The supreme masterpiece of Latin historical prose. Tacitus traces the principate from the death of Augustus through the reigns of Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero — a devastating anatomy of power, corruption, and the slow death of senatorial liberty. The work originally comprised at least sixteen books, but the four covering Caligula's reign and the transition to Claudius (Books VII–X) are entirely lost, and several surviving books are damaged at their extremities.
Start ReadingThe death of Augustus and the accession of Tiberius. The mutinies on the Rhine and Danube frontiers, and the first sinister moves of Sejanus.
Germanicus campaigns beyond the Rhine, visiting the site of the Teutoburg Forest disaster. His recall, eastern mission, and growing friction with Tiberius's agent Piso.
The mysterious death of Germanicus at Antioch and the sensational trial of Piso. Tiberius withdraws further from public life as treason trials multiply.
Sejanus rises to dominate the state, engineering the destruction of Germanicus's family. Tiberius retreats to Capri, governing through letters and informers.
The dramatic fall of Sejanus, executed with his children. Only the latter portion survives — the opening, covering events of AD 29, is lost.
Opening sections lost. Text begins mid-narrative at events of AD 29.
The final terrible years of Tiberius on Capri — treason trials, executions, and the emperor's death in AD 37. A central section covering part of AD 32 is missing.
A lacuna in the middle removes coverage of part of AD 32.
The accession of Gaius Caligula and the brief honeymoon of his principate. Ancient sources describe the young emperor's initial popularity and the Senate's relief after Tiberius's tyranny.
Entirely lost. Our knowledge of Caligula depends almost wholly on Suetonius and Cassius Dio.
Suetonius, Caligula 13–22; Cassius Dio 59.1–11 (via Xiphilinus); Philo, Legatio ad Gaium
Caligula's descent into megalomania and cruelty — the extravagant building projects, the bridge of boats at Baiae, and the terrorising of the Senate. Tacitus's portrait would have been incomparably more penetrating than what survives elsewhere.
Entirely lost. The loss of Tacitus on Caligula is one of the great catastrophes of Latin literature.
Suetonius, Caligula 22–49; Cassius Dio 59.12–28 (via Xiphilinus)
The abortive German and British campaigns, the farce of Caligula collecting seashells as spoils of war, and the mounting conspiracies against an emperor who had alienated every faction in Rome.
Entirely lost.
Suetonius, Caligula 49–56; Cassius Dio 59.28–30 (via Xiphilinus)
The assassination of Caligula by the Praetorian Guard and the chaotic accession of Claudius, found hiding behind a curtain in the palace. The first year of a reign that surprised everyone.
Entirely lost. The transition from Caligula to Claudius would have been one of Tacitus's most dramatic set-pieces.
Suetonius, Claudius 1–17; Cassius Dio 60.1–18 (via Xiphilinus); Josephus, Antiquitates 19.1–4
The later reign of Claudius: Messalina's bigamous marriage to Silius, her spectacular downfall, and Claudius's manipulation by freedmen. The opening is lost — text begins mid-narrative in AD 47.
Opening lost. Text begins abruptly mid-sentence in AD 47.
Agrippina the Younger secures the succession for Nero, marries Claudius, and poisons him with mushrooms. Caractacus is paraded through Rome.
The accession of the young Nero, guided by Seneca and Burrus. The quinquennium Neronis — five years that later ages called the best government since Augustus.
Nero murders his mother Agrippina in a botched shipwreck turned assassination. Boudicca's revolt devastates Roman Britain. The emperor descends into artistic self-indulgence.
The Great Fire of Rome and the first persecution of Christians, whom Nero uses as scapegoats. The Pisonian conspiracy is betrayed, and Seneca is forced to suicide.
The reign of terror continues with the deaths of Thrasea Paetus and Barea Soranus, Stoic senators who represented the last resistance of senatorial virtue. The text breaks off abruptly in mid-narrative.
Text breaks off abruptly mid-sentence. The final years of Nero (AD 66–68) — the Jewish revolt, the emperor's artistic tour of Greece, and his overthrow — are lost.