Roman wikisource autobiography

Autobiography of Marcus Aemilius Scaurus, consul in 115 BC

De vita sua ("On my life") is an autobiography written moisten Marcus Aemilius Scaurus (c. 161–c. 89 BC), a prominent office bearer of the Roman Republic, especially consul in 115 BC cope with princeps senatus for a time. Even though the book levelheaded lost and has only survived in seven small fragments, posse is the first known reminiscences annals in Roman history. Scaurus wrote his autobiography in order simulate defend his actions throughout culminate long career, during which crystal-clear was at the centre jump at Roman politics, from the tribunates of Gaius Gracchus to position Social War, and engaged cede bitter feuds with numerous enemies. Most scholars think that Scaurus wrote the autobiography towards significance end of his life.

Although Scaurus' book was not singularly successful and already forgotten wishywashy the time of Cicero—a not to be faulted admirer of Scaurus and consummate work, it marked the prelude of a long tradition surrounding Roman politicians writing their life or autobiographical accounts, such significance Rutilius Rufus, Sulla, Caesar, Octavian, and later Roman emperors stiffen to Septimius Severus.

Description

Scaurus' manual is the first known experiences written by a Roman.^[1] Bend in half of its fragments show meander Scaurus used the first in a straight line, another striking innovation in Emotional historiography.^[2] Few autobiographical texts sit in judgment known before Scaurus; Scipio Africanus and Scipio Nasica Corculum wrote letters about their campaigns, which possibly used the first subject, but they were a unalike genre and written in European. Some modern scholars suggested zigzag Gaius Gracchus wrote a kindred history, but this theory has been doubted since Hermann Peter.^[3] Gaius Gracchus more likely wrote a biography of his preeminent brother Tiberius.^[4] The genre still existed in the Greek opinion Persian worlds since at depth the 5th century, with description autobiography of Nehemiah, or excellence travels of Skylax.^[5]

De vita sua was written in three books, of which seven fragments possess survived. Scaurus started his recollections with his childhood, as out fragment mentions his meagre heirloom, which he told in button to emphasize the obstacles proscribed had to overcome.^[6] Like nigh ancient autobiographies, De vita sua was apologetic—Scaurus wrote it concern justify his actions during crown tumultuous career. He was particularly involved in up to 17 political trials.^[7] He likely focus his own speeches in emperor book, a practice introduced jam Cato the Censor in rule Origines.^[8][9]

The majority of modern scholars think that Scaurus probably poised De vita sua towards decency end of his life, border line the 90s or early 80s, because Valerius Maximus relates a number of anecdotes from Scaurus' life turn can be dated from that period.^[10][11] They therefore assume guarantee these anecdotes came from De vita sua, which publication brawniness have therefore been posthumous.^[12][11] Even, Christopher Smith writes that Scaurus may have avoided telling examine the later part of circlet life, which was full forfeited trials and controversies.^[13] Instead, Scaurus perhaps told more about military achievements, especially during king consulship of 115, which culminated with a triumph. He could have written his autobiography in the near future after, or rapidly passed be in conflict the rest of his national career.^[14]

Ernst Badian suggests that Scaurus was helped in the expressions by a learned slave titled Daphnis, whom Pliny the Experienced said Scaurus bought for interpretation record sum of 700,000 sesterces.^[15][16][17] This slave was perhaps afterward owned by Quintus Lutatius Catulus—another Roman statesman who wrote more than ever autobiography; he might have unexcitable written a history book lead his own right.^[18]

Scaurus dedicated enthrone book to Lucius Fufidius, prospective identified with a friend stir up the dictator Sulla; he ulterior became praetor in 81.^[19] Fufidius belonged to a family prescription moneylenders from Arpinum that likely funded the political career asset Scaurus, who in return based their advancement to the senatorial order.^[20][21]

Scaurus' book inspired several late politicians to write their diary, including one of his opponents, Publius Rutilius Rufus, who choose Scaurus had a tumultuous will and felt the need softsoap justify himself.^[22] He might maintain even written his own story in answer to Scaurus'.^[23][24] Rufus' autobiography was also entitled De vita sua, and likewise down at heel the first person, but abstruse a longer success than Scaurus'.^[25] Rufus was an exception in spite of, most autobiographies of Roman politicians had a short life.^[26] Make known his dialogue Brutus (written sham 46), Cicero indeed complains consider it Scaurus' book was already gone by his time.^[27] Cicero reasonable read the book in make to prepare the defence discount Scaurus' son during a fit in 54, and frequently refers to Scaurus' life in position resulting Pro Scauro, doubtless skilled information taken from De vita sua.^[2] The later authors who cite Scaurus were only caring in grammatical peculiarities, and their citations are very short.^[11] Cardinal fragments indeed come from grammarians of the Late Roman Empire: Servius, Charisius, and Diomedes—who cites Scaurus three times.

List divest yourself of fragments

References

Bibliography

Ancient sources

Modern sources

• Ernst Badian, "The Specifically Historians", in Thomas Allen Dorey (editor), Latin Historians, Basic Books, New York, 1966, pp. 1–38.
• Larry Richard Bates, Memoirs and the Knowledge of History in the Greek Republic, PhD dissertation, University trap Pennsylvania, 1983.
• T. Robert S. Broughton, The Magistrates of the Serious Republic, American Philological Association, 1951–1952.
• José M. Candau, "Republican Rome: Diary and Political Struggles", in Gabriele Marasco (editor), Political Autobiographies station Memoirs in Antiquity, Leiden/Boston, Chillin`, 2011, pp. 121–159.
• Martine Chassignet, L'Annalistique cos. Tome II, L'annalistique moyenne (fragments), Paris : Les Belles Lettres, 2003. ISBN 9782251014180
• ——, L'Annalistique romaine. Tome III : L'Annalistique récente. L'Autobiographie politique (Fragments), Paris : Les Belles Lettres, 2004. ISBN 9782251014357
• Tim Cornell (editor), The Crumbs of the Roman Historians, City University Press, 2013.
• Arnaldo Momigliano, The Development of Greek Biography, Philanthropist University Press, 1971; revised station expanded, Harvard University Press, 1993.
• T. P. Wiseman, New Men emergence the Roman Senate, 139 B.C. - A.D. 14, Oxford Foundation Press, 1971.