Suetonius
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus (circa 69 AD - circa. 122 AD)
When and where born?
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Suetonius was born in the province of Africa, in Hippo Regius; Suetonius was born into a moderate family and his father became equite whilst retaining equestrian status in the Thirteenth Legion. Suetonius flourished at rehetoric schools in Rome and made a close friendship with Pliny the Younger, who brought him into favour with Trajan and Hadrian.
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Career outside of writing
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It is believed that Suetonius served on Pliny the Younger's staff when he was proconsul of Bithynia Pontus between 110 and 112 AD. Suetonius became secretary of studies and director of Imperial archives umder Trajan. He became Hadrian's secretary but was dismissed in 119 AD for having an affair with the Empress Vibia Sabina.
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Work on Augustus
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Augustus wrote work on Augustus as part of his book, The Twelve Caesars, in which he wrote a collective biography on Rome's first leaders; Julius Casear, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian, Titus and Domitian. Tthe descriptions of appearance, omens, family history, quotes, and then a
history are given in a consistent order for each. The book was dedicated to Gaius Septicius Clarus, a prefect of the Praetorian Guard, a friend of Suetonius, in 119 AD. Suetonius used the imperial archives to research eyewitness accounts, information and other evidence to produce the book, however, Suetonius is criticised for the large amounts of gossip included and for the use of historians who had lived at the time rather than using primary sources. Suetonius, either consciously or unconsciously, sides with the Senate against the Princeps, and so has been described as a Republican which must be considered when looking at his reliability when writing about Augustus. |