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Guy Suetonius Tranquill - Biography

Tranquill: Life, Creativity and His Role in Roman History

Guy Suetonius Tranquill, or simply Suetonius, is a name associated with the rich heritage of Roman literature and history. As a Roman historian and biographer, he left us invaluable evidence of the life and rule of Roman emperors, and made important contributions to the study of ancient history. In this article, we invite you to immerse yourself in the life and work of Guy Suetonius Tranquill and appreciate his important place in Roman history and literature.

Gaius Suetonius was born probably around 69 CE in the Roman province of Africa, in the now extinct city of Hadrumentum. His family was noble and well-off, giving him access to a good education. He studied in Rome and is considered one of the most educated people of his time.

Suetonius began his career in the civil service and held various positions under different emperors. He was a secretary and adviser under Emperor Hadrian and Marcus Aurelia. His experience and access to the imperial court gave him a unique opportunity to study the history and life of Roman rulers.

Suetonius is best known for his biographical work. His most famous work is "Lives of the Twelve Caesars" (De Vita Caesarum), in which he talks about the life and rule of Roman emperors, starting with Julius Caesar and ending with Domitian. These biographies are important sources of information about Roman history and politics, as well as the characters and personal features of emperors.

Suetonius is famous for his style and methods of writing biographies. He not only provided factual information, but also described the personal features and behavior of each emperor. His work included anecdotes, events from everyday life, and moral reasoning, which made his biographies lively and fascinating.