Histories (Tacitus)

• 1. The Year Of Four Emperors

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  Tacitus wrote the Histories thirty years after the events of AD 69. The surviving text covers only the first four books and part of the fifth book, ending in early AD 70. This period began with the death of Nero and the rapid succession of Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian. These four men claimed imperial power within a single year through civil war. The mode of their accession showed that an emperor could be chosen anywhere legions were amassed, not just in Rome. Tacitus described Galba as a feeble old man who chose a successor unable to control the troops due to his severity. Nerva later adopted Trajan to consolidate power and keep the army out of politics. Only the first four books and the first 26 chapters of the fifth book have survived today.

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• 2. Ideological Framework And Politics

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  In the first book of the work, a speech put in the mouth of Galba reveals Tacitus' political position. Galba's pure respect for formality rendered him unable to control events. In contrast, Nerva adopted Trajan to keep the legions unified and prevent disorder among them. Tacitus believed only the principatus or monarchical emperor could maintain peace and fidelity of the armies. He argued that after the Battle of Actium, unification of power was necessary to keep peace. The prince ought not to be a tyrant like Domitian nor a fool like Galba. He should be able to keep the imperium safe while saving the prestige and dignity of the Senate. Tacitus considered the rule of adoptive Emperors the only possible solution to the problems of Empire.

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• 3. Narrative Style And Technique

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  The style of narration is rapid, reflecting the speed of the events described. The narrative rhythm leaves no space to slow down or digress. To write effectively in this style, Tacitus had to summarize substantial information from his sources. Sometimes he skips parts; more usually he divides the story into single scenes to create dramatic narration. Tacitus skillfully shows characters by alternating short and sharp notations with complete portraits. His technique is similar to that of Sallust: incongruency, parataxis, and loose stylistic structure combine to make the characters sharp. Tacitus loves ellipsis of verbs and conjunctions. He uses irregular constructs and frequent changes of subject to give variety and movement to the narration. It often happens that when a sentence seems finished, it is extended with a surprising tail that adds a comment.

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• 4. Ethnographic Survey Of The Jews

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  The fifth book contains a short ethnographic survey of the ancient Jews as a prelude to Titus' victory in the First Jewish, Roman War. This section serves as an invaluable record of educated Romans' attitude towards that people. The text describes how Titus was placed in command of the war during AD 70. The Batavian War ends within the same timeframe covered by the surviving chapters. The work speaks throughout of violence, dishonesty, and injustice regarding these conflicts. Tacitus writes from the point of view of an aristocrat who holds members of the Senate in low esteem for their behavior. He insists upon the contrast between their public image and unconfessable reality involving adulation, conspiracy, and ambition.

• 5. Manuscript Transmission And Survival

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  Together, the Histories and the Annals amounted to 30 books according to Saint Jerome's explicit reference. About half of them have survived to the present day. Scholars disagree on how to assign the books to each work, though traditionally fourteen are assigned to Histories and sixteen to the Annals. Pliny the Younger referred to your histories when writing to Tacitus about the earlier work. By the time Tacitus had completed the Histories, it covered Roman history from AD 69 following Nero's death to AD 96, the end of Domitian's reign. The first printed edition appeared centuries later with the title page showing the opening text. Only the first four books and the first 26 chapters of the fifth book remain today covering the year 69 and the first part of 70.

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