Lives of the CaesarsThe Lives of the Caesars include the biographies of Julius Caesar and the eleven subsequent emperors: Augustus, Tiberius, Gaius Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitelius, Vespasian, Titus, Domitian. It was Robert Graves's primary reference source when he was writing I, Claudius. Suetonius composed his material from a variety of sources, without much concern for their reliability. His biographies consist the ancestry and career of each emperor in turn; however, his interest is not so much analytical or historical, but anecdotal and salacious which gives rise to a lively and provocative succession of portraits. The account of Julius Caesar does not simply mention his crossing of the Rubicon and his assassination, but draws attention to his dark piercing eyes and attempts to conceal his baldness. The life of Caligula presents a vivid picture of the emperor's grotesque appearance, his waywardness, and his insane cruelties. The format and style of Suetonius' Lives of the Caesars was to set the tone for biography throughout western literature--his work remains thoroughly readable and full of interest. Indeed, it was Robert Graves's primary reference source when he was writing I, Claudius, and those who have read his book will enjoy the original accounts as set down here. |
Contents
The Deified Julius Caesar | 3 |
The Deified Augustus | 43 |
Tiberius | 98 |
Caligula | 136 |
The Deified Claudius | 168 |
Nero | 195 |
Galba | 228 |
Otho | 241 |
The Deified Vespasian | 260 |
The Deified Titus | 274 |
Family Tree of the JulioClaudians | 295 |
Glossary | 358 |
390 | |
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accused actors Agrippa Agrippina ancient army Augustus battle Britannicus brother brought Caligula Campus Martius Capitoline Cassius chariot Cicero circus citizens Claud Claudius condemned conspiracy consul consulship daughter death defeated Deified died dinner Domitian Drusus edict emperor enemy equestrian order father favour Forum freedmen friends Gaius Galba Gaul gave orders Germanicus give gladiatorial Gnaeus Greek heir held honour imperial Julia Julius Caesar Jupiter Kalends killed king later Latin legions Lepidus letters Lives Livia Lucius magistrates Marcus Marcus Agrippa Mark Antony married military mother Nero Nero's occasion Octavian offered omens once Otho plebs Pompey Pompey's praetor praetorian praetorian guard province punishment quaestor Quintus rank reign Roman knight Rome Sejanus senate senatorial sent sesterces Sextus Pompeius slaves soldiers status Suetonius temple theatre thousand sesterces Tiberius Titus took tribune triumph Vespasian victory Vitellius wife