What do you think?
Rate this book
"The History of Rome" in Fourteen Volumes #8-10
Livy IV: History of Rome, Books 8-10
Livy (Titus Livius), the great Roman historian, was born at or near Patavium (Padua) in 64 or 59 BCE; he may have lived mostly in Rome but died at Patavium, in 12 or 17 CE.
Livy's only extant work is part of his history of Rome from the foundation of the city to 9 BCE. Of its 142 books, we have just 35, and short summaries of all the rest except two. The whole work was, long after his death, divided into Decades or series of ten. Books 1-10 we have entire; books 11-20 are lost; books 21-45 are entire, except parts of 41 and 43-45. Of the rest only fragments and the summaries remain. In splendid style Livy, a man of wide sympathies and proud of Rome's past, presented an uncritical but clear and living narrative of the rise of Rome to greatness.
The Loeb Classical Library edition of Livy is in fourteen volumes. The last volume includes a comprehensive index.
Livy's only extant work is part of his history of Rome from the foundation of the city to 9 BCE. Of its 142 books, we have just 35, and short summaries of all the rest except two. The whole work was, long after his death, divided into Decades or series of ten. Books 1-10 we have entire; books 11-20 are lost; books 21-45 are entire, except parts of 41 and 43-45. Of the rest only fragments and the summaries remain. In splendid style Livy, a man of wide sympathies and proud of Rome's past, presented an uncritical but clear and living narrative of the rise of Rome to greatness.
The Loeb Classical Library edition of Livy is in fourteen volumes. The last volume includes a comprehensive index.
592 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1926
1 person is currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Livy
3,066 books269 followersTitus Livius (Patavinus) (64 or 59 BC – AD 17)—known as Livy in English, and Tite-Live in French—was a Roman historian who wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people – Ab Urbe Condita Libri (Books from the Foundation of the City) – covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome before the traditional foundation in 753 BC through the reign of Augustus in Livy's own time. He was on familiar terms with the Julio-Claudian dynasty, advising Augustus's grandnephew, the future emperor Claudius, as a young man not long before 14 AD in a letter to take up the writing of history. Livy and Augustus's wife, Livia, were from the same clan in different locations, although not related by blood.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 27, 2018
"Oratory was invented for doubtful matters"
- Livy, Book VIII, lv 3
Book 8 (Revolt of the Latins)
&
Book 9 (Roman Expansion)
&
Book 10 (Battle of Aquilonia)
My fourth (of fourteen) Livy's History of Rome covers books 8 through 10 (341-292BC). It also contains the summaries for the some of Livy's missing books (11 - 20).
This volume deals with various revolts among those groups Rome has treaties with (Latins, Companians, Privernates, Samnites, Apulians, Etruscans, Umbrians, Marsi, the Paeligni, Aequi, etc.). This is a period of quick Roman growth. They are starting to feel their imperial oats.
My favorite part of this volume deals with the leadership and generalship of men such as Titus Manlius, Quintus Fabius, Appius Claudius. This period parallels the period of Alexander the Great in the East.
Here are some of his best lines:
"...an aspect more august than a man's, as though sent from heaven to expiate all anger of the gods, and to turn aside destruction from his people and bring it on their adversaries. Thus every terror and dread attended him..." (Book VIII, ix.9)
"You shall find few in the saddle, few sword in hand; while they are loading themselves and their horses with spoils, cut them down unarmed and make it a bloody booty for them." (Book VIII, xxxviii.15)
"...and their generals had taught them that a soldier should be rough to look on, not adorned with gold and silver but putting his trust in iron and in courage : indeed those other things were more truly spoil than arms, shinning bright before a battle, but losing their beauty in the midst of blood and wounds; manhood they said, was the adornment of a solder; all those other things went with the victory, and a rich enemy was the prize of the victor, however poor." (Book IX, xl.4-6)
"In truth the matter is simply, Quirites, that we must always be first denied, and yet have our way in the end. A struggle is all that the patricians ask: they care not what may be the outcome of the struggle." (Book X, viii.11-12)
- Livy, Book VIII, lv 3
Book 8 (Revolt of the Latins)
&
Book 9 (Roman Expansion)
&
Book 10 (Battle of Aquilonia)
My fourth (of fourteen) Livy's History of Rome covers books 8 through 10 (341-292BC). It also contains the summaries for the some of Livy's missing books (11 - 20).
