Mr. Finnigan Latin Prose Boston Latin School Introduction to Pliny Mr. Finnigan Latin Prose Boston Latin School

I. Roman History from Augustus to Domitian

Augustus and the Julio-Claudian Emperors Augustus (31 BCE – 14 CE) charged with calming anxieties after a century of civil war reign marked by peace at home, territorial expansion, and a flourishing of the arts issues of succession plagued Augustus throughout his rule, ultimately his stepson from his second marriage was named his successor Tiberius (14 – 37 CE) capable military commander, but his military successes kept him away from Rome for most of his life, causing him to have very few close confidants when he returned to rule very secretive and suspicious; surrounded himself with the Praetorian Guard, which increased tensions between him and the people his paranoia and the influence of his associate Sejanus result in proliferation of maiestas (treason) trials during his rule; the atmosphere in the city is one of gloom and dread

Augustus and the Julio-Claudian Emperors Tiberius (14 – 37 CE) withdrew to Capri in 26 and ruled from there until his death his general behavior throughout his reign and his long absence alienated the institution of the principate from the people Gaius (37– 41 CE) grandnephew of Tiberius, more commonly known as Caligula had a promising start to his reign and seemed markedly anti-Tiberian in his ruling methods fell ill (may have been a brain fever) and when he recovered, he became increasingly antagonistic and erratic ultimately assassinated by members of the Praetorian Guard inside the royal palace

Augustus and the Julio-Claudian Emperors Claudius (41 – 54 CE) Gaius’ uncle, named emperor him when a member of the Praetorian Guard found him hiding behind a curtain after the assassination of Gaius overall, he was a good ruler, but he alienated the senate throughout his reign by relying less on them and more on the advice and opinions of freedman deified upon his death Nero (54 – 68 CE) Claudius’ son by his own niece, Agrippina the Younger young when he rose to power, helped much by his tutors throughout his early years rule seemed promising during the first 5 years, until he murdered his own mother in 59 he had always been more interested in performing and the arts than in ruling, and he gives in more to those desires as he gets older

Augustus and the Julio-Claudian Emperors Nero (54 – 68 CE) in 64, the “Great Fire” breaks out, destroying 11 out of Rome’s 14 districts while Nero does provide relief for the catastrophe, he also built his Domus Aurea on a large section of the destroyed city rumors abound that Nero set the fire himself (or ordered it) and sang the song of Troy’s fall as he watched the city burn in 65, the Pisonian Conspiracy is formed against Nero, but it fails ultimately declared a hostis by the senate in 68; he chooses to commit suicide rather than face the punishment rule marked by economic issues, disasters, proliferation of maiestas trials, executions, and forced suicides under the Flavians, these “Neronian persecutions” give rise to a literary subgenre called the “exitus literature” (death literature), focusing on those killed or forced to commit suicide under Nero

The Year of the Four Emperors Nero’s suicide left a power vacuum that various contenders vied to fill the result was a year marked by numerous civil wars and four different emperors rising to power Galba: declared emperor after Nero’s suicide Otho: became emperor after his supporters assassinated Galba Vitellius: declared emperor by his legions in Germany; marched on Rome to depose Otho; beat him in northern Italy and became emperor Vespasian: declared emperor by his legions in Judaea; his general Primus defeated Vitellius’ troops in northern Italy and marched on Rome, defeating Vitellius and solidifying his power

The Flavian Emperors Vespasian (69 – 79 CE): Titus (79 – 81 CE): like Augustus, had to figure out how to calm the anxieties of a people weary from a year of civil war and political instability uses victory in the First Jewish War (66-73 CE) and subsequent spoils to do so celebrates a 30-day triumph uses the spoils from the war (especially Jerusalem and the Temple there) to construct numerous temples and other buildings, notably the Collosseum deconstructs Nero’s Domus Aurea and uses the materials to assist in his building projects overall, things are looking up Titus (79 – 81 CE): Vespasian’s elder son; was well-suited to the position and popular with the people rule marked by two great disasters: eruption of Vesuvius (79) and a fire at Rome (80)

The Flavian Emperors Titus (79 – 81 CE): Domitian (81 – 96 CE): Vespasian’s elder son; was well-suited to the position and popular with the people rule marked by two great disasters: eruption of Vesuvius (79) and a fire at Rome (80) worked tirelessly to mitigate the effects of these catastrophes died prematurely without an heir in 81 Domitian (81 – 96 CE): had almost no experience in military affairs or governmental administration seems to have actively disliked the senate, or at least refused to work with them like Tiberius and Nero, he became increasingly paranoid and brought back maiestas trials and executions behavior becomes increasingly tyrannical, but is able to stay in power thanks to a small circle of close and loyal supporters ultimately assassinated in 96

II. Pliny’s Life and Letters

Pliny’s Life born in 61 or 62 CE in the town Comum (northern Italy) after moving to Rome, became a member of the senate and held numerous political offices (never the consulship) Domitian was in power for much of his early career Pliny’s political career indicates that he prospered under Domitian’s tyrannical rule Like others, he remains silent about Domitian’s tyranny while he’s alive but condemns him after his death Continues to prosper under Nerva and Trajan, the next emperors Sent to Bithynia-Pontus (modern Turkey) to conduct imperial business in either 109 or 110; likely died while serving there in 112 or 113 (but we cannot be certain)

The Epistulae 368 letters comprise the collection in 10 books, written between 97 CE and his death (112/113 CE?) Books 1-9: originally written to a variety of recipients as individual letters compiled and rearranged for publication by Pliny himself were probably edited, but we can’t know to what degree offer a snapshot of everyday life for someone of Pliny’s status during this time highly literary in style, content, and arrangement Book 10: consists of unedited correspondence with the emperor Trajan, including Trajan’s responses written during Pliny’s tenure in Bithynia-Pontus as imperial legate concerned with the business of empire, as such they are markedly unliterary (especially when compared with those in books 1-9)