A Brief History Sometime in September 282, Roman Emperor Probus was murdered by his soldiers for unclear reasons due to different accounts in different sources. Digging Deeper Near the end of the biography of Probus’s predecessor, Tacitus, in the Historia Augusta, an ancient text possibly dating to the 4th century, the biographer speculates that had Probus “lived longer the world would contain no barbarians.” To dig deeper, I encourage you to read the full biographies of both Tacitus and Probus in this primary work and to also read at least one biography of Probus of a more modern nature that…
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A Brief History On an unknown day c. November 275, Roman Emperor Aurelian was murdered by members of the Praetorian Guard, only to be subsequently deified by the Roman Senate. Digging Deeper Written some unknown time later, towards the end of the biography of Aurelian in the Historia Augusta, the ancient biographer lists Aurelian among the twelve best Roman emperors as a contrast to the more numerous number of “evil” emperors. The biographer then ponders the following: “The question, indeed, is often asked what it is that makes emperors evil; first of all, my friend, it is freedom from restraint,…
A Brief History On an unknown date in 267, Odaenathus, King of Palmyra, was assassinated along with his son and co-king. Digging Deeper Odaenathus’s biographer in the Historia Augusta laments the king’s assassination in the following passage: “Some god, I believe, was angry with the commonwealth, who, after Valerian’s death, was unwilling to preserve Odaenathus alive. For of a surety he, with his wife Zenobia, would have restored not only the East, which he had already brought back to its ancient condition, but also all parts of the whole world everywhere, since he was fierce in warfare and, as most writers…
A Brief History In order to earn a passing grade on any essay in our course, you must use and cite primary and secondary sources that are course assigned readings as indicated on the syllabus and/or via Blackboard for my Ashland University and Columbus State Community College students or Canvas for my Kent State University students. Moreover, you must cite your sources using footnotes throughout your essay and on a bibliography at the end of your essay per the examples found on the “Sample Reference Formats” file provided to you on Blackboard for my Ashland University and Columbus State Community…
A Brief History This article contains a table of textual and video biographies of various Roman emperors and usurpers covered in De vita Caesarum (English: About the Life of the Caesars), commonly known as The Twelve Caesars, as well as notable works inspired by this ancient text, including the Historia Augusta (English: Augustan History) and Vita Karoli Magni (English: Life of Charlemagne). Digging Deeper Question for students (and subscribers): Who is your favorite Roman emperor or usurper? Please let us know in the comments section below this article. Please also read the following articles in the order indicated below and answer the questions posed within those…