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
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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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 09 October 2024.]