49th book of 2020: Millenia of bad emperors
Quoted as a primary source often enough to warrant a read. For a work nearly 2000 years old, it remains eminently readable, and in english translation surprisingly similar in style to more modern works like Gibbon or Keay’s history of China. I enjoyed the tone and commentary as much as or more so that the content, as Suetonius does little to create a narrative connecting different emperors and periods. Alas such mnemonic devices are a modern invention. Here’s mine:
The Imperial Duo
- Caesar: Overthrew the senate, successful in battle, but hated by the senate so assassinated before he could go to war with Persians. Reigned 2 years.
- Augustus: “I started with a Rome made of clay and I leave it made from marble.” Ruled for 40 years. Created the empire as it would endure.
The 4 OG Tyrants: *Tiberius: Started a line of tyrants - self imposed exile. *Caligula: Tyrant, crazy, 4 years. *Claudius: Normal, timid even in comparison to those before and after. *Nero: Batshit crazy, perverted and paranoid. Reign ends with suicide.
** Year of 4 emperors: ** Galba tries to pull a caesar from spain, gets killed by Otho, who becomes emperor. Vitellius, coming from the Rhine wins in battle against Otho who then commits suicide. Vespasian then defeats Vitellius to become emperor.
**Read 10 emperors, get 2 free: ** *Titus: Emperor for about 2 years. *Domitian: Ruled for 15 years, stabilized economy and military. Further undermined the senate.