Twelve Caesars in Twelve Quotes - Part One

Suetonius's Twelve Caesars is one of the seminal works of ancient writing. An epic biography that spans; the reigns of twelve men, the fall of the Republic and the rise of the Empire. It records the dominance and decline of the Julio-Claudian family, the chaotic and terrifying Year of the Four Emperors, the eventual rise of the Flavian dynasty and ends with the assassination of the wicked Domitian.

It is a piece of work filled with anecdotes, rich with detail, physical descriptions of the men themselves and is essential reading to anyone interested in ancient Rome. Below I have pulled out a quote from each biography that I think describes said subject.

Julius Caesar

"The apparition snatched a trumpet from one of them, rushed to the river, and sounding the war-note with mighty blast, strode to the opposite bank. Then Caesar cried: "Take we the course which the signs of the gods and the false dealings of our foes point out. The die is cast," said he"

Suetonius LIfe of Julius Caesar Chapter 32

This section of Suetonius refers to the famous crossing of the Rubicon by Julius Caesar in 49 BC. Ordered to disband his army by the Senate, Caesar afraid that he would be prosecuted without the immunity provided him by being a magistrate, crossed the Rubicon and started a civil war. 

Julius Caesar

This passage of Suetonius is perfect for describing Caesar for a number of reasons. Firstly, it contains one of his famous bon mots, those witty phrases that Caesar is so well known for. But secondly, it equally it describes the very moment, that Caesar throwing caution to the wind, descended the Republic into civil war. Caesar is described numerous times at the brilliant tactician, cautious when needed, but always ready to gamble everything at the roll of a dice. The quote above describes this Caesar perfectly, the man willing to risk the whole Republic for his own gain. 

Augustus

"Since the city was not adorned as the dignity of the empire demanded, and was exposed to flood and fire, he so beautified it that he could justly boast that he had found it built of brick and left it in marble".

Suetonius Life of Augustus Chapter 28

Suetonius' biography of Augustus is extensive; covering his military and civil career, his family, his religious ideas, as well as portents of his birth and death. The passage above though in particular references his renovation of the Roman skyline. Another of those oft quoted references to Augustus and his reign, it doesn't mean this it isn't filled with importance. Augustus' renovation of the Roman Capitol hill, his own forum and his building of temples, theatres and civil buildings all changed Rome from the capitol city of Rome to the capitol city of the known world. 

This passage describes Augustus as more than just the military dictator or the cunning politician, he was a builder, an architect and someone with a master plan to re-order every aspect of Rome. 

Tiberius

"Moreover, having gained the license of privacy, and being as it were out of sight of the citizens, he at last gave free rein at once to all the vices which he had for a long time ill concealed"

Suetonius Life of Tiberius Chapter 42

Tiberius rose to power after the death of Augustus and while there are some aspects of his reign that have been argued as positive, his possible attempt to restore the republic for example, it is more often his later rule that is remembered. His time on Capri is the first time we see an Emperor descending into the lustful and wicked life that we associate with some of the worst emperors of Rome. 

This passage is the first indication within the biographies of Suetonius that sometimes giving absolute power to someone isn't absolutely the best idea. The magnanimous and stable rules of Julius Caesar and Augustus were at an end. What was to follow was a lottery of good and bad men ruling over a people hoping that the dice were going to fall favourably. 

Gaius Caligula

"He even gave this horse a house, a troop of slaves and furniture, for the more elegant entertainment of the guests invited in his name; and it is also said that he planned to make him consul"

Suetonius Life of Gaius Chapter 55

In a top five list of worst Roman emperors, Gaius is always present. Raised to the purple at the age of twenty-five, Suetonius' biography is filled with stories of his mad, irresponsible and often times dangerous behaviour. Whether Gaius ever actually intended to award his favourite horse the highest magistracy in the senate is unknown, as crazy as he was surely he must of known that wasn't going to fly. 

Gaius Caligula

However as Tiberius' descent into lasciviousness was the first time we saw that emperors could be subjected to perverted whims within their supreme rule, Gaius was the first time that an arguably mentally unstable emperor ruled. Suetonius' biography of Gaius is filled with further examples;
his military campaigns in Germany and against Britain, his bridge at Baie and his religious fanatism, however the passage above illustrates just how far in the rule of four men the Roman people had come. The Republic was well and truly dead, long live the Emperor.

Thanks for Reading

James