Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus

Name: The Lives of the Twelve Caesars — Otho
Author: Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus

Summary

“The Lives of the Twelve Caesars — Otho”, is a work by Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus. It explores elements such as Otho, Galba and emperor.

Quotes from The Lives of the Twelve Caesars… (Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus)

Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, The Lives of the Twelve Caesars…

“ Many of the soldiers who were present kissed his hands and feet as he lay dead, weeping bitterly and calling him the bravest of men and an incomparable emperor, and then at once slew themselves beside his bier. Many of those who were absent too, on receiving the news attacked and killed one another from sheer grief. In short the greater part of those who had hated him most bitterly while he lived lauded him to the skies when he was dead; and it was even commonly declared that he had put an end to Galba, not so much for the sake of ruling, as of restoring the republic and liberty. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, The Lives of the Twelve Caesars…

“ When Otho learned of this, he persuaded the senate to send a deputation, to say that an emperor had already been chosen and to counsel peace and harmony; but in spite of this he offered Vitellius by messengers and letters a share in the imperial dignity and proposed to become his son-in-law. But when it became clear that war was inevitable, and the generals and troops which Vitellius had sent in advance were already drawing near, he was given a proof of the affection and loyalty of the praetorians towards himself which almost resulted in the destruction of the senate. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, The Lives of the Twelve Caesars…

“ For he had not only promised Otho some time before that he would survive Nero, but had at this time unexpectedly appeared unsought and made the further promise, that he would soon become emperor as well.
Accordingly Otho let slip no opportunity for flattery or attention to anyone. Whenever he entertained the prince at dinner, he gave a gold piece to each man of the cohort on guard, and put all the soldiers under obligation in one form or another. Chosen arbiter by a man who was at law with his neighbour about a part of his estate, he bought the whole property and presented it to him. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, The Lives of the Twelve Caesars…

“ By this deed, while he increased his reputation, he lost favour at court; but he speedily regained it by detecting the treachery of a Roman knight, whose slaves betrayed their master's design of killing the emperor. [3] For in consequence of this, the senate conferred a very unusual honour on him by setting up his statue in the Palace; and Claudius also enrolled him among the patricians, and after praising him in the highest terms, added these words: "a man of greater loyalty than I can even pray for in my own children." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, The Lives of the Twelve Caesars…

“ For hope of a conference was offered, and when his soldiers were led out in the belief that they were to discuss terms of peace, a battle was forced upon them unexpectedly, just as they were exchanging greetings with the foe. After the defeat, Otho at once resolved to take his own life, rather from a feeling of shame, as many have thought with good reason, and an unwillingness to persist in a struggle for imperial power at the expense of such danger to life and property, than from any despair of success or distrust of his troops ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, The Lives of the Twelve Caesars…

“ After his father's death he pretended love for an influential freedwoman of the court, although she was an old woman and almost decrepit, that he might more effectually win her favour. Having through her wormed his way into Nero's good graces, he easily held the first place among the emperor's friends because of the similarity of their characters ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, The Lives of the Twelve Caesars…

“ This man on bringing news of the defeat of the army was believed by no one, but was charged by the soldiers now with falsehood and now with cowardice, and accused of running away; whereupon he fell on his sword at the emperor's feet. My father used to say that at this sight Otho cried out that he would no longer endanger the lives of such brave men, who had deserved so well. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, The Lives of the Twelve Caesars…

“ It had been resolved that some arms should be removed and carried back [13] on shipboard by the marines; but as these were being taken out [14] in the Camp towards nightfall, some suspected treachery and started a riot; then on a sudden all the soldiers hastened to the Palace without any particular leader, demanding the death of the senators. After putting to flight some of the tribunes who attempted to stop them, and killing others, just as they were, all blood-stained, they burst right into the dining-room, demanding to know where the emperor was ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, The Lives of the Twelve Caesars…

“ The Roman roads were supposed to converge at that point, but the distances on them were reckoned from the gates.↑ Proverbial of undertaking something beyond one's powers; cf. Cic. ad Att. II.16.↑ To Ostia.↑ Of the armoury.↑ This difficult passage is obscure because of its brevity and perhaps through corruption of the text. ”

Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus

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Quotes from The Lives of the Twelve Caesars… (Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus)

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