This volume deals with various revolts among those groups Rome has treaties with (Latins, Companians, Privernates, Samnites, Apulians, Etruscans, Umbrians, Marsi, the Paeligni, Aequi, etc.). This is a period of quick Roman growth. They are starting to feel their imperial oats.
My favorite part of this volume deals with the leadership and generalship of men such as Titus Manlius, Quintus Fabius, Appius Claudius. This period parallels the period of Alexander the Great in the East.
Here are some of his best lines:
"...an aspect more august than a man's, as though sent from heaven to expiate all anger of the gods, and to turn aside destruction from his people and bring it on their adversaries. Thus every terror and dread attended him..." (Book VIII, ix.9)
"You shall find few in the saddle, few sword in hand; while they are loading themselves and their horses with spoils, cut them down unarmed and make it a bloody booty for them." (Book VIII, xxxviii.15)
"...and their generals had taught them that a soldier should be rough to look on, not adorned with gold and silver but putting his trust in iron and in courage : indeed those other things were more truly spoil than arms, shinning bright before a battle, but losing their beauty in the midst of blood and wounds; manhood they said, was the adornment of a solder; all those other things went with the victory, and a rich enemy was the prize of the victor, however poor." (Book IX, xl.4-6)
"In truth the matter is simply, Quirites, that we must always be first denied, and yet have our way in the end. A struggle is all that the patricians ask: they care not what may be the outcome of the struggle." (Book X, viii.11-12)
September 9, 2023
My comments in video: https://youtu.be/Qn6baQPXJSY
See the trees and the forest in The History of Rome - Titus Livy and Theodor Mommsen
In this simultaneous reading of Books I and II by Theodor Mommsen, and the 3 volumes of the Gredos edition by Titus Livy (which includes Books I to X), I had the privilege of seeing the details of the History of Rome from its foundation, the formation of the Republic, the consolidation of its laws, up to the wars against the Italic tribes that gave it control over the peninsula. In this wonderful reading I was able to learn the details and the anecdotes, speeches and teachings that Titus Livy presents, as well as the penetrating, erudite and clear look that Theodor Mommsen shares to understand the history, background and characteristics of the roman people in a general panorama (his analyzes are so deep that they allowed me to extract some quotes that support some criticisms that I made to the work "infinity in a reed" by Irene Vallejo https://youtu.be/95erfBcrc7I).
I encourage you to do these same simultaneous readings to immerse yourself in ancient Rome.
Ver los árboles y el bosque en La Historia de Roma - Tito Livio y Theodor Mommsen
En esta lectura simultánea de los Libros I y II de Theodor Mommsen, y los 3 tomos de edición Gredos de Tito Livio (que comprende Libros del I al X), tuve el privilegio de ver los detalles de la Historia de Roma desde su fundación, la formación de la República, la consolidación de sus leyes, hasta las guerras contra las tribus Itálicas que le dieron el dominio sobre la península. En esta maravillosa lectura pude conocer los detalles y las anécdotas, discursos y enseñanzas que presenta Tito Livio, así como la mirada penetrante, erudita y clara que Theodor Mommsen comparte para entender la historia, antecedentes y características del pueblo en un panorama general (sus análisis son tan profundos que me permitieron extraer algunas citas que soportan algunas críticas que hice a la obra "El infinito en un junco" de Irene Vallejo https://youtu.be/95erfBcrc7I).
Los animo a realizar estas mismas lecturas simultáneas para sumergirse en la Roma antigua.
See the trees and the forest in The History of Rome - Titus Livy and Theodor Mommsen
In this simultaneous reading of Books I and II by Theodor Mommsen, and the 3 volumes of the Gredos edition by Titus Livy (which includes Books I to X), I had the privilege of seeing the details of the History of Rome from its foundation, the formation of the Republic, the consolidation of its laws, up to the wars against the Italic tribes that gave it control over the peninsula. In this wonderful reading I was able to learn the details and the anecdotes, speeches and teachings that Titus Livy presents, as well as the penetrating, erudite and clear look that Theodor Mommsen shares to understand the history, background and characteristics of the roman people in a general panorama (his analyzes are so deep that they allowed me to extract some quotes that support some criticisms that I made to the work "infinity in a reed" by Irene Vallejo https://youtu.be/95erfBcrc7I).
I encourage you to do these same simultaneous readings to immerse yourself in ancient Rome.
