Livy XIII: History of Rome, Books 43-45

"The History of Rome" in Fourteen Volumes #43-45

by Livy

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 110 we have entire; books 1120 are lost; books 2145 are entire, except parts of 41 and 4345. 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.

Genres: History, Roman, Classics

448 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 12

About the author

Titus 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.

Reviews

[Darwin8u · Rating 4 out of 5]

"There is no state which will not have not only wicked citizens at cergain times but an inexperienced commonalty always." - Livy, History of Rome, XLV, xxiii



Books 43-45 of Livy's History of Rome detail the end of the The Third Macedonian War.

Book 43 sees several praetors condemned for administering their provinces with greed and cruelty. P. Licinius Crassus the proconsul plunders numerous cities in Greece. The commanders of Roman fleets pluder many allied cities. Book 43 sees King Perseus winning several victories in Thrace (Dardanians and of Illyricum). Spain revolts, but the revolt goes nowhere after Olonicus is killed. Marcus Aemilius Lepidus was chosen chief of the Senate by the censors. This book has a few missing parts.

Book 44 sees Q. Macius Philippus and his armies entering Macedonia through difficult passes, seizing a number of cities. The Rhodians send an envoy to Rome threatening to help Perseus unless the Romans establish peace Macedonia. This doesn't go well in Rome. L. Aemilius Paulus, consul for the second time, is put in charge of the campaign in Macedonia. Paulus prays before an assembly that any disaster threatening the Roman People be turned against his own household. After setting out for Macedonia, he conquers Perseus and brings all Macedonia under control. This book has a few missing parts.

Book 45 sees Perseus captured by A. Paulus in Samothrace. Antiochus, king of Syria beseiges Egypt (Ptolemy and Cleopatra*). Envoys sent to Rome's Senate. Senate requires Antiochus to pull out of Egypt. Rhodes' envoys supplicate themselves to Rome and are sent aways as neither allies or enemies. A. Paulus celebrates his triumph (his own soliders complain about not having enough booty). S. Sulpicius Galba speaks against the soldiers. Paulus' two sons die. This book has a few missing parts.

The last of the Livy. The remaining books: 46-142 have been lost. It really is sad to think that we only have about ~35 books of Livy. They are really amazing. His prose is clear. His speeches are amazing. And while he isn't a perfect historian (his dates sometimes conflict) he did organize Roman history in an expansive and rational way. I would have REALLY enjoyed reading about his take on the Fall of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Empire. His last book (142) supposedly ends his history with the death of Druses.

I don't get too carried away with regrets, but it really does feel like discovering that Shakespeare wrote 140 plays and we only have 36 extant. Imagine another 104 Shakespeare plays!!!

* These are not the Egyptian Kings you are thinking of. (Like Scipio, Cato, etc., Cleopatra and Ptolemy are family names that appear again and again).

[Lukerik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have successfully read Livy in under a year. I thoroughly recommend it. A fascinating story in its own right with so much that’s applicable to today. It’s also very well written. My advice would be to read it pentad by pentad rather than following the volume divisions in whichever edition you have. Livy’s an artist and each pentad is a distinct piece with rising stakes and a crescendo. I could happily have carried on but sadly the copyists appear to have got bored before I did.