the twelve caesars

¶ … Twelve Caesars work written in 121 AD by Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, the Twelve Caesars, stands as one of the best early accounts of the rulers of Rome during the height of the Republic. In this work, Suetonius chronicles the lives of twelve Roman leaders, highlighting the politics and society of the time. As a historical reference, it could be considered biased, as Suetonius interjects his own opinion from time to time. Although it may be questionable as a historical source, it is an excellent glimpse into Roman politics and society during each of the reigns discussed.

Suetonius opens with the Life of Julius Caesar and the Civil War against Pompey the Great. Suetonius showed the human side of Caesar, particularly his mercy on those who had wronged him, choosing to kill them without torture (Suetonius, p. 97).Suteonius provides long lists of Caesar's accomplishments, including improvements to infrastructure that would benefit generations after him (Suetonius, p. 61-63).

It is through Suetonius that we gain a personal look at what the Roman leaders were thinking and feeling at the time. Without this personal perspective, one could only view the Roman emperors as hard, cold individuals who do not feelings. Suetonius gives the reader a perspective that they do not get from other accounts. Suetonius highlights Caesar's famous talent for choosing the correct words to gain the loyalty of his soldiers and fellow countrymen. His tactful use of oratory was one of Caesar's most memorable aspects (Suetonius, p.38, 39). Caesar was assassinated before he could restore the Old Roman Empire.

One of Suetonius's most interesting accounts is that of the Life of Tiberius. According to Suetonius, Tiberius gained the throne after the death of Augustus. Augustus originally had an heir, Postumus Agrippa, but this heir was deemed morally unsound for the throne. Therefore, Augustus adopted Tiberius, beginning the custom of adopting an heir to the throne (Suetonius, p. 287). It seemed that Tiberius was not expected to be successful by Augustus. Tiberius was a brutal leader who deprived the people in order to gain wealth for himself (Suetonius, p.377). As a leader, Tiberius left the state much wealthier than before he came into power. However, he was so hated by the people that they wished to throw him down the stairs and into the Tiber River, as he had done to so many others (Suetonius, p.401).

Suetonius treats the life of the Julian line rules in a less than savory fashion. He highlights their political success, but paints a picture of tyrants that mistreated the people in order to gain their own wealth. He highlights the atrocities of the rulers and the means of their demise, spending much time on assassinations of the rulers. Suetonius spends considerable time on the scandal and drama of the time, making the work entertaining, as well as informative.

Through Suetonius, we find that many of the emperors pursued artistic endeavors. For instance, Julius Caesar loved the art of debate, particularly that of philosophy. Nero was a talented musician, often giving concerts that lasted for hours (Suetonius, p.117). These glimpses into the lives of the rulers gives them a human side, which tends to balance the unscrupulous deeds throughout the rest of the book. Suteonius treats the emperors harshly, spending much time documenting their brutality.

In some cases, Suetonius provides a balanced account, highlights successes with failures, and misdeeds with kindness. In other cases, he is clearly against the leader, as with the case of Caligula. Surprisingly, Suetonius includes one account where he has nothing bad to say. Apparently, the short life of Titus was a fine example of humanity. If one were to form an opinion-based entirely on Suetonius, it would appear that he considered Julius Caesar to be the most successful of the Roman Emperors. He spends more time on Caesar than on any other ruler. His goes into more intimate depth of character with him as well and highlights what he did for the Empire. Nero would be the ultimate loser, as Suetonius has absolutely nothing good to say about him.

Hidden within Suetonius's descriptions, we learn about Roman myth and superstition. In many of the accounts, Suetonius provides a laundry list of omens that would foretell the fate of the ruler. This early form of foreshadowing allows the reader to explore the role that fate played in Roman politics. The belief in pre-destiny comes out in Suetonius's descriptions and histories, particularly prophetic dreams right before an assassination.