. With an english translation on opposite pages, notes, introduction, and glossary, by rev. The twelve caesars by suetonius, 1957 online research. Suetonius the twelve caesars world public library ebooks. 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.
Her introduction summarizes a complex topic succinctly and is informative without being overwhelming, set at an ideal level for the student and intelligent enthusiast. Start your 48hour free trial to unlock this lives of the caesars study guide and get instant access to the following critical essays. The twelve caesars by suetonius, 9780140455168, download free ebooks, download free pdf epub ebook. Suetonius, chronicler of the extraordinary personalities of the first dynasties to rule the roman empire, was the greatest latin biographer. He was an author in antiquity who had for his contemporaries pliny the younger and the historian plutarch.
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. An english translation, augmented with the biographies of contemporary statesmen, orators, poets, and other associates. The lives of the twelve caesars, free pdf, ebook global grey. The first edition of the novel was published in 119, and was written by suetonius. The twelve caesarschronicles 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. 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 twelve caesars is a work of biography, and its strength is. Fox, ma to which is added the anglosaxon version of the metres of boethius, with a free translation by martin f. The twelve caesars by suetonius pdf free download ebook. To which are added, his lives of the grammarians, rhetoricians, and poets.
The lives of the twelve caesars suetonius full view 1893. By suetonius tranquillus rita mae brown, author of rubyfruit jungle and several mystery series, first read suetonius lives of the caesars in college. This penguin classics edition is translated from the latin by. For in the most frequented part of the town, there was, not long since, a street named the octavian. An indispensable primary source on roman history, suetone the twelve caesars is a fascinating scholarship realization covering a critical period in the empire. Topics generalities publisher modern library new york collection universallibrary contributor braou language english. The introductory paragraphs to the life of julius caesar are lost in all manuscripts. The twelve caesars is probably the most in depth book ever written about the personal lives of the twelve caesars. Together with tacitus annals, this work is a major source for the historical details in robert graves novels i claudius and claudius the god. The lives of the twelve caesars career account web service. Gaius suetonius tranquillus, commonly known as suetonius ca. Julius caesar, the divine 3, lost his father 4 when he. The work, probably written around 121ad in the reign of hadrian, therefore covers the crucial and highly eventful period of roman history from the end of the republic to the reign of domitian.
The twelve caesars by gaius suetonius tranquillus, translated by robert graves 1965. Suetonius twelve caesars is a key narrative source for the period it covers and, unlike tacitus, it has survived entire and is uninterrupted. The lives of the twelve caesars, complete by suetonius. Discussion questions for the twelve caesars by suetonius. 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. An octavian street runs through the busiest part of the city, and an altar is shown there consecrated by one octavius, a local commander. This masterpiece of observation, immortalized in robert gravess classic.
Julius caesar, the divine 3, lost his father 4 when he was in the sixteenth year of his age 5. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Not much is known about the life of gaius suetonius tranquillus. Suetonius covers a period of approximately 200 years in his work the twelve caesars, beginning with the reign of julius caesar who was born in. 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.
Suetonius tranquillus, the lives of the twelve caesars. The lives of the twelve caesars, to which are added, his lives of the grammarians, rhetoricians. In modern day politics, fidelity is considered a very important attribute. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. The lives of the twelve caesars suetonius full view 1901. Always update books hourly, if not looking, search in. The twelve caesars by suetonius translated by robert graves. The twelve caesars by suetonius by suetonius nook book.
Upon the accession of emperor hadrian 117, he entered the imperial. His grandfather marcus salvius otho, whose father was a roman knight but whose mother was of lowly origin and perhaps not even. The lives of the twelve caesars concentrates on the acts and personalities of the julioclaudians and their immediate successors. 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 download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. The lives of the twelve caesars by gaius suetonius. The latin text is that of maximilian ihm in the teubner edition of 1907. Her pregnancy at the time of the marriage led to suspicions that drusus was the result of his stepfathers adultery with her. 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. Apparently news of an attack by a neighbouring city reached him while he was. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Pdf the twelve caesars book by suetonius free download. The ancestors of otho came from an old and illustrious family in the town of ferentium and were descended from the princes of etruria.
Other articles where lives of the caesars is discussed. Julius caesar, augustus, tiberius, caligula, claudius, nero, galba, otho. Pdf suetonius the twelve caesars pdf download read. 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. 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. Suetoniuss work describes the lives of romes first 12 leaders from julius caesar to domitian hence it is best known today as the twelve. Download the twelve caesars ebook in epub, mobi and. Septicius clarus, prefect of the praetorian guard, his lives of the caesars. An essential primary source on roman history, suetonius the twelve caesars is a fascinating achievement of scholarship covering a critical period in the empire. Download the lives of the twelve caesars, volume 03.
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 work was written in 121 during the reign of the emperor hadrian, while suetonius was hadrians personal secretary. Vitellius, vespasian, titus and domitian are generally regarded as the twelve. The lives of the twelve caesars is a work of biography, and its strength is the expounding upon human character, rather than history. There are more than 1 million books that have been enjoyed by people from all over the world. Suetonius tranquillus, the lives of the caesars, suetonius. History of the twelve caesars by suetonius librarything. 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 main characters of this history, classics story are nero, caligula. The twelve caesars chapter 4, gaius caligula summary. Get ebooks the twelve caesars on pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi and audiobook for free. Download the lives of the twelve caesars, volume 06. Featured content includes commentary on major characters, 25 important. Rolfe, suetonius, the lives of the twelve caesars, london, 1914.
The twelve caesars by suetonius, 9780241261675, download free ebooks, download free pdf epub ebook. Even when viewed by his contemporary 70126 ad set of moral, social, and judicial principles, the first dozen present less than admirable godlike figures. Specifically suetonius relates how each of these successive emperors of the roman empire dealt with the office of supreme power. 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. The twelve caesars chronicles the public careers and private lives of the men who wielded absolute power over rome, from the. 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 biographies are not wholly flattering nor are events told in chronological sequence but they reveal some candid details of romes first citizens. Suetoniuss the twelve caesars explores vice and virtue in ancient. In order to more fully paint the picture of the times, we have had written and interspersed in chronological order, the lives of all the distinguished associates of the twelve caesars, male and female, which we trust will be a great improvement on any previous edition. This study guide consists of approximately 35 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the twelve caesars. The twelve caesars chronicles the public careers and private lives of the men who wielded absolute power over rome.
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. This ebook pdf format is published by liberty fund, inc. Download suetonius s the lives of the twelve caesars, volume 06. 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.
500 13 449 685 1478 973 413 768 152 1479 1112 536 266 275 365 533 1349 1322 1037 856 603 1028 1083 319 681 855 565 119 811 1438 712 710 1392 567 585