Historia Romana

Books

• Book I Lost Mythological origins

  The mythological origins of Rome: Aeneas, Romulus and Remus, and the founding of the city. Known from Zonaras's Byzantine epitome.

  Survives only in Zonaras's epitome and brief fragments.

  Zonaras 7.1–3; Tzetzes

• Book II Lost Roman kings

  The Roman kings after Romulus: Numa Pompilius and the establishment of Roman religion. Tullus Hostilius and the destruction of Alba Longa.

  Survives only in Zonaras's epitome.

  Zonaras 7.1–3; Tzetzes

• Book III Lost Roman kings

  The later kings: Ancus Marcius, the Tarquins, and Servius Tullius. The growing power of early Rome.

  Survives only in Zonaras's epitome.

  Zonaras 7.4–13

• Book IV Lost c. 509–494 BC

  The expulsion of Tarquinius Superbus and the founding of the Republic. Brutus, Horatius at the bridge, and the infant republic's struggle for survival.

  Survives only in Zonaras's epitome and fragments.

  Zonaras 7.4–13

• Book V Lost c. 494–390 BC

  The early Republic: the Decemvirate, the struggle of the orders, and the Gallic sack of Rome in 390 BC.

  Survives only in Zonaras's epitome.

  Zonaras 7.4–13

• Book VI Lost c. 390–343 BC

  Rome's recovery from the Gallic catastrophe and expansion through central Italy. The Samnite Wars begin.

  Survives only in Zonaras's epitome.

  Zonaras 7.4–13

• Book VII Lost c. 342–296 BC

  The great Samnite Wars and Rome's consolidation of power in Italy. The humiliation of the Caudine Forks.

  Zonaras's epitome and fragments.

  Zonaras 7.14–8.6; fragments in Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book VIII Lost c. 295–265 BC

  The war with Pyrrhus of Epirus and Rome's final subjugation of southern Italy. The Republic becomes master of the peninsula.

  Survives in Zonaras's epitome.

  Zonaras 7.14–8.6; fragments in Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book IX Lost c. 264–256 BC

  The outbreak of the First Punic War and the early naval campaigns against Carthage.

  Zonaras's epitome and fragments.

  Zonaras 7.14–8.6; fragments in Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book X Lost c. 255–241 BC

  The middle years of the First Punic War: Regulus's African expedition and Rome's naval disasters.

  Survives only in Zonaras.

  Zonaras 7.14–8.6; fragments in Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book XI Lost c. 241–229 BC

  The conclusion of the First Punic War and Rome's acquisition of Sicily. The Illyrian Wars.

  Zonaras's epitome.

  Zonaras 8.7–16; Excerpta Constantiniana (De Sententiis, De Legationibus)

• Book XII Lost c. 229–218 BC

  The Gallic Wars in northern Italy and the prelude to the Second Punic War. Hannibal's siege of Saguntum.

  Zonaras's epitome and fragments.

  Zonaras 8.7–16; Excerpta Constantiniana (De Sententiis, De Legationibus)

• Book XIII Lost c. 218–215 BC

  Hannibal's invasion of Italy: the Alps crossing, the Trebia, Lake Trasimene. Rome faces its greatest crisis.

  Zonaras's epitome.

  Zonaras 8.17–9.3; Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book XIV Lost c. 215–211 BC

  Cannae and its aftermath. Hannibal in southern Italy, the defection of Capua, the war in Spain and Sicily.

  Zonaras's epitome and fragments.

  Zonaras 8.17–9.3; Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book XV Lost c. 211–205 BC

  Scipio in Spain, the siege of Syracuse, and the turning tide of the Second Punic War.

  Zonaras's epitome.

  Zonaras 8.17–9.3; Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book XVI Lost c. 205–200 BC

  Scipio's African campaign, the battle of Zama, and the end of the Second Punic War. Carthage reduced to a client state.

  Zonaras's epitome.

  Zonaras 9.4–12; Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book XVII Lost c. 200–195 BC

  Rome turns east: the Second Macedonian War and the defeat of Philip V at Cynoscephalae.

  Zonaras's epitome.

  Zonaras 9.4–12; Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book XVIII Lost c. 194–188 BC

  The war with Antiochus III of Syria and Rome's settlement of the eastern Mediterranean.

  Zonaras's epitome and fragments.

