SUETONIUS DIVUS AUGUSTUS Edited with lntroduction and Commentary by JOHN M. CARTER Bristol Classical Press Cover illustration: silver denatius. of Augustus minted ca. 20 BC (British Mu~eum, London BMC 334). [Drawing by Jean Bees] First published in 1982 by Bristol Classical Press an imprint of FOR Gerald Duckworth & Co. Ltd The Old Piano Factory RUTH, COLI'N & JUDITH 48 Hoxton Square, London NI 6PB Reprinted 1993, 1997 © 1982 by J.M. Carter All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission ofthe publisher. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN 0-906515-55-6 Available in USA and Canada from: Focus Information Group PO Box 369 Newburyport MAOI950 Cover illustration: silver denatius. of Augustus minted ca. 20 BC (British Mu~eum, London BMC 334). [Drawing by Jean Bees] First published in 1982 by Bristol Classical Press an imprint of FOR Gerald Duckworth & Co. Ltd The Old Piano Factory RUTH, COLI'N & JUDITH 48 Hoxton Square, London NI 6PB Reprinted 1993, 1997 © 1982 by J.M. Carter All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission ofthe publisher. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN 0-906515-55-6 Available in USA and Canada from: Focus Information Group PO Box 369 Newburyport MAOI950 CONTENTS Preface . . • • . • • • . • . • • • • • . • • • . • • . • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • ix Introduction Suetonius & Sources for Augustan History ••.•••••..•• 1 Character of Suetonian Biography ••.•••••••••••••••.• 2 Suetonius 1 Style • • . • • • . • . • • • • • • . • • • . • • • • • • • • • . • • • • . . 8 Suetonius 1 Life • . • • • • . • • • • • • • . • • • • . . • • • • • • • • • . • • • • . • 9 Imperium, Auctoritas, Tribunicia Potestas ••.•••••••. 10 ....... ................................ . Chronological Table , 13 Genealogical Tables 17 Bibliography and Abbreviations •••••••..••••••.•••..•••• 20 Note on the Text 34 Text 35 Note on the Commentary • . • • . . • . • . . • • . • • • . • • . • • • • . . • • . • • . 90 Commentary ....•. ' .•••••••.••..••••.• ' • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • • . • 91 Note on the Indices . • • • . • . • • . . . • • • • • • • • . •. • • . • • • • • • • • • • • 208 Index of Names & Subjects •.••••••••••••.•••••••..••..•• 209 Index·of Passages cited from Dio, Suetonius, •••..•••••• 219 Tacitus & Velleius Index of Coins & Inscriptions cited ..•••••••••.••..••.. 223 Head of a statue of Augustus as pontifex maximus from the Via Labicana; Museo delle Terme, Rome. [orawing by Jean Bees.] CONTENTS Preface . . • • . • • • . • . • • • • • . • • • . • • . • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • ix Introduction Suetonius & Sources for Augustan History ••.•••••..•• 1 Character of Suetonian Biography ••.•••••••••••••••.• 2 Suetonius 1 Style • • . • • • . • . • • • • • • . • • • . • • • • • • • • • . • • • • . . 8 Suetonius 1 Life • . • • • • . • • • • • • • . • • • • . . • • • • • • • • • . • • • • . • 9 Imperium, Auctoritas, Tribunicia Potestas ••.•••••••. 10 ....... ................................ . Chronological Table , 13 Genealogical Tables 17 Bibliography and Abbreviations •••••••..••••••.•••..•••• 20 Note on the Text 34 Text 35 Note on the Commentary • . • • . . • . • . . • • . • • • . • • . • • • • . . • • . • • . 90 Commentary ....•. ' .•••••••.••..••••.• ' • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • • . • 91 Note on the Indices . • • • . • . • • . . . • • • • • • • • . •. • • . • • • • • • • • • • • 208 Index of Names & Subjects •.••••••••••••.•••••••..••..•• 209 Index·of Passages cited from Dio, Suetonius, •••..•••••• 219 Tacitus & Velleius Index of Coins & Inscriptions cited ..•••••••••.••..••.. 223 Head of a statue of Augustus as pontifex maximus from the Via Labicana; Museo delle Terme, Rome. [orawing by Jean Bees.] PREFACE This edition of Suetonius' Life of Augustus is intended to be of use to all who have an interest in the historical aspect of the book. I have attempted on the one hand to incorporate references to up-to-date scholarship, and on the other to make the commentary intelligible to, and usable by, students of history who may not be able to read Suetonius in the original. It is for this reason that I have commented from time to time on the Penguin translation of Robert Graves (revised by Michael Grant) as being the version most likely to be in the hands of such students. I have also assumed that readers will have to hand the excellent commentary of P.A. Brunt and J.M. Moore on Augustus' Res Gestae. I am aware that to confine oneself in the main to one aspect of an author's work is not an entirely satisfactory procedure. I have therefore tried to compensate for commenting on Suet onius chiefly as a historical 'source' by saying something in the Introduction on questions of genre, style, and composition, although lack of space has forced me to be brief and dogmatic. The scope of the edition and my own limitations bave likewise entailed a neglect of Suetonius' Latinity which is regrettable but not I hope fatal