Ver los árboles y el bosque en La Historia de Roma - Tito Livio y Theodor Mommsen
En esta lectura simultánea de los Libros I y II de Theodor Mommsen, y los 3 tomos de edición Gredos de Tito Livio (que comprende Libros del I al X), tuve el privilegio de ver los detalles de la Historia de Roma desde su fundación, la formación de la República, la consolidación de sus leyes, hasta las guerras contra las tribus Itálicas que le dieron el dominio sobre la península. En esta maravillosa lectura pude conocer los detalles y las anécdotas, discursos y enseñanzas que presenta Tito Livio, así como la mirada penetrante, erudita y clara que Theodor Mommsen comparte para entender la historia, antecedentes y características del pueblo en un panorama general (sus análisis son tan profundos que me permitieron extraer algunas citas que soportan algunas críticas que hice a la obra "El infinito en un junco" de Irene Vallejo https://youtu.be/95erfBcrc7I).
Los animo a realizar estas mismas lecturas simultáneas para sumergirse en la Roma antigua.
November 13, 2018
It's funny when Livy interrupts the narrative to give us his thoughts on whether Alexander the Great could have defeated the Romans.
March 16, 2023
See my reviews of the previous volumes.
November 10, 2025
A year ago, when I reviewed the Loeb volume of Livy that precedes this one (Books V-VII), I referred to Karl Marx and his assertion that history is about the struggle between people who have power and people who don’t. There is plenty of conflict between patricians and plebeians in this volume. One victory for the plebs is the abolition of bondage for debt. However, there is also plenty of conflict between Rome and its neighbours, especially the Samnites and the Etruscans. The central event in this volume is the Caudine Forks fiasco in which a Roman army is trapped in a ravine by the Samnites and is forced to go “under the yoke” – a ritual humiliation worse than slavery or death. In the circumstances, though, it seems a humane alternative to the advice given by one Samnite elder: slaughter the lot of them or they’ll be back for vengeance. The old greybeard was right, because the Romans do come back for vengeance – and lots of it. Unfortunately, as with many ancient historians, Livy is never clear about the underlying causes of these wars. From the Samnite perspective, it might be about resistance to Roman hegemony. From a Roman perspective, it might be about Samnite perfidy. Ultimately, is it about competition for resources, especially agricultural land? Livy doesn’t say, but he proves that warfare doesn’t just affect the combatants. Crops are torched. Towns and cities are destroyed. Civilian populations are enslaved or put to the sword.
Early in Book VIII a people called the Latins (who must have been close cousins to the Romans) send a delegation to Rome proposing a union of their peoples, sealed with a merger of their respective senates and the election of a Roman and a Latin consul sharing executive power. One of the two Roman consuls, Titus Manlius, is apoplectic. The idea of Latin senators sitting alongside Roman senators is unthinkable. The Roman senators are in uproar. As the Latin delegation retreat from the senate chamber, their leader Annius slips and bangs his head on a stone step. At the same time a huge thunderstorm breaks out. Both events signal the gods’ disapproval of the merger; so instead of peace and unity, we get another war.
As is often the case with ancient historians, women are largely invisible. However, Livy does tell us of one extraordinary event. There appears to be an epidemic in Rome. People are dying. However, a slave woman claims it’s not plague but a poison brewed up by a cabal of married women. After investigation, 170 women are implicated and twenty of their leaders – including women from some of the city’s most illustrious families – drink off the poison and die. We never learn what prompted them to poison their fellow citizens. We can speculate though……
Other noteworthy events include a consul executing his son for disobeying orders (the son kills an enemy general in hand-to-hand combat after his dad expressly ordered him not to engage the enemy). We also get two consuls (in two different wars) sacrificing themselves in the belief that the gods demanded their deaths as the price of victory.
One of my favourite passages is in Book X and concerns the snobbish arch-aristocrat Appius Claudius who objects to plebeians holding priesthoods. He is reminded that his ancestors were Sabine immigrants who changed their name from Attius Clausus to make themselves sound Roman.
That is not the end of the argument about the sharing of power between the toffs and the plebs. Later, the toffs agitate to lift the consulship – the highest elected office – out of the mire by preventing plebs from standing in consular elections. This was in 296BCE and was a lost cause because by then a tiny minority of plebs were acquiring sufficient wealth to keep themselves in the senate (which among other things involved a property qualification) and to swing elections.
Another development by this time is the appearance of men who are primarily politicians (glib, silver-tongued, devious) as distinct from men who are primarily soldiers (brave, blunt, honest). From the start, military service had been a pre-requisite for elected office, especially for the consulship as the two consuls were expected to lead Roman armies to victory. The lower offices, such as praetor and aedile, involved presiding over courts and civil administration. The point is that chaps like Appius Claudius are not suited for soldiering – and hence the consulship – and are better off on the bench. That must have hurt, but according to Livy, Appius was a poor general and his troops had no reason to have any confidence in his leadership abilities.
