Gaius Suetonius

Josiah Osgood (Georgetown University)

Ed. by Sophia Papaioannou, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.1.2: Ancient Roman Writing and Culture (Republic and Empire), -750-476.
Vol. editors: William John Dominik (University of Otago), Giacomo Fedeli (University of Exeter), Thomas Habinek (University of Southern California), Emily Kneebone (University of Nottingham), Elodie Paillard (University of Sydney), Sophia Papaioannou (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), Jula Wildberger (American University of Paris)

Dates

Born 70
Died 140
Activity 90-140

Places

Born in Ancient Rome (Republic & Empire)
Active in Ancient Rome (Republic & Empire)

Activities

Primary

Biographer
Historian / Chronicler

Resources

Suetonius' Works

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Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus (c. 70–c. 130 CE or after) was a prolific scholar of high imperial Rome most famous for his

Lives of the Caesars

(

De vita Caesarum

), a biographical account of the first Roman emperors as well as Julius Caesar. A landmark in the development of biography, the work is also a major source for modern understanding of Rome’s transition from republican to monarchical rule and of Roman culture.

A Scholar at the Imperial Court

Suetonius came from a wealthy family, perhaps of North Africa. His father, Suetonius Laetus, served as a military officer in 69 CE under Otho, one of the four men vying for power after the death of emperor Nero the year before. Years later, a similar post was offered to Suetonius himself (c. 102 CE), through the

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2204 words

Citation: Osgood, Josiah. "Gaius Suetonius". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 25 April 2014 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=4282, accessed 23 April 2024.]

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