to adequate interpretation. It is usual, in writing about Augustus, to refer to him as Octavian up to 27 B.C. and as Augustus thereafter. Suetonius' treatment makes it impossible to follow this convention and I have therefore used the name Augustus throughout. As regards bibliography, I have in most cases thought it suf ficient to cite recent works, through which the full range of references can without difficulty be reached by those who wish to pursue any topic in greater depth. Complete documentation of all the views and information presented in the commentary would swell it enormously and only marginally increase what ever usefulness it may possess. Many standard works do not appear in these pages; but this need not mean that they have been ignored. In conclusion, it remains to express my thanks to the British Academy and the Central Research Fund of London University for making possible a period of study in Rome, and to the Council of Royal Holloway College for granting me leave and supporting the minor expenses of my research. 9th May 1981 J.M.C. (ix) PREFACE This edition of Suetonius' Life of Augustus is intended to be of use to all who have an interest in the historical aspect of the book. I have attempted on the one hand to incorporate references to up-to-date scholarship, and on the other to make the commentary intelligible to, and usable by, students of history who may not be able to read Suetonius in the original. It is for this reason that I have commented from time to time on the Penguin translation of Robert Graves (revised by Michael Grant) as being the version most likely to be in the hands of such students. I have also assumed that readers will have to hand the excellent commentary of P.A. Brunt and J.M. Moore on Augustus' Res Gestae. I am aware that to confine oneself in the main to one aspect of an author's work is not an entirely satisfactory procedure. I have therefore tried to compensate for commenting on Suet onius chiefly as a historical 'source' by saying something in the Introduction on questions of genre, style, and composition, although lack of space has forced me to be brief and dogmatic. The scope of the edition and my own limitations bave likewise entailed a neglect of Suetonius' Latinity which is regrettable but not I hope fatal to adequate interpretation. It is usual, in writing about Augustus, to refer to him as Octavian up to 27 B.C. and as Augustus thereafter. Suetonius' treatment makes it impossible to follow this convention and I have therefore used the name Augustus throughout. As regards bibliography, I have in most cases thought it suf ficient to cite recent works, through which the full range of references can without difficulty be reached by those who wish to pursue any topic in greater depth. Complete documentation of all the views and information presented in the commentary would swell it enormously and only marginally increase what ever usefulness it may possess. Many standard works do not appear in these pages; but this need not mean that they have been ignored. In conclusion, it remains to express my thanks to the British Academy and the Central Research Fund of London University for making possible a period of study in Rome, and to the Council of Royal Holloway College for granting me leave and supporting the minor expenses of my research. 9th May 1981 J.M.C. (ix) 1 INTRODUCTION Suetonius and the Sources for Augustan History §1 Suetonius' Life of Augustus is, with the possible exception of the emperor's own Res Gestae, the most important single document concerning him which has come down to us. Of the three other connected accounts of Augustus, two deal only wi th the early years of his career: these 13,!!€. t::hE! .. :f:re~.grnent. ()f. . .. the J:?iography wri~:\;,. .§ U,l. . ,Jw.. ,.,lhLs".c.qn,t;E!Il\PO,r. . a ..r .CI(,<;t!ld acqua+ntance NT'EoT~'i1"5"o"r"lräm'a's"cus I court historian to Herod th'e Greät';' änd ti'ief'"Tät:''Ee'i'"':P'a"r"t:'"'ö'f"'''th·e work of the 2nd century historian Appian Qn Rome's Civil Wars, which ends in 35 B.C. The third account is that of Dio Cassius, senator and twice consul in Severan times, which has some gaps but survives in large part complete. All three men came from the ,eastE!rn. .. h.a'l•f···ofn·the ..... e.mpire, and. . wrote j,n Greek, and their''Understanding ofRoman. insti tutions -a-:r·t:'h'~"·t:·:t;;;·e;··o'f Augustus is not always · perfect. The loss · of ,, ''fll<D'S't·"öf""Nt'cöl'atrs··•· 'b'io·graphy···:ts·"·'not the t'r'ägedy it might seem, :u! .. =~~~ ~ ~~~~~a~i~y':':~.~ .. d~'~'~'~'~li~\4~~ ~~()~~~t~t n~t~~rtf~=~ ..~ i:!