| Author |
Suetonius, 69?-122? |
| Editor |
Forester, Thomas |
| Translator |
Thomson, Alexander, M.D. |
| Title |
The Lives of the Twelve Caesars, Volume 08: Otho
|
| Note |
Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twelve_Caesars
|
| Note |
Reading ease score: 59.7 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.
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| Credits |
Produced by Tapio Riikonen and David Widger
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| Summary |
"The Lives of the Twelve Caesars, Volume 08: Otho" by Suetonius is a historical account likely written in the early 2nd century AD. This book focuses on the life of Emperor Otho, who ruled for a brief period during a tumultuous time in Roman history, known as the Year of the Four Emperors. It provides insight into Otho's background, rise to power, and eventual downfall, encompassing themes of political intrigue, ambition, and the fleeting nature of power. The narrative of Otho's life details his aristocratic lineage and early debauchery, leading to his eventual favor with Emperor Nero and ambitions of power. After the assassination of Emperor Galba, Otho seizes the throne but is soon embroiled in conflict with his rival, Vitellius. Despite initial successes, Otho's reign is characterized by a series of military setbacks and ill omens. Ultimately, faced with defeat and the prospect of civil war, he takes his own life. Suetonius paints a complex portrait of Otho, illustrating the paradox of his character—both effeminate in demeanor yet fervently ambitious, ultimately leading to a tragic end that evokes mixed feelings of disdain and admiration from those around him. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
DG: History: General and Eastern Hemisphere: Italy, Vatican City, Malta
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| Subject |
Rome -- History -- Empire, 30 B.C.-284 A.D.
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| Subject |
Emperors -- Rome -- Biography -- Early works to 1800
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
6393 |
| Release Date |
Dec 13, 2004 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Dec 29, 2020 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
73 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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