  Zonaras 9.13–21; Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book XIX Lost c. 187–168 BC

  The Third Macedonian War and the destruction of the Macedonian kingdom at Pydna.

  Zonaras's epitome.

  Zonaras 9.13–21; Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book XX Lost c. 167–146 BC

  The destruction of Carthage and Corinth in 146 BC. Rome becomes the unchallenged master of the Mediterranean.

  Zonaras's epitome.

  Zonaras 9.22–31; Excerpta Constantiniana; Photius

• Book XXI Lost c. 146–133 BC

  The Roman Republic in the post-Punic era: the Gracchan crisis, the beginnings of internal revolution.

  Zonaras's epitome and fragments.

  Zonaras 9.22–31; Excerpta Constantiniana; Photius

• Book XXII Lost c. 133–121 BC

  The aftermath of the Gracchi and the Jugurthine War. The rise of Marius.

  Almost entirely lost. Neither Zonaras nor Xiphilinus covers this period.

  Zonaras 9.31–10.6; Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book XXIII Lost c. 121–109 BC

  The Cimbrian Wars and Marius's military reforms that transformed the Roman army.

  Almost entirely lost.

  Zonaras 9.31–10.6; Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book XXIV Lost c. 109–91 BC

  The Social War — Italy's demand for Roman citizenship and the resulting bloodbath.

  Almost entirely lost.

  Fragments in Excerpta Constantiniana (De Sententiis, De Virtutibus); Zonaras 10.6–20

• Book XXV Lost c. 91–88 BC

  Sulla's first march on Rome and the First Mithridatic War. Civil war becomes normalised.

  Almost entirely lost.

  Fragments in Excerpta Constantiniana (De Sententiis, De Virtutibus); Zonaras 10.6–20

• Book XXVI Lost c. 87–82 BC

  Sulla's return, the proscriptions, and his dictatorship. The Republic's institutions are fatally weakened.

  Almost entirely lost.

  Fragments in Excerpta Constantiniana (De Sententiis, De Virtutibus); Zonaras 10.6–20

• Book XXVII Lost c. 82–72 BC

  The post-Sullan Republic: Sertorius, Spartacus, and the rise of Pompey.

  Almost entirely lost.

  Excerpta Constantiniana; Zonaras 10.21–11.4

• Book XXVIII Lost c. 72–66 BC

  Pompey's eastern campaigns and the consolidation of Roman power in the Near East.

  Almost entirely lost.

  Excerpta Constantiniana; Zonaras 10.21–11.4

• Book XXIX Lost c. 66–63 BC

  The Catilinarian conspiracy and the political manoeuvres leading to the First Triumvirate.

  Almost entirely lost.

  Excerpta Constantiniana; Zonaras 10.21–11.4

• Book XXX Lost c. 63–60 BC

  Caesar's early consulship and the beginning of the Gallic Wars.

  Almost entirely lost.

  Excerpta Constantiniana; Zonaras 10.21–11.4

• Book XXXI Lost c. 59–56 BC

  Caesar's Gallic campaigns and the growing rift between the triumvirs.

  Almost entirely lost.

  Excerpta Constantiniana; Zonaras 11.5–15

• Book XXXII Lost c. 55–53 BC

  The breakdown of the triumvirate: Crassus's disaster at Carrhae and the death of Julia.

  Almost entirely lost.

  Excerpta Constantiniana; Zonaras 11.5–15

• Book XXXIII Lost c. 52–50 BC

  The prelude to civil war: Caesar at the Rubicon.

  Almost entirely lost.

  Excerpta Constantiniana; Zonaras 11.5–15

• Book XXXIV Lost c. 49–47 BC

  The civil war between Caesar and Pompey: Pharsalus and the death of Pompey in Egypt.

  Almost entirely lost.

  Excerpta Constantiniana; Zonaras 11.15–22

• Book XXXV Lost c. 47–44 BC

  Caesar's dictatorship, the Ides of March, and the aftermath of the assassination.

  Almost entirely lost. The narrative of Caesar's murder by a senator who served under two emperors would have been remarkable.

  Excerpta Constantiniana; Zonaras 11.15–22

• 36
  Book 36 69–60 BC

  The continuation of Rome's history during the late Republic and civil wars.

  157 lines
• 37
  Book 37 60–54 BC

  The continuation of Rome's history during the late Republic and civil wars.

