Suetonius Autobigraphy - most effective

• autobiography was writen in 121 AD - under rule of hadrian (no heriditary links to augustus):

  • suetonius could freely write without being comdemed
  • may be argued that because of this augustus is not presented in a positive light
• (1) Res Gestae - positive light - conflict:

  • belittles his military victorys, focuses more on what we added to the roman empire - 'i added egypt to the empire of the roman people'
  • he reders to actium but does not focus on it (the drowning, suicidde and fire) - but what it resulted in - the expansion of the empire
  • furthers the idea that rome was advanced by military pacification
  • shows military prowess - but not augustus as a rutheless general
• (1) Suetonius - negative light - conflict:

  • refers to actium as a 'civil conflict' - implining that it was a bath of roman blood
  • augustus wanted to instead promote that he ended civil conflict, and was not part of it - Battle of Philipi, Battle of Mutina
• (2) Suetonius - negative light - rumours:

  • Antony said that Augustus' 'cost of adoption was his unnatural relations with Caesar' - implying that Augustus was corrupt and preformed seual favours in order to gain power
  • His military ability was put under question supposedly ran away from a battle and 'did not return until a day later, lacking his horse and his cloak'
  • implies augustus lacked character
• (2) Suetonius - positive light - brave in battle:

  • prima porta statue
  • capable military leader
  • hellenistic style
  • idealised
• (3) Suetonius - nagative light - social reforms

  • presented as a fact that Augustus was so partial to adultery that 'even his friends would not disagree' with the claim
  • this would go against the introduction of the Lex Julia of 18BC which introduced severe penalties for adultery
  • showing augusus' hypocricy
• (3) Augustus - postive light - social reforms:

  • Ovids Carmen Seculares 'bring to fruition the Senates' decree concerning wedlock'
  • Ovids metamorphoses Venus is told that Augustus will 'turn his mind to the civil code'
  • both immortilise augustus' strict social reforms - that bring the roman people the best quality of life
• (4) Suetonius - positive light - new infomation:

  • disucuss' things augustus did not boast about
  • Augustus modified plans of the forum to incorproate the flats of the Plebeians
  • ahowa him as selfless, displays humility