>;:;a::~;cF:: Appian, though go·od and detailed;. ... does not even reä'ch the battle of Actium, while Dio (not unnaturally, seeing that he was writing a History of Rome) has large omissions and can not be pressed on points of detail and chronology. Suetonius, on the other hand, is free from all these criticisms. His treatment is complete, he is far enough from Augustus and his dynasty to be tolerably objective, and as an Italian and high civil servant he has an understanding of things Roman which sometimes eludes the others. By temperament a compiler, he preserves many precious facts whose accuracy there is no reason to question. His major defect, from the point of view of the modern historian, is that he has no interest in chron ology and thus obscures the processes of change at work in the forty years of the first princeps' reign. He does, though, understand the importance of evidence and is remarkable amongst ancient historical writers for the range and quantity of what he adduces. No doubt his work in the imperial secretariat (see §18 below) was responsible for developing this trait. §2 Suetonius and Dio are thus the bedrock of any narrative of Augustus' reign. (For their relationship, see §12 below.) Other important literary sources are the relevant chapters of Velleius Paterculus' outline of Roman history, published in A.D. 29 and particularly concerned to flatter Tiberius; the epitome of Livy; some of Plutarch's Lives, especially that of Antony; the letters and Philippics of Cicero (for the years 44-43 B.C.); and the Augustan poets, who reveal attitudes and ideals (and sometimes even policies) which are of the greatest importance for our comprehension of the more intangible aspects of Augustus' regime. The Jewish historian Josephus is valuable 1 INTRODUCTION Suetonius and the Sources for Augustan History §1 Suetonius' Life of Augustus is, with the possible exception of the emperor's own Res Gestae, the most important single document concerning him which has come down to us. Of the three other connected accounts of Augustus, two deal only wi th the early years of his career: these 13,!!€. t::hE! .. :f:re~.grnent. ()f. . .. the J:?iography wri~:\;,. .§ U,l. . ,Jw.. ,.,lhLs".c.qn,t;E!Il\PO,r. . a ..r .CI(,<;t!ld acqua+ntance NT'EoT~'i1"5"o"r"lräm'a's"cus I court historian to Herod th'e Greät';' änd ti'ief'"Tät:''Ee'i'"':P'a"r"t:'"'ö'f"'''th·e work of the 2nd century historian Appian Qn Rome's Civil Wars, which ends in 35 B.C. The third account is that of Dio Cassius, senator and twice consul in Severan times, which has some gaps but survives in large part complete. All three men came from the ,eastE!rn. .. h.a'l•f···ofn·the ..... e.mpire, and. . wrote j,n Greek, and their''Understanding ofRoman. insti tutions -a-:r·t:'h'~"·t:·:t;;;·e;··o'f Augustus is not always · perfect. The loss · of ,, ''fll<D'S't·"öf""Nt'cöl'atrs··•· 'b'io·graphy···:ts·"·'not the t'r'ägedy it might seem, :u! .. =~~~ ~ ~~~~~a~i~y':':~.~ .. d~'~'~'~'~li~\4~~ ~~()~~~t~t n~t~~rtf~=~ ..~ i:!>;:;a::~;cF:: Appian, though go·od and detailed;. ... does not even reä'ch the battle of Actium, while Dio (not unnaturally, seeing that he was writing a History of Rome) has large omissions and can not be pressed on points of detail and chronology. Suetonius, on the other hand, is free from all these criticisms. His treatment is complete, he is far enough from Augustus and his dynasty to be tolerably objective, and as an Italian and high civil servant he has an understanding of things Roman which sometimes eludes the others. By temperament a compiler, he preserves many precious facts whose accuracy there is no reason to question. His major defect, from the point of view of the modern historian, is that he has no interest in chron ology and thus obscures the processes of change at work in the forty years of the first princeps' reign. He does, though, understand the importance of evidence and is remarkable amongst ancient historical writers for the range and quantity of what he adduces. No doubt his work in the imperial secretariat (see §18 below) was responsible for developing this trait. §2 Suetonius and Dio are thus the bedrock of any narrative of Augustus' reign. (For their relationship, see §12 below.) Other important literary sources are the relevant chapters of Velleius Paterculus' outline of Roman history, published in A.D. 29 and particularly concerned to flatter Tiberius; the epitome of Livy; some of Plutarch's Lives, especially that of Antony; the letters and Philippics of Cicero (for the years 44-43 B.C.); and the Augustan poets, who reveal attitudes and ideals (and sometimes even policies) which are of the greatest importance for our comprehension of the more intangible aspects of Augustus' regime. The Jewish historian Josephus is valuable 3 2 my readers (but so that) we shall be more eager to ob- for the relations of Rome and the Jews, and the geographer serve and imitate the better lives if we do not leave unrec Strabo describes the empire as it was under Augustus. We also orded the bad and the blameworthy" (Plutarch, Demetrius 1.5-6) have Tacitus, particularly the opening chapters of the Annals, None the less, panegyric and ethical admiration are not far and a whole range of post-Augustan writers, notably the Elder apart, and both kinds of biography are inevitably structured Pliny, who contribute diverse snippets of information (see by the categories of moral approval and disapproval. Events CAH 10.866-876). are told not simply because they