| The Twelve Caesars |
Article Index for The |
Website Links For Lives |
Information AboutThe Twelve Caesars |
|
The book was dedicated to a friend Gaius Septicius Clarus, a Praetorian Prefect , in 119 . The book was considered very significant in antiquity and has been a main source on Roman written history. Along with Tacitus the book discusses a significant and critical period in Roman and World History. SOURCES AND VERACITY Suetonius used the imperial archives to research eye-witness accounts, information, and other evidence to produce the book. He also quotes from Gaius Asinius Pollio , Cremutius Cordus and the '' Acts Of Augustus ''. It is said by some to be founded on gossip and citations of historians who had lived in the time of the early emperors rather than of primary sources of that time. However, even if this is true (the book ''is'' very racy, gossipy, dramatic and sometimes amusing and there ''are'' times the author subjectively expresses his opinion or knowledge), it provides valuable information on the heritage, personal habits/lives and political careers of the first Roman Emperors. It mentions details that other sources do not mention. For example, Suetonius is the main source on the life of Caligula, his uncle Claudius, and the heritage of Vespasian (the relevant sections of the Annals by his friend and contemporary Tacitus being lost). INFLUENCES The book was a model for Einhard ’s ''Charlemagne'' in the Ninth Century . Robert Graves mentions Suetonius as one of his major sources for '' I Claudius '' and '' Claudius The God '' (dramatized by the BBC ). Graves also made a widely-read translation of ''The Twelve Caesars'', first published in Penguin Classics in 1957. FACTS Suetonius made one reference in this work to "Chrestus", which may refer to " Christ ". See Historicity Of Jesus . CONSTITUENT WORKS
As a senator, Suetonius took the side of the Senate in most conflicts with the princeps, as well as the senators' views of the emperor. This resulted in biases, both conscious and unconscious. Suetonius lost access to the official archives shortly after beginning his work. He was forced to rely on second-hand accounts when it came to Claudius (with the exception of Augustus' letters which had been gathered earlier) and does not quote the emperor. Suetonius painted Claudius as a ridiculous figure, belittling many of his acts and attributing the objectively good works to his retinue.Scramuzza, p. 29 Thus the conception of Claudius as the weak fool, controlled by those he supposedly ruled, was preserved for the ages.
EXTERNAL LINKS
|