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Roman History, Volume VII: Books 56–60
Dio Cassius (Cassius Dio), ca. 150- 235 CE, was born at Nicaea in Bithynia in Asia Minor. On the death of his father (Roman governor of Cilicia) he went in 180 to Rome, entered the Senate, and under the emperor Commodus was an advocate. He held high offices, becoming a close friend of several emperors. He was made governor of Pergamum and Smyrna; consul in 220; proconsul of Africa; governor of Dalmatia and then of Pannonia; and consul again in 229.
Of the eighty books of Dio's great work "Roman History," covering the era from the legendary landing of Aeneas in Italy to the reign of Alexander Severus (222-235 CE), we possess Books 36-60 (36 and 55-60 have gaps), which cover the years 68 BCE-47 CE. The missing portions are partly supplied, for the earlier gaps by Zonaras, who relies closely on Dio, and for some later gaps (Book 35 onwards) by John Xiphilinus (of the eleventh century). There are also many excerpts. The facilities for research afforded by Dio's official duties and his own industry make him a very vital source for Roman history of the last years of the republic and the first four emperors.
The Loeb Classical Library edition of Dio Cassius is in nine volumes.
Of the eighty books of Dio's great work "Roman History," covering the era from the legendary landing of Aeneas in Italy to the reign of Alexander Severus (222-235 CE), we possess Books 36-60 (36 and 55-60 have gaps), which cover the years 68 BCE-47 CE. The missing portions are partly supplied, for the earlier gaps by Zonaras, who relies closely on Dio, and for some later gaps (Book 35 onwards) by John Xiphilinus (of the eleventh century). There are also many excerpts. The facilities for research afforded by Dio's official duties and his own industry make him a very vital source for Roman history of the last years of the republic and the first four emperors.
The Loeb Classical Library edition of Dio Cassius is in nine volumes.
464 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 200
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About the author
Cassius Dio
396 books43 followersCassius Dio or Dio Cassius (c. 155 – c. 235) was a Roman statesman and historian of Greek origin. He published 80 volumes of history on ancient Rome, beginning with the arrival of Aeneas in Italy.
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June 5, 2024
Near the end of his reign Augustus gathers the bachelors and married men without children and harangues them for being traitors to Rome for not doing their duty in producing offspring. Then Quintillius Varus takes some legions into the forests of Germany and they are all killed. "Quintillius Varus, give me back my Legions!" Then he dies.
Tiberius becomes Emperor. At first, he becomes popular by giving out money and acting fairly, with the unwanted help of his mother Livia. This continues for as long as the much more popular Germanicus is alive. Then Germanicus dies, Livia not long afterward follows, then the killing begins. Tiberius leaves for Capri and never returns to Rome. He spends years announcing that he is on his way to Rome, then sends word that he is too ill to travel and might even die. Then he is fine and on his way again. Sometimes he even goes partway, but never makes it back into the city before returning to Capri. While he is in Capri the Captain of the Praetorian Guard Sejanus rules in his place. Sejanus makes himself popular with the right people and becomes quite powerful. Too powerful. Then he is suddenly disgraced, and then he is dead. Fun fact: In the marvelous production of "I, Claudius" Sejanus is played by Patrick Stewart with a marvelous head of hair. Tiberius continues killing people, giving conflicting orders to appear unpredictable, then gets old and dies.
Gaius becomes Caesar. Known as Caligula, "little boots", because as a child he followed his father Germanicus along on campaign and wore tiny imitations of a Legionnaire's boots. He is popular for a year because he hands out enormous sums of money, then the money runs out and the killing begins. Lots of killing. He sleeps with Senators' wives while they watch, sleeps with his sisters, and worst of all, hangs out with Hollywood types who are the kind of people that not even the lowest members of the populous respect. Like today. After three years even his Praetorians have had enough and kill him.
Caligula's uncle Claudius is found by the guards hiding under a table and make him Emperor. Dio Cassius spends a few pages talking about how he is cowardly and overly submissive to women and courtiers, then spends about five times as many pages giving examples of how well he reigned. He fixed the taxes, undid the bad policies of previous Caesars, straightened out the economy, made the courts more just, acted with prudence and humility in public, associated with the common Romans, built the harbor in Ostia, and provided for surplus grain to be stored in preparation for times of famine. He was quite fearful and quickly eliminated anyone he considered a threat, and really liked bloody gladiatorial games. His greatest failing was his trust in his wife Messalina. Messalina was a notorious ho and had sex with everyone. All of Rome knew what a skankapotomus she was. All of Rome excepting Claudius. Claudius did whatever she told him to do, which included executing whoever she did not like. Despite the murders, Claudius is the best Caesar since Augustus, even adding Britain to the Empire.
Dio Cassius writes in his usual economical style, giving facts and dates and examples of current events. He sprinkles in some subjective opinions, but he is a Roman through and through so this is to be expected and does not detract from the narrative.
Tiberius becomes Emperor. At first, he becomes popular by giving out money and acting fairly, with the unwanted help of his mother Livia. This continues for as long as the much more popular Germanicus is alive. Then Germanicus dies, Livia not long afterward follows, then the killing begins. Tiberius leaves for Capri and never returns to Rome. He spends years announcing that he is on his way to Rome, then sends word that he is too ill to travel and might even die. Then he is fine and on his way again. Sometimes he even goes partway, but never makes it back into the city before returning to Capri. While he is in Capri the Captain of the Praetorian Guard Sejanus rules in his place. Sejanus makes himself popular with the right people and becomes quite powerful. Too powerful. Then he is suddenly disgraced, and then he is dead. Fun fact: In the marvelous production of "I, Claudius" Sejanus is played by Patrick Stewart with a marvelous head of hair. Tiberius continues killing people, giving conflicting orders to appear unpredictable, then gets old and dies.
Gaius becomes Caesar. Known as Caligula, "little boots", because as a child he followed his father Germanicus along on campaign and wore tiny imitations of a Legionnaire's boots. He is popular for a year because he hands out enormous sums of money, then the money runs out and the killing begins. Lots of killing. He sleeps with Senators' wives while they watch, sleeps with his sisters, and worst of all, hangs out with Hollywood types who are the kind of people that not even the lowest members of the populous respect. Like today. After three years even his Praetorians have had enough and kill him.
Caligula's uncle Claudius is found by the guards hiding under a table and make him Emperor. Dio Cassius spends a few pages talking about how he is cowardly and overly submissive to women and courtiers, then spends about five times as many pages giving examples of how well he reigned. He fixed the taxes, undid the bad policies of previous Caesars, straightened out the economy, made the courts more just, acted with prudence and humility in public, associated with the common Romans, built the harbor in Ostia, and provided for surplus grain to be stored in preparation for times of famine. He was quite fearful and quickly eliminated anyone he considered a threat, and really liked bloody gladiatorial games. His greatest failing was his trust in his wife Messalina. Messalina was a notorious ho and had sex with everyone. All of Rome knew what a skankapotomus she was. All of Rome excepting Claudius. Claudius did whatever she told him to do, which included executing whoever she did not like. Despite the murders, Claudius is the best Caesar since Augustus, even adding Britain to the Empire.
Dio Cassius writes in his usual economical style, giving facts and dates and examples of current events. He sprinkles in some subjective opinions, but he is a Roman through and through so this is to be expected and does not detract from the narrative.
March 12, 2008
Annals from AD 9 thru 46
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