Tacitus P. (?) Cornelius Tacitus born ca.

. AD 56 o Probably in Narbonese or Cisalpine Gaul In Rome by 75 at the latest Political career under Vespasian, Titus and Domitian Praetor in 88 Absent from Rome 89-93 Sufffect consul in 97 Proconsul of Asia 112-113 Date of death unknown, not before 118 Published his first work, the Agricola, in early 98 o Biography of his father-in-law, who was governor of Britain for seven years from 77 o Cn. Julius Agricola (40-93) Germania published later the same year Dialogus de oratoribus perhaps written in 101/2 By 105-106, Tacitus was collecting material for a historical work, most likely the Histories, maybe completed 109-110 o It comprised 12 or 14 books Only the first 4 books survive Narrative down to AD 70 Annals (Ab excessu divi Augusti) o Originally 18 or 16 books Six for Tiberius Six for Gaius and Claudius Six (or four) for Nero o Perhaps completed ca. 120 Some regret for the lost freedoms of the Republic o Accepted necessity of the rule of one man (Hist. 1.1.1; Ann. 4.33.2)

Emperor Tiberius Son of T. Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla Born 42 BC Livia was divorced and married Octavian in 38 BC shortly before birth of Tiberiuss brother Nero Claudius Drusus Served in Spain with Augustus Quaestor in 23 BC Successful military career After Agrippas death (12 BC), Tiberius divorced Vipsania Agrippina to marry Augustus daughter Julia After his second consulship (7 BC), Tiberius was granted tribunician power for five years Withdrew to Rhodes Returned to Rome in AD 2 Adopted by Augustus in AD 4, along with Agrippa Julius Caesar (Agrippa Postumus) o Tiberius adopted his nephew Germanicus Julius Caesar Received tribunician power again in AD 4 for ten years, renewed for further ten in AD 13, equal in proconsular imperium to Augustus Tiberius thus in full power when Augustus died in AD 14 Accession debate Ann. 1. 10-13 o 17th September Abolished Augustus advisory council (consilium principis) Had dislike of extravagant honours Followed policy of not expanding the empire as set by Augustus political testament 2 innovations in provincial administration o prorogations of governors o governorships in absence both due to a shortage of satisfactory candidates (Ann. 6. 27)

 Most notorius feature of Tiberiuss principate was the incidence of trials before the Senate (introduced by Augustus) Two factors undermined his principate: o Tiberius inherited a poor military and economic situation o German war was unprofitable o Politicians were short of cash and were resorting to prosecutions to obtain it (Ann. 2. 34) o Unrest at Rome due to grain shortages o Provincials chafing under tax burden (cf. revolt in Gaul in AD 21) There had been family jealousy since 7 BC o The people and many senators favoured his stepsons o Rivalry after AD 4 led to downfall of Agrippa Postumus Feared by former opponents, Tiberius could not make politicians trust his moderatio and clementia o They looked forward to the succession of Germanicus (Tiberius was 55 in AD 14) Germanicus died in AD 19 Drusus died in AD 23 o Succession question opened up again Sons of Germanicus pitted against Sejanus, who seems to have supported Drusus surviving son, Tiberius Julius Caesar Nero Gemellus Tiberius, encouraged by Sejanus, retired to Campania, then to Capreae (AD 27), never to return to Rome again Struggle continued at Rome, until Nero Julius Caesar and Drusus Julius Caesar and their Vipsania Agrippina were disgraced (AD 29-30) Tiberius given evidence that Sejanus was attempting the downfall of Germanicuss youngest son, Gaius Purge of Sejanus followers

 Tiberius died on 16 March 37

Emperor Gaius Caligula Little Boots nicknamed by soldiers in the Rhine AD 12 41 Pontifex in 31 Quaestor in 33 o No other training in public life Proclaimed emperor on 16 March 37 Became Pater Patriae on 21 September 37 (a title refused by Tiberius) Murdered in the palace on 22 or 24 January 41 o Wife and daughter also murdered His reign has been interpreted as a departure from the Augustan Principate to a Hellenistic monarchy Seems to have been engaged in discovering the limits of his power (for me anything is licit, Suet. Calig. 29)

Emperor Claudius Tiberius Claudius Nero Germanicus 10 BC AD 54 youngest child of Nero Claudius Drusu and Antonia Twice refused a magistracy by Tiberius Became suffect consul on 1 July 37 with his young nephew, the emperor Gaius Had support of the army on accession (41) Took part in the invasion of Britain in 43 Mistrust of Senate led him to rely on two freedmen in particular: Narcissus and Pallas Third wife Messalina was the mother of his only surviving son, Brittanicus 4th wife Julia Agrippina (daughter of Germanicus) brought her son Nero with her (who was three years older than Brittanicus) Claudius died on 13 October 54 Wrote works on Etruscan and Carthaginian history, acquired knowledge of Roman history from Livy Added other provinces to the empire besides Britain o The two Mauretanias o Lycia o Thrace Was deified on death

Emperor Nero Nero Claudius Caesar Emperor 54-68 Born 15 December 37 o To Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus and Julia Agrippina Taught by Seneca Betrothed to Claudiuss daughter Octavia Senate conferred the necessary powers on Nero on his adoptive fathers death (Claudius) Nero, in his first speech to the Senate (written by Seneca, and recorded by Suetonius), promised to rule according to Augustan precedent o Renounced the abuses of Claudiuss regime (Ann. 13.4) Tried to kill his mother, Agrippina, in AD 59 (the boat accident) o This crime marked the end of the good part of Neros regime (Ann. 15. 67) For Tacitus, the political deterioration began in 62 with the first admitted case for Maiestas Genuine interest in re-educating Rome o Singing, dancing, art &c. Popularity with propertied classes undermined by the fire of June 64 Popular with ordinary people of Rome, who loved his generosity and games Commited suicide in 68 in villa of his freedman Phaon o (What an artist dies with me!, Suet. Ner. 48-9)

Agricola

1-3: Justification of the undertaking

Captatio benevolentiae

Book-burning of the biographies of Thrasea Paetus and Helvidius Priscus Praise of Nerva and Trajan 4: Agricolas birth Loss of father under Caligula Upbringing in Massillia 5: First military service in Britain 6: Marriage Early Offices 7-8: Murder of his mother Allegiance to Vespasian Service in Britain 9: Vespasian makes Agricola a patrician Marries daughter to Tacitus 10-12: Geographic and ethnographic excursus on Britain 13-15: History of Romes relationship with Britain 16: Rebellion of Boudica

17: Vespasian recovers Britain 18-23: Agricola as governor of Britain 24-27: Circumnavigation of Britain Agricola on ease of conquering Ireland Problems with Caledonia 28: Escape and misbehaviour, then misadventures, of German conscripts to the Roman army 29-32: Agricola presses on the attack towards the north; opposition led by Calgacus. Calgacuss speech 33-34: Agricolas speech 35-38: Battle of Mons Graupius (Roman victory); aftermath 39-40: Domitians jealous reaction; possibly including a false offer of Syria to Agricola, who returns to Rome 41-42: Amid gossip and plots, Agricola lives quietly in retirement 43: Illness and death of Agricola 44-46: Eulogy, list of horrors that Agricola did not have to see, along with the brighter age that he also missed