Loeb have recently been refreshing some of their other volumes of Livy but this translation dates from 1926 and the English is pretty stodgy. However, I would still recommend it to anyone who is interested in Roman history and, of course, the class struggle.
Early in Book VIII a people called the Latins (who must have been close cousins to the Romans) send a delegation to Rome proposing a union of their peoples, sealed with a merger of their respective senates and the election of a Roman and a Latin consul sharing executive power. One of the two Roman consuls, Titus Manlius, is apoplectic. The idea of Latin senators sitting alongside Roman senators is unthinkable. The Roman senators are in uproar. As the Latin delegation retreat from the senate chamber, their leader Annius slips and bangs his head on a stone step. At the same time a huge thunderstorm breaks out. Both events signal the gods’ disapproval of the merger; so instead of peace and unity, we get another war.
As is often the case with ancient historians, women are largely invisible. However, Livy does tell us of one extraordinary event. There appears to be an epidemic in Rome. People are dying. However, a slave woman claims it’s not plague but a poison brewed up by a cabal of married women. After investigation, 170 women are implicated and twenty of their leaders – including women from some of the city’s most illustrious families – drink off the poison and die. We never learn what prompted them to poison their fellow citizens. We can speculate though……
Other noteworthy events include a consul executing his son for disobeying orders (the son kills an enemy general in hand-to-hand combat after his dad expressly ordered him not to engage the enemy). We also get two consuls (in two different wars) sacrificing themselves in the belief that the gods demanded their deaths as the price of victory.
One of my favourite passages is in Book X and concerns the snobbish arch-aristocrat Appius Claudius who objects to plebeians holding priesthoods. He is reminded that his ancestors were Sabine immigrants who changed their name from Attius Clausus to make themselves sound Roman.
That is not the end of the argument about the sharing of power between the toffs and the plebs. Later, the toffs agitate to lift the consulship – the highest elected office – out of the mire by preventing plebs from standing in consular elections. This was in 296BCE and was a lost cause because by then a tiny minority of plebs were acquiring sufficient wealth to keep themselves in the senate (which among other things involved a property qualification) and to swing elections.
Another development by this time is the appearance of men who are primarily politicians (glib, silver-tongued, devious) as distinct from men who are primarily soldiers (brave, blunt, honest). From the start, military service had been a pre-requisite for elected office, especially for the consulship as the two consuls were expected to lead Roman armies to victory. The lower offices, such as praetor and aedile, involved presiding over courts and civil administration. The point is that chaps like Appius Claudius are not suited for soldiering – and hence the consulship – and are better off on the bench. That must have hurt, but according to Livy, Appius was a poor general and his troops had no reason to have any confidence in his leadership abilities.
Loeb have recently been refreshing some of their other volumes of Livy but this translation dates from 1926 and the English is pretty stodgy. However, I would still recommend it to anyone who is interested in Roman history and, of course, the class struggle.
March 13, 2024
In this one the Roman’s pull themselves together and assemble something resembling an empire without an Emperor. The volume divisions are a bit odd in this this edition for space reasons. I think it’s worth ignoring them and reading pentad by pentad as Livy has ordered his material by that arrangement. In the first you have foundation to destruction, and in this one re-build to empire; or as Asimov would put it: Foundation, Second Foundation, Foundation and Empire. There are some fantastic stories, in particular the Caudine Forks. Don’t poke the bear, people.
Particularly interesting are the numerous insights into Roman religion, a subject on which Livy has Opinions. It’s quite astounding that they managed to get anything done at all. This from Book VIII, Chapter XXX:
‘Papirius, the dictator, as he was setting out for Rome, on the advice of the keeper of the sacred chickens…’
No doubt they’re farcical aquatic chickens.
However, later (X, XL) we have this:
‘In the third watch of the night, Papirius rose silently and sent the keeper of the chicken to take the auspices. There was no class of men in camp who were not affected by the lust of battle; both high and low felt the same eagerness; the general could see the ardour of the men, the men that of their general. This universal zeal spread even to those who took the auspices, for when the chickens refused to feed, their keeper dared to falsify the presage and reported that the corn danced on the ground as it fell from their greedy beaks. The consul joyfully announced that the omens were most favourable, and that the gods would be with them as they fought.
