The Lives of the Twelve Caesars, Volume 04: Caligula

Name: The Lives of the Twelve Caesars, Volume 04: Caligula
Author: Suetonius

By Suetonius

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Biographies History - Ancient

About This Book

A sequence of concise biographies of Rome's early emperors recounts their origins, public careers, private habits, scandals, and deaths, combining chronological narrative with character sketches, lists of honors, and vivid anecdotes. Each life emphasizes political maneuvers, military actions, family relationships, legal and religious affairs, and personal foibles, often citing rumors and eyewitness reports to illustrate virtues and vices. The style alternates factual registers with moralizing detail, aiming to explain how temperament and conduct shaped each ruler's course. Short appended lives survey notable grammarians, rhetoricians, and poets.

About the Author

Suetonius

Suetonius was a Roman historian and biographer, best known for his work "The Lives of the Twelve Caesars," which provides a detailed account of the lives and reigns of the first twelve emperors of Rome. His writings are notable for their vivid anecdotes and insights into the personalities and politics of the time, offering a unique perspective on Roman history. Suetonius served as a secretary to the Emperor Hadrian and drew upon a wealth of sources, including official documents and personal accounts, to craft his biographies. His work remains a crucial resource for understanding the complexities of Roman imperial rule and the character of its leaders.