Suetonius

Early Life and Career

Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, known as Suetonius, lived from around AD 69 to after AD 122. He was a writer in the early days of the Roman Empire.

The Twelve Caesars

Suetonius is famous for his book called The Twelve Caesars. This book shares stories about twelve important Roman leaders. It starts with Julius Caesar and ends with Domitian.

Other Works

Besides his well-known biographies, Suetonius also wrote about daily life in Rome. He wrote about politics, speaking in public, and the lives of famous writers, like poets and historians. Some of his books still exist today, but many have been lost over time.

Life

Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus was probably born around AD 69. Many believe he was born in Hippo Regius, an old town in Numidia, which today is part of Algeria. His family was well-known, and his father served in the army.

Suetonius was a good friend of the writer Pliny the Younger. Pliny helped Suetonius buy property and asked the Emperor Trajan for special rights because Suetonius did not have children. Because of this, Suetonius became well-known to the emperors Trajan and Hadrian. He worked as a secretary for the emperors, helping with writing and keeping important papers.

Works

Suetonius is best known for his book The Twelve Caesars. This book tells the stories of the first leaders of the Roman Empire, from Julius Caesar to Domitian. Each story describes the leader's looks, family, and important events in their lives.

Suetonius also wrote other works, though many of them are lost today. Some of his surviving writings include stories about famous writers and poets.

Main article: The Twelve Caesars

Editions

Here are some books where you can read Suetonius's work, The Twelve Caesars:

• Robert Graves translated it in 1957.
• J. C. Rolfe made two volumes in 1997 and 1998.
• Catherine Edwards did a version in 2008.
• Donna W. Hurley translated it in 2011.
• Robert A. Kaster edited it in 2016.
• Tom Holland will translate it in 2025.