…
While the general was thus employed, a dispute which broke out amongst the keepers of the chickens about the auspices for that day was overheard by some Roman cavalrymen, who, deeming it no negligible matter, reported to Spurius Papirius, the consul's nephew, that the auspices were being called in question. The young man had been born before the learning that makes light of the gods, and having inquired into the affair, that he might not be the bearer of an uncertain rumour, acquainted the consul with it. The consul replied: “for yourself, I commend your conduct and your diligence; but he who takes the auspices, if he reports aught that is false, draws down the wrath of Heaven upon himself; as for me, I was told that the corn had danced; it is an excellent omen for the Roman People and the army.” he then ordered the centurions to station the keepers of the chickens in the front rank. The Samnites, too, advanced their standards, which were followed by the battle —line in gorgeous armour —a splendid spectacle, though composed of enemies. before the first shout and the clash of arms, a random javelin struck the chicken—keeper and he fell before the standards. The consul, on being told of this, exclaimed, “The gods are present in the battle; the guilty wretch has paid the penalty!” in front of the consul a raven, just as he spoke, uttered a clear cry, and Papirius, rejoiced with the augury, and declaring that never had the gods been more instant to intervene in human affairs, bade sound the trumpets and give a cheer.’
That’s enough quoting for now, chaps.
Particularly interesting are the numerous insights into Roman religion, a subject on which Livy has Opinions. It’s quite astounding that they managed to get anything done at all. This from Book VIII, Chapter XXX:
‘Papirius, the dictator, as he was setting out for Rome, on the advice of the keeper of the sacred chickens…’
No doubt they’re farcical aquatic chickens.
However, later (X, XL) we have this:
‘In the third watch of the night, Papirius rose silently and sent the keeper of the chicken to take the auspices. There was no class of men in camp who were not affected by the lust of battle; both high and low felt the same eagerness; the general could see the ardour of the men, the men that of their general. This universal zeal spread even to those who took the auspices, for when the chickens refused to feed, their keeper dared to falsify the presage and reported that the corn danced on the ground as it fell from their greedy beaks. The consul joyfully announced that the omens were most favourable, and that the gods would be with them as they fought.
…
While the general was thus employed, a dispute which broke out amongst the keepers of the chickens about the auspices for that day was overheard by some Roman cavalrymen, who, deeming it no negligible matter, reported to Spurius Papirius, the consul's nephew, that the auspices were being called in question. The young man had been born before the learning that makes light of the gods, and having inquired into the affair, that he might not be the bearer of an uncertain rumour, acquainted the consul with it. The consul replied: “for yourself, I commend your conduct and your diligence; but he who takes the auspices, if he reports aught that is false, draws down the wrath of Heaven upon himself; as for me, I was told that the corn had danced; it is an excellent omen for the Roman People and the army.” he then ordered the centurions to station the keepers of the chickens in the front rank. The Samnites, too, advanced their standards, which were followed by the battle —line in gorgeous armour —a splendid spectacle, though composed of enemies. before the first shout and the clash of arms, a random javelin struck the chicken—keeper and he fell before the standards. The consul, on being told of this, exclaimed, “The gods are present in the battle; the guilty wretch has paid the penalty!” in front of the consul a raven, just as he spoke, uttered a clear cry, and Papirius, rejoiced with the augury, and declaring that never had the gods been more instant to intervene in human affairs, bade sound the trumpets and give a cheer.’
That’s enough quoting for now, chaps.
October 9, 2025
Continuing my slog through the history of the Roman republic, year-by-year. Livy is a great read but by choosing to read his entire series, he becomes a bit repetitive and tiresome in places. I'll take a few months off before I pick up the next volume. On another note, I am an ancient-Greek-ophile (yeah, that's not a word) and when Livy goes on a tangent and criticizes Alexander and Greece in general, I find it a little off putting. I can overlook it though. Cheers Livy, see you after the holidays.
July 1, 2014
This review is the same for each of his volumes: Livy is the quintessential historian of ancient Rome. He had his obvious flaws - no one could consider him unbiased in his approach, and he creates dialogue between historical figures that encourage the virtues of the citizens. Still, he is very entertaining. Each of his extant works - most of his books have been lost - presents a far nobler Rome than we have come to expect. Reading Livy is a luxury few are privileged to partake of. Fantastic.
July 9, 2012
Per motivi di studio ho letto molto dell'imponente opera liviana, ma non l'ho mai letta per intero. Utile da confrontare con altre fonti sulla storia romana.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews