Roman Historiography: Authors and Works

Posted on Mar 4, 2025 in Latin

1. Introduction

History, as a genre, is the study and narration of past events. It is considered both a literary and scientific work; therefore, it is called historiography. Often, a certain degree of credibility and truth is subordinated to a political and national purpose. There is typically no analysis of social and economic problems, and sources are partially consulted.

2. Origins

  • Legal Texts: Leges Regiae, Senatus Consulta, Law of the Twelve Tables (450 BC).
  • Religious Texts: Annales Pontificum.
  • Official Calendar: Private Texts.
  • Laudationes funebres and imaginum (ancestral mask) securitization.

3. Influences

Greek Authors:

  • Herodotus (universal history).
  • Thucydides (didactic intent).

4. Periods, Authors, and Representative Works

4.1. Archaic Period (241-88 BC)

  • Analysts: Narrated events year by year. First written in Greek, then in Latin.
  • Epic Poetry (3rd and 2nd centuries BC):
    • Cn. Nevius: Bellum Punicum (in Saturnian verse).
    • Q. Ennius: Annales (in hexameters, covering the origins of Rome to his time).
  • M. Porcius Cato (234-194 BC):
    • Origines (fragments are preserved).
    • Opposed to the influences of Hellenism.
    • Defense of traditional Roman values as a model.
    • Italic vision.
    • Took Thucydides as a model.

4.2. Classical Period

  • Gaius Julius Caesar (100-44 BC):
    • Works: Commentarii: De Bello Gallico and De Bello Civili.
    • Style: 3rd person. Campaign diary. Immediacy. Presents his own ideas and ways of acting. Geographical and military tactic descriptions. No archaisms, Hellenisms, or slang.
    • Life: Politician, military figure, writer, and speaker. Claimed descent from Aeneas. Held magistracies and was part of the First Triumvirate with Pompey and Crassus. Defeated Pompey at Pharsalus and proclaimed himself dictator in 45 BC. Assassinated on March 15, 44 BC, due to his drive for power.

4.3. Early Imperial Period

  • C. Crispus Sallust (86-35 BC):
    • Historiae (fragmentary state).
    • Conspiracy of Catiline: Conspiracy (63 BC, during Cicero’s consulate) carried out unsuccessfully by the impoverished nobleman, Catiline.
    • Jugurthine War: Conflict between Rome and Numidia (111-105 BC).
    • Style: Focus on moral and philosophical motivations. Disgust at the lack of values in a society of tensions and conflicts. Concise style; speeches put in the mouths of the protagonists; archaisms; historical infinitive.
  • Cornelius Nepos (100-25 BC):
    • De Viris Illustribus (biographies of famous men).
    • Simple lexicon.
    • Friend of Cicero.
  • Titus Livius (Livy) (59 BC – 17 AD):
    • Ab Urbe Condita (divided into decades). History of Rome.
    • 35 books are preserved.
    • Consultation of surface sources.
    • Instructional content.
    • Respect for tradition, the gods, and fate.
    • Admirer of Demosthenes and Cicero.
    • Did not participate in political life.
    • Enjoyed the patronage of Augustus.

4.4. Post-Classical Period

  • P. Cornelius Tacitus (55-120 AD):
    • Psychological description of major characters.
    • Annales (from the death of Augustus to 68 AD) and Historiae (from Galba to Domitian).
    • Agricola and Germania.
    • History must have a moralizing function.
    • The facts have an explanation that must be investigated.
    • Criticizes the imperial regime.
    • Careful handling of sources.
  • Suetonius (75-160 AD):
    • Lives of the Caesars (biographies from Caesar to Domitian).
    • Anecdotes, rumors.
4.5. Decline
  • Florus (2nd century AD). Contemporary of Suetonius.
  • Eutropius (4th century AD). Summary of the History of Rome. Simple style.
  • Ammianus Marcellinus (late 4th century AD). Augustan History.