  253 lines
• 38
  Book 38 54–50 BC

  The continuation of Rome's history during the late Republic and civil wars.

  265 lines
• 39
  Book 39 49–48 BC

  The continuation of Rome's history during the late Republic and civil wars.

  250 lines
• 40
  Book 40 48–47 BC

  The continuation of Rome's history during the late Republic and civil wars.

  262 lines
• 41
  Book 41 47–44 BC

  The continuation of Rome's history during the late Republic and civil wars.

  271 lines
• 42
  Book 42 44 BC

  The continuation of Rome's history during the late Republic and civil wars.

  255 lines
• 43
  Book 43 44–43 BC

  The continuation of Rome's history during the late Republic and civil wars.

  244 lines
• 44
  Book 44 43 BC

  The continuation of Rome's history during the late Republic and civil wars.

  243 lines
• 45
  Book 45 43–42 BC

  The continuation of Rome's history during the late Republic and civil wars.

  214 lines
• 46
  Book 46 42–40 BC

  A book of Cassius Dio's Roman History, covering events from the late Republic through the imperial period in the tradition of Greek historiography.

  281 lines
• 47
  Book 47 40–36 BC

  A book of Cassius Dio's Roman History, covering events from the late Republic through the imperial period in the tradition of Greek historiography.

  243 lines
• 48
  Book 48 36–33 BC

  A book of Cassius Dio's Roman History, covering events from the late Republic through the imperial period in the tradition of Greek historiography.

  283 lines
• 49
  Book 49 33–31 BC

  A book of Cassius Dio's Roman History, covering events from the late Republic through the imperial period in the tradition of Greek historiography.

  234 lines
• 50
  Book 50 31–29 BC

  A book of Cassius Dio's Roman History, covering events from the late Republic through the imperial period in the tradition of Greek historiography.

  205 lines
• 51
  Book 51 30–27 BC

  A book of Cassius Dio's Roman History, covering events from the late Republic through the imperial period in the tradition of Greek historiography.

  186 lines
• 52
  Book 52 29–27 BC

  A book of Cassius Dio's Roman History, covering events from the late Republic through the imperial period in the tradition of Greek historiography.

  255 lines
• 53
  Book 53 27–11 BC

  A book of Cassius Dio's Roman History, covering events from the late Republic through the imperial period in the tradition of Greek historiography.

  226 lines
• 54
  Book 54 11 BC – AD 4

  A book of Cassius Dio's Roman History, covering events from the late Republic through the imperial period in the tradition of Greek historiography.

  252 lines
• 55
  Book 55 AD 4–12

  A book of Cassius Dio's Roman History, covering events from the late Republic through the imperial period in the tradition of Greek historiography.

  100 lines
• Book LVI Lost AD 12–16

  The later years of Augustus: the Pannonian revolt and the catastrophe of the Teutoburg Forest, where Varus lost three legions in the German forests.

  Survives partially in manuscripts and in Zonaras.

  Xiphilinus; Zonaras 10.34–38

• Book LVII Lost AD 14–29

  The reign of Tiberius: Germanicus's campaigns, the rise of Sejanus, and the emperor's retreat to Capri.

  Survives in Xiphilinus's epitome.

  Xiphilinus; Zonaras 11.1–2 (Tiberius)

• Book LVIII Lost AD 29–37

  The fall of Sejanus and the last years of Tiberius. The terror of the informers.

  Survives in Xiphilinus's epitome.

  Xiphilinus (Tiberius continued)

• Book LIX Lost AD 37–41

  The reign of Caligula in its entirety: accession, madness, and assassination.

  Survives substantially in Xiphilinus.

  Xiphilinus; Suetonius, Caligula (Caligula's reign)

• Book LX Lost AD 41–54

  The reign of Claudius: the British invasion, the power of the freedmen, and the machinations of Messalina and Agrippina.

  Survives partially in Xiphilinus.

  Xiphilinus; Suetonius, Claudius (Claudius's reign)

• Book LXI Lost AD 54–62

  The early reign of Nero: the quinquennium under Seneca and Burrus, and the murder of Agrippina.

  Survives in Xiphilinus's epitome.

  Xiphilinus (Nero); Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book LXII Lost AD 62–65

  Nero's descent: the Great Fire, the persecution of Christians, Boudicca's revolt in Britain, and the Pisonian conspiracy.

  Survives in Xiphilinus.

