Tacitus

1. Tacitus “It is the rare fortune of these days that a man may think what he likes and say what he thinks” Full Name: Cornelius Tacitus Born: c. AD 56 Died: c. AD 120 Occupation: Historian, orator and . public official. In 77, Tacitus married the daughter of Gnaeus Julius Agricola (soon to be governor of Britain). In 81 he gained quaestorship, in 88 he attained praetorship and became a member of the priestly college that kept the Sibylline Books of prophecy and supervised foreign cult practise. After this it may be assumed that he held a senior provincial post, normally in command of a legion, for four years. Tacitus was born in Gaul and he grew up in comfortable circumstances, receiving a good education that allowed him to progress into a public career. He studied rhetoric, which provided him with general literary education and included the practise of prose composition. He also studied to be an advocate at law and began his career with a vigintivirate and a military tribunate. When he returned to Rome, he observed first-hand the oppression of the Roman aristocracy. In 97, he rose to consulship and delivered a funeral oration for a very famous soldier- Verginius Rufus. This distinction not only reflected his reputation as an orator, but his moral authority and official dignity as well. He began writing in 98, composing the Germania and Agricola. Friends with Pliny the Younger, he continued to practise advocacy at law but felt that oratory had lost much of its political spirit and practitioners were deficient in skill. The Annals followed the traditional form of yearly narrative with literary elaboration on the significant events of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. The prime purpose of the Annals was to reinterpret the dynasty, when imperial rule developed a central control. Tacitus wanted to highlight that the emperors were corrupted by dynastic power, but he did accept the necessity of strong, periodic power in Roman govt., providing it allowed the rise of fresh talent. He assumed the aristocratic view on the emperors, being very critical of their actions and personalities.