Res Gestae Divi Augusti (Achievementsof the Divine Augustus)

De Vita Sua (Of His Life)

elogia

Below is a copy of the accomplishments of the deified Augustus by whichhe brought the whole world under the empire of the Roman people, and ofthe moneys expended by him on the state (res publica) and the Romanpeople, as inscribed on two bronze pillars set up in Rome.

1. At the age of nineteen, on my own initiative and at my own expense, Iraised an army by means of which I liberated the Republic (res publica),which was oppressed by the tyranny of a faction. For which reason thesenate, with honorific decrees, made me a member of its order in theconsulship of Gaius Pansa and Aulus Hirtius, giving me at the same timeconsular rank in voting, and granted me the imperium. It ordered me aspropraetor, together with the consuls, to see to it that the state (res publica)suffered no harm. Moreover, in the same year, when both consuls hadfallen in war, the people elected me consul and a triumvir for thesettlement of the commonwealth (res publica).

2. Those who assassinated my father I drove into exile, avenging theircrime by due process of law; and afterwards when they waged war againstthe state (res publica), I conquered them twice on the battlefield.

Res Gestae - Structure

Introduction & Sections 1-2: Preface

Part 1 (Sections 3-14): Honours gainedand bestowed

Part 2 (Sections 15-25): Numerical account

Part 3 (Sections 26-33): Military anddiplomatic triumphs

Sections 34 and 35: Closing statement

Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus

Born c. 70 AD in North Africa. Father wasmilitary tribune

Worked briefly as lawyer, then in imperialoffices. Eventually chief secretary toHadrian (r. 117-138 AD)

Allegedly dismissed for indiscretions with(or perhaps offense to) empress Sabina

Died c. 130 AD

Suetonius wrote on wide range of subjects,including Roman year and calendar, namesof seas, famous prostitutes and Greek andRoman games

Wrote 5 volume book on lives of intellectuals:Lives of Illustrious Men

Best known for De Vita Caesarum (Lives ofthe Caesars/The Twelve Caesars), startswith Julius Caesar and ends withDomitian (r. 81-96 AD)

Structure of Suetonius’ biography of Augustus

1.The Youth of Gaius Octavius (brief biography)

2. The Wars of Augustus

3. Honours and Offices of Augustus

4. Accomplishments of Augustus

5. Personality and Private Life of Augustus

6. Death and Deification of Augustus