Corneli Taciti Historiarum, Book 2Cambridge University Press, 2007 M11 22 - 415 pages The Histories is the first historical work by Rome's most accomplished and challenging historian, Tacitus. It narrates the brutal civil wars which broke out in AD 68-9 across the Roman Empire after the suicide of the last Julio-Claudian emperor, Nero. Book II covers the bloody finale of the war between two of those emperors, Otho and Vitellius, and the emerging challenge from the eventual victor, Vespasian. The progression of events, kaleidoscopic and gripping, unfolds over a broad geographical sweep and is presented by Tacitus with consummate artistry. This commentary on Histories Book II elucidates historical questions, clarifies Tacitus' historiographical techniques and explains grammatical difficulties of the Latin for students. It also includes a Latin text, relevant maps, and a comprehensive introduction discussing historical, literary and stylistic questions. |
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adds alliteration already apparently army associated authors battle belli bellum Caecina Caes Caesar campaign cast challenge civil civil war clause cohortes combination common context contrast death defeat described detail elsewhere emotional emperor especially exercitus expression first Flavian followed force Galba Germany Histories imperial indicates inter Italy language later Latin legions litotes Livy means metaphor miles military Mucianus narrative naturally Nero noun Oakley Otho Otho’s Othonian Paulinus perhaps phrase Plautus Plin Plut Plutarch potential present Primus principate probably quam quod recalls refers Roman Rome Sall says senate sense shows similar soldiers speech Suet Suetonius suggests suicide Tacitus Tiberius Titus TLL s.v. tradition troops usually Valens verb Vespasian victory Vitellians Vitellius