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SuetoniusThe Twelve Caesars
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 121A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Fate and Omens
Besides the confidence a few Caesars like Tiberius had in astrology, the ability of individuals to predict the future through the interpretation of dreams and unusual events is an important element in every biography in The Twelve Caesars. Major events, like the deaths of every Caesar, the end of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, and Vespasian’s rise to power, are foretold, according to Suetonius. For instance, Suetonius claims that before Otho died, he had a nightmare and, in the morning, was found “seeking to propriate with every possible rite the shade of Galba, by which he had dreamt he was ousted and expelled” (“Otho,” Section 7).
The Romans believed the universe was orderly and interconnected. Much like how one could predict the movement of the planets through observation and mathematics, the Romans believed omens and dreams could reveal significant pending events, such as the death of an influential figure. Like each Caesar’s aristocratic background, the omens illustrate the Caesars’ historical significance and proved that they fulfilled a preordained role.
Tyranny Versus Virtue
The most significant question Suetonius poses throughout The Twelve Caesars is what makes a ruler tyrannical or virtuous. Suetonius believed that the traits that made an emperor virtuous or tyrannical were innate and unchanging from childhood to death. The only thing that changed were circumstances that allowed the Caesars to hide or reveal their characteristics. When discussing Tiberius’s personality and the nature of his reign, Suetonius writes that Tiberius “showed only gradually what kind of emperor he was” (“Tiberius,” Section 33). From the start, Caligula had a “savage and reprehensible nature” (“Caligula,” Section 11). Meanwhile, Suetonius illustrates how Titus’s virtues were always discernable, writing that his “qualities of mind and body at once stood out even when he was a boy but still more so as he advanced towards maturity” (“The Deified Titus,” Section 3).
When the Caesars fall into these tyrannical and virtuous categories, they tend to have a fixed set of characteristics. A virtuous ruler usually does not seek out honors for themselves or their families, especially not honors more suitable to a monarch or a god. They are mindful of the public good, and they tolerate some degree of opposition and free speech. In contrast, a tyrant cultivates titles and honors, prioritizes their own sexual desires and luxuries, and uses violence to silence all criticism. In addition, tyrannical emperors target members of the Senate. For example, Suetonius singles out Caligula’s treatment of the Senate, which was neither “respectful or merciful” (“Caligula,” Section 26).
Two exceptions to this motif are Claudius and Julius Caesar. Suetonius praises Julius Caesar for his clemency and fair treatment of his soldiers and friends, but his tyrannical actions—accepting numerous extreme honors—provoke his assassination. Suetonius also depicts Claudius as having some virtuous qualities, such as being “restrained and unassuming […] and refusing excessive honors” (“The Deified Claudius,” Section 12). However, he is also “greedy for food and drink” and “cruel and bloodthirsty by temperament” (“Claudius,” Section 33-34), hallmarks of a tyrant. Claudius’s biography invites readers to wonder if the historical record of Claudius defied Suetonius’s tidy views of tyranny and virtue.
The Importance of Senate and Emperor
For most of the history of the Roman Republic, the Senate had significant power. While the consuls were the highest elected office, the Senate largely controlled Rome’s foreign policy and could significantly influence or prevent legislation proposed by a magistrate. With the rise of Augustus and the creation of the imperial office, the Senate lost much of its political power to the emperor.
Importantly, Suetonius does not question the importance or legitimacy of the Senate or the imperial office. He considers both institutions critical to Rome’s political order, and so does not criticize the imperial office or suggest that the Senate should be abolished. The imperial office is not at issue; instead, problems arise when an evil individual becomes emperor. An essential part of Suetonius’s concept of a good emperor is how he treats the Senate. Augustus, a virtuous emperor, ensures that there is open debate and a certain degree of freedom of speech for the Senate (“The Deified Augustus,” Sections 54-55), while Nero, a tyrannical emperor, threatens to wipe out the Senate (“Nero,” Section 37).
