Suetonius

Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, known simply as Suetonius, was a Roman historian who lived from around AD 69 to after AD 122. He wrote during the early days of the Roman Empire and is best remembered for his book called The Twelve Caesars. This book tells the stories of twelve Roman leaders, starting with Julius Caesar and ending with Domitian.

In addition to his famous biographies, Suetonius also wrote about everyday life in Rome, politics, public speaking, and the lives of well-known writers, such as poets and historians. Some of his other books still exist today, but many of them have unfortunately 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 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 follows the same pattern, describing 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, as well as works on Greek games and terms of abuse. His lost works cover a wide range of topics, from Roman customs to physical defects and weather signs.

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.