happened, but in order to bring out some aspect of the character of the individual. §3 The composite picture thus obtained is controlled and This is the basis of the distinction between biography and amplified by the evidence of excavation and all kinds of non history of which the earliest Latin biographer, Cornelius literary material, amongst which pride of place must go to Nepos (see 77n.) is well aware. Introducing Pelopidas, he Augustus' own enumeration of his achievements, the great says: "I am afraid that if I start on a systematic exposition inscription from Ankara known as the Res Gestae or the Menumentum Ancyranum. This is a copy of the text set up on of his achievements, I may appear to be writing history rather than giving an account of his life" (Nepos 16.1). Plutarch two bronze pillars outside the emperor's mausoleuro in Rome. is even more specifi"c in divorcing the two: "I am not wri ting (See Brunt & Moore 1967). Other inscriptions, the coinage - history, but biography, and in the most famous deeds there is astonishing in its range and diversity of types -, works of not always a revelation of virtue or vice. In fact a little art, buildings, religious monuments, and the outlines of thing like a saying or a joke often reveals character more Augustan law still visible in Justinian's Digest, all add to the body of evidence which can be used to understand the clearly than murderous battles, or vast musterings of armies, or sieges of cities" (Plutarch, Alexander 1.2). Augustan principate. But none can replace the coherent exposition of the literary artist; the other material may illuminate, confirm or correct him, but on its own it remains §5 But ancient biography not only forswears historical ex enigmatic and a little impersonal. The key to Augustan planation. .It also refuses to set a man against the context of his age. Partly this is because of the origins of the history must remain the literary accounts: and of these the genre, as described above, in which the individual's actions, best, in its own terms, is that of Suetonius. achievements, and character are the sole focus of attention. But it is also partly because of that tendency of ancient thought termed 'substantialism' by Collingwood to see a man's character as something fixed and 'given' at birth. What to The Character of Suetonian Biography us appears as change (and hence needing explanation) was, to the ancients, merely the progressive uncovering of qualities which, though always present, had not at first been revealed. §4 Biography was a relative newcomer among the various Tacitus' comments on Tiberius (Annals 6.51.5-6) are a perfect genres of literary composition practised by the Greeks and Romans. It tended to retain streng links with rhetorical instance of this mode of thought: "his character, too, had encomium, whether of the living or the dead, and with memoirs its various stages. So long as he was a private citizen or composed by followers, admirers, or friends of the subject - a held commands under Augustus, his life and reputation were blameless; while Germanleus and Drusus still lived, he was species of composition which goes back to the early fourth century B.C. with Xenophon's Socratic writings and Isocrates' devious and cunning in pretending to virtuous qualities; panegyric of Evagoras. It was also heavily influenced by the until the death of his mether he was a mixture of good and Peripatetic school of philosophy, which was interested in bio bad; while he favoured (or feared) Sejanus, his cruelty was detestable but his lusts concealed; and finally, when shame graphy for two reasons: one ethical, since it was believed that the study of individual character could lead a man to a and fear meant nothing to him and he followed 6nly the dictates of his own nature, he launched out upon criminal and obscene more accurate understanding of virtue and vice, and that an wrongdoing". Suetonius delivers a similar judgement (Tiberius individual revealed his character through his actions; and 42.1): "but after he had acquired the freedom of seclusion the other more technical, because the development of an art could be illustrated by a collection of Lives of its well away from the public gaze, all his vices, long imperfectly known practitioners, as for example in Suetonius' own Lives _ concealed, were at last indulged together". of the Famous Grammarians. Peripatetic biography thus tended to have a more qbjective character and indeed its most famous §6 This conception of an underlying static character revealed and successful exponent Plutarch (who was about 20 years older by action was in harmony with yet a third strand present in than Suetonius) says: "Perhaps it is not a bad thing f-orme to the ancestry of Latin biography - the Roman funeral laudatio introduce one or two pairs of characters of reckless life and (see 8.1 n.). In this, as in Roman commemorative inscriptions, conspicuous defects into my Lives, not to divert and entertain stress was laid above all on the deceased' s achievements .f_n