Nero
CLH 274 The Roman Empire 2: Central Power and Local Culture
‘Compare and contrast the reigns of the emperors Nero and Vespasian as presented in the imperial biographies of Suetonius.’
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, born in AD 70 either in Rome, areas of Italy around Rome, or it is even suggested, North Africa. An equestrian in rank as his father had also been, he was educated to a high standard and became a teacher of Literature. These two aspects are reflected in his Twelve Caesars. Completing a short military career as tribune in Britain allowed him to gain some military experience, after this transferring to more administrative roles within the Palace of Hadrian. These roles included charge of imperial libraries and the emperor’s correspondence, both allowing him access to documents regarding the internal workings and history of the ruling class. .
The descriptions set out of the ancestry of the two men by Suetonius create great contrasts. The stories of these ancestors are also intended to be presented as background for the vices and virtues held by each emperor. The Flavii family are described as one, “whose members have never enjoyed high office, at last brought stable government to the empire”. Much less detail of the Vespasian family line is given by Suetonius than that of Nero’s. It is made very clear that he descends from a line of equites and senators although the family status had been invariably increased through marriage. Suetonius also rejects local claims from Reate that Vespasian’s great great grandfather came from the lower rank of foreman. This is possibly an attempt by Suetonius to cement the Flavii as long standing members of the equestrian rank, very similar to his own family line. In addition to this, these ancestors are shown to have elements of industria contributing to the auctoritas inherited by Vespasian.
The Domitian family line, from which Nero descends, is presented from the outset as heavy with vice and this section is
‘Compare and contrast the reigns of the emperors Nero and Vespasian as presented in the imperial biographies of Suetonius.’
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, born in AD 70 either in Rome, areas of Italy around Rome, or it is even suggested, North Africa. An equestrian in rank as his father had also been, he was educated to a high standard and became a teacher of Literature. These two aspects are reflected in his Twelve Caesars. Completing a short military career as tribune in Britain allowed him to gain some military experience, after this transferring to more administrative roles within the Palace of Hadrian. These roles included charge of imperial libraries and the emperor’s correspondence, both allowing him access to documents regarding the internal workings and history of the ruling class. .
The descriptions set out of the ancestry of the two men by Suetonius create great contrasts. The stories of these ancestors are also intended to be presented as background for the vices and virtues held by each emperor. The Flavii family are described as one, “whose members have never enjoyed high office, at last brought stable government to the empire”. Much less detail of the Vespasian family line is given by Suetonius than that of Nero’s. It is made very clear that he descends from a line of equites and senators although the family status had been invariably increased through marriage. Suetonius also rejects local claims from Reate that Vespasian’s great great grandfather came from the lower rank of foreman. This is possibly an attempt by Suetonius to cement the Flavii as long standing members of the equestrian rank, very similar to his own family line. In addition to this, these ancestors are shown to have elements of industria contributing to the auctoritas inherited by Vespasian.
The Domitian family line, from which Nero descends, is presented from the outset as heavy with vice and this section is
Bibliography: Cassius Dio. Roman History: Book 61. Trans. Scott-Kilvert, I. (1987) London: Penguin Books. Grant, M.(1970) Nero. London: Weidenfield and Nicolson. Griffin. M,T. (1984) Nero: The End of a Dynasty. London: B.T. Batsford Morgan, M.G Suetonius. The Twelve Caesars. Trans. Graves, R. (1957) London: Penguin Books. Tacitus. The Annals of Imperial Rome. Trans. Grant, M. (1956) London: Penguin Books. Townend, G.B [ 10 ]. Morgan (1996) 42 [ 11 ]