1. Mr. Finnigan Latin Prose Boston Latin School
Introduction to Pliny
Mr. Finnigan
Latin Prose
Boston Latin School

2. I. Roman History from Augustus to Domitian

3. Augustus and the Julio-Claudian Emperors
Augustus (31 BCE – 14 CE)
charged with calming anxieties after a century of civil war
reign marked by peace at home, territorial expansion, and a flourishing of the arts
issues of succession plagued Augustus throughout his rule, ultimately his stepson from his second marriage was named his successor
Tiberius (14 – 37 CE)
capable military commander, but his military successes kept him away from Rome for most of his life, causing him to have very few close confidants when he returned to rule
very secretive and suspicious; surrounded himself with the Praetorian Guard, which increased tensions between him and the people
his paranoia and the influence of his associate Sejanus result in proliferation of maiestas (treason) trials during his rule; the atmosphere in the city is one of gloom and dread

4. Augustus and the Julio-Claudian Emperors
Tiberius (14 – 37 CE)
withdrew to Capri in 26 and ruled from there until his death
his general behavior throughout his reign and his long absence alienated the institution of the principate from the people
Gaius (37– 41 CE)
grandnephew of Tiberius, more commonly known as Caligula
had a promising start to his reign and seemed markedly anti-Tiberian in his ruling methods
fell ill (may have been a brain fever) and when he recovered, he became increasingly antagonistic and erratic
ultimately assassinated by members of the Praetorian Guard inside the royal palace

5. Augustus and the Julio-Claudian Emperors
Claudius (41 – 54 CE)
Gaius’ uncle, named emperor him when a member of the Praetorian Guard found him hiding behind a curtain after the assassination of Gaius
overall, he was a good ruler, but he alienated the senate throughout his reign by relying less on them and more on the advice and opinions of freedman
deified upon his death
Nero (54 – 68 CE)
Claudius’ son by his own niece, Agrippina the Younger
young when he rose to power, helped much by his tutors throughout his early years
rule seemed promising during the first 5 years, until he murdered his own mother in 59
he had always been more interested in performing and the arts than in ruling, and he gives in more to those desires as he gets older

6. Augustus and the Julio-Claudian Emperors
Nero (54 – 68 CE)
in 64, the “Great Fire” breaks out, destroying 11 out of Rome’s 14 districts
while Nero does provide relief for the catastrophe, he also built his Domus Aurea on a large section of the destroyed city
rumors abound that Nero set the fire himself (or ordered it) and sang the song of Troy’s fall as he watched the city burn
in 65, the Pisonian Conspiracy is formed against Nero, but it fails
ultimately declared a hostis by the senate in 68; he chooses to commit suicide rather than face the punishment
rule marked by economic issues, disasters, proliferation of maiestas trials, executions, and forced suicides
under the Flavians, these “Neronian persecutions” give rise to a literary subgenre called the “exitus literature” (death literature), focusing on those killed or forced to commit suicide under Nero

7. The Year of the Four Emperors
Nero’s suicide left a power vacuum that various contenders vied to fill
the result was a year marked by numerous civil wars and four different emperors rising to power
Galba: declared emperor after Nero’s suicide
Otho: became emperor after his supporters assassinated Galba
Vitellius: declared emperor by his legions in Germany; marched on Rome to depose Otho; beat him in northern Italy and became emperor
Vespasian: declared emperor by his legions in Judaea; his general Primus defeated Vitellius’ troops in northern Italy and marched on Rome, defeating Vitellius and solidifying his power

8. The Flavian Emperors Vespasian (69 – 79 CE): Titus (79 – 81 CE):
like Augustus, had to figure out how to calm the anxieties of a people weary from a year of civil war and political instability
uses victory in the First Jewish War (66-73 CE) and subsequent spoils to do so
celebrates a 30-day triumph
uses the spoils from the war (especially Jerusalem and the Temple there) to construct numerous temples and other buildings, notably the Collosseum
deconstructs Nero’s Domus Aurea and uses the materials to assist in his building projects
overall, things are looking up
Titus (79 – 81 CE):
Vespasian’s elder son; was well-suited to the position and popular with the people
rule marked by two great disasters: eruption of Vesuvius (79) and a fire at Rome (80)

9. The Flavian Emperors Titus (79 – 81 CE): Domitian (81 – 96 CE):
Vespasian’s elder son; was well-suited to the position and popular with the people
rule marked by two great disasters: eruption of Vesuvius (79) and a fire at Rome (80)
worked tirelessly to mitigate the effects of these catastrophes
died prematurely without an heir in 81
Domitian (81 – 96 CE):
had almost no experience in military affairs or governmental administration
seems to have actively disliked the senate, or at least refused to work with them
like Tiberius and Nero, he became increasingly paranoid and brought back maiestas trials and executions
behavior becomes increasingly tyrannical, but is able to stay in power thanks to a small circle of close and loyal supporters
ultimately assassinated in 96

10. II. Pliny’s Life and Letters

11. Pliny’s Life born in 61 or 62 CE in the town Comum (northern Italy)
after moving to Rome, became a member of the senate and held numerous political offices (never the consulship)
Domitian was in power for much of his early career
Pliny’s political career indicates that he prospered under Domitian’s tyrannical rule
Like others, he remains silent about Domitian’s tyranny while he’s alive but condemns him after his death
Continues to prosper under Nerva and Trajan, the next emperors
Sent to Bithynia-Pontus (modern Turkey) to conduct imperial business in either 109 or 110; likely died while serving there in 112 or 113 (but we cannot be certain)

12. The Epistulae
368 letters comprise the collection in 10 books, written between 97 CE and his death (112/113 CE?)
Books 1-9:
originally written to a variety of recipients as individual letters
compiled and rearranged for publication by Pliny himself
were probably edited, but we can’t know to what degree
offer a snapshot of everyday life for someone of Pliny’s status during this time
highly literary in style, content, and arrangement
Book 10:
consists of unedited correspondence with the emperor Trajan, including Trajan’s responses
written during Pliny’s tenure in Bithynia-Pontus as imperial legate
concerned with the business of empire, as such they are markedly unliterary (especially when compared with those in books 1-9)