Scriptores Historiae Augustae
Scriptores Historiae Augustae
The enigmatic imperial biographies
b. c. late 4th century AD
The Historia Augusta is a collection of thirty biographies of Roman emperors from Hadrian to Carinus (117–284 AD), purportedly by six authors during the reigns of Diocletian and Constantine. Modern scholarship has established that it was written by a single anonymous author, probably in the late fourth century, who invented the six authorial personae.
The biographies vary enormously in reliability. Those covering the second century draw on genuine sources. Those covering the third century become progressively more fictional. Despite — or because of — its unreliability, the Historia Augusta is one of the most fascinating texts to survive from late antiquity, often our only narrative source for the chaotic third century.
Works (30)
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1
Alexander Severus history
Alexander Severus, the last of the Severan dynasty — a moderate, well-intentioned emperor murdered by his own troops for being insufficiently martial.
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2
Antoninus Caracalla history
Caracalla — the emperor who murdered his brother, massacred the citizens of Alexandria, and extended Roman citizenship to the entire free population....
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4
Antoninus Heliogobalus history
Elagabalus — the teenage priest-emperor who brought his Syrian sun-god to Rome and scandalised the Senate with religious and sexual excess. Killed at...
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5
Antoninus Pius history
The life of the emperor Antoninus Pius — the most peaceful reign in Roman history. Twenty-three years of stability so complete that historians have li...
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6
Avidius Casius history
The life of Avidius Cassius, who rebelled against Marcus Aurelius and was killed by his own soldiers.
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7
Carus et Carinus et Numerianus history
Carus, Carinus, and Numerianus — the last emperors before Diocletian's accession in 284. Carus died (possibly struck by lightning) in Mesopotamia.
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8
Clodinus Albinus history
Clodius Albinus, the other rival emperor. Severus defeated and killed him at the Battle of Lugdunum.
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9
Commodus Antoninus history
The life of Commodus — gladiator-emperor, megalomaniac, and the man who ended the golden age. He was strangled in his bath by his wrestling partner.
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10
De Vita Hadriani history
A biography of the emperor Hadrian — builder, administrator, and lover of Greek culture. The SHA account mixes fact with fiction but preserves unique...
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11
Diadumenus Antoninus history
Diadumenianus, Macrinus' young son, briefly elevated to co-emperor and killed when his father fell.
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12
Didius Julianus history
Didius Julianus bought the empire at auction from the Praetorian Guard. He lasted sixty-six days.
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13
Divus Aurelianus history
Aurelian — the emperor who reunified the Roman Empire, defeated Zenobia of Palmyra, and built the walls of Rome that still stand today. "Restorer of t...
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14
Divus Claudius history
Claudius II Gothicus, who defeated the Goths at the Battle of Naissus and died of plague. The ancestor Diocletian and Constantine claimed.
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15
Firmus Saturninus, Proculus et Bonosus history
Minor emperors and usurpers — Firmus, Saturninus, Proculus, and Bonosus.
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16
Gallieni Duo history
The two Gallieni — continuing the reign of Gallienus through plague, invasion, and the breakaway Gallic and Palmyrene empires.
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17
Gordiani Tres history
The three Gordians — grandfather, father, and grandson, the last of whom became emperor at thirteen and was murdered at nineteen.
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19
Marcus Antoninus Philosophus history
The life of Marcus Aurelius as emperor — the philosopher on the throne, who spent most of his reign fighting wars on the Danube frontier.
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20
Maximini Duo history
The two Maximini — Maximinus Thrax, the giant soldier-emperor, and his son. The beginning of the crisis of the third century.
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21
Maximus et Balbinus history
Pupienus and Balbinus, the Senate's joint emperors, murdered by the Praetorians after three months.
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22
Opilius Macrinus history
Macrinus, the Praetorian prefect who arranged Caracalla's assassination and briefly became emperor before being overthrown.
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24
Pescennius Niger history
Pescennius Niger, the rival emperor defeated by Septimius Severus in the civil war of 193-194.
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28
Tyranni Triginta history
The Thirty Tyrants — usurpers and pretenders who rose and fell during the crisis of the third century. Not all thirty are real.
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29
Valeriani Duo history
The two Valerians — Valerian, captured by the Persians and never returned, and his son Gallienus.
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