  Xiphilinus (Nero); Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book LXIII Lost AD 65–68

  The fall of Nero: the revolts of Vindex and Galba, the emperor's flight and suicide. "What an artist dies in me."

  Survives in Xiphilinus.

  Xiphilinus (Year of Four Emperors); Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book LXIV Lost AD 69

  The Year of the Four Emperors: Galba's brief reign and murder, Otho's challenge to Vitellius.

  Survives in Xiphilinus.

  Xiphilinus (Year of Four Emperors); Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book LXV Lost AD 69–70

  The civil war continues: Vitellius's chaos and Vespasian's triumph. The destruction of the Capitol and the restoration of order.

  Survives in Xiphilinus.

  Xiphilinus (Year of Four Emperors); Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book LXVI Lost AD 70–79

  Vespasian's reign: the siege of Jerusalem, the eruption of Vesuvius, and the rebuilding of Rome.

  Survives in Xiphilinus.

  Xiphilinus (Vespasian); Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book LXVII Lost AD 79–96

  Domitian's reign of terror: the northern wars, the execution of senators, and the assassination that ended the Flavian dynasty.

  Survives in Xiphilinus.

  Xiphilinus (Vespasian); Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book LXVIII Lost AD 96–100

  The reign of Nerva and the adoption of Trajan — the principle that saved the Principate by choosing the best man rather than the nearest relative.

  Survives in Xiphilinus.

  Xiphilinus (Titus/Domitian); Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book LXIX Lost AD 101–114

  Trajan's Dacian Wars: the conquest that added the last great province to the Empire and funded Rome's greatest building programme.

  Survives partially in Xiphilinus.

  Xiphilinus (Nerva through Hadrian); Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book LXX Lost AD 114–117

  Trajan's Parthian War — the Roman Empire at its maximum territorial extent, and the revolts that followed overextension.

  Survives in Xiphilinus.

  Xiphilinus (Nerva through Hadrian); Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book LXXI Lost AD 117–138

  Hadrian's reign: the consolidation of frontiers, the building of the Wall in Britain, and the Bar Kokhba revolt in Judaea.

  Survives in Xiphilinus.

  Xiphilinus (Nerva through Hadrian); Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book LXXII Lost AD 138–165

  The reign of Antoninus Pius — the most peaceful era of the Roman Empire — and the early years of Marcus Aurelius.

  Survives in Xiphilinus.

  Xiphilinus (Nerva through Hadrian); Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book LXXIII Lost AD 166–180

  Marcus Aurelius's Marcomannic Wars on the Danube frontier — the philosopher-emperor at war, composing the Meditations in his tent.

  Survives in Xiphilinus.

  Xiphilinus (Nerva through Hadrian); Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book LXXIV Lost AD 180–193

  The disastrous reign of Commodus: the end of the Antonine golden age and the return of tyranny.

  Survives in Xiphilinus.

  Xiphilinus (Antonine period); Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book LXXV Lost AD 193–202

  The civil wars of AD 193 and the rise of Septimius Severus from the Danube legions.

  Survives partially. Dio was a contemporary and senator under Severus.

  Xiphilinus (Antonine period); Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book LXXVI Lost AD 202–211

  Septimius Severus's campaigns in the east and his British expedition. Dio writes as a contemporary witness.

  Survives partially. Dio served in Severus's administration.

  Xiphilinus (Antonine period); Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book LXXVII Lost AD 211–217

  The reign of Caracalla — the universal citizenship edict, the German campaigns, and the emperor's increasingly erratic behaviour.

  Survives partially. Dio was personally present at court.

  Xiphilinus (Commodus/Severan period); Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book LXXVIII Lost AD 217–218

  The assassination of Caracalla and the bizarre interlude of Macrinus's reign.

  Survives partially.

  Xiphilinus (Commodus/Severan period); Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book LXXIX Lost AD 218–222

  The reign of Elagabalus — the teenage priest-emperor whose outrages scandalised even Rome.

  Survives partially in Xiphilinus.

  Xiphilinus (Severan period); Excerpta Constantiniana

• Book LXXX Lost AD 222–229

  The accession of Severus Alexander, where Dio's history ends. He was consul for the second time alongside the emperor, and the work closes with his own retirement.

  Survives partially. The final book of an eyewitness senator's history — Dio himself appears as a character in the narrative.

  Xiphilinus (Severan period); Excerpta Constantiniana