The Twelve Caesars audiobook cover - A look into the triumphs and tragedies of the Roman Empire's first twelve emperors

The Twelve Caesars

A look into the triumphs and tragedies of the Roman Empire's first twelve emperors

Suetonius

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The Twelve Caesars
Julius Caesar+
Augustus (Octavian)+
Caligula+
Claudius+
Nero+
The Year of Four Emperors+
Vespasian+
Titus+
Domitian+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 10
Why did the conservative senators assassinate Julius Caesar?
  • A. They wanted to install Mark Antony as the new dictator of Rome.
  • B. They believed he was going to destroy the Republic and make himself king.
  • C. They were angry that he disbanded the Republic's army after the civil war.
  • D. They wanted to avenge the death of the conservative general Sulla.
Question 2 of 10
How did Julius Caesar react when he was kidnapped by pirates in the Aegean Sea?
  • A. He begged the Roman Senate to pay his ransom immediately.
  • B. He joined their crew and helped them raid merchant ships.
  • C. He was insulted by their low ransom demand and insisted they raise it.
  • D. He escaped by fighting off the pirate captain in hand-to-hand combat.
Question 3 of 10
Despite his immense power and wealth as emperor, how did Augustus choose to live his daily life?
  • A. He lived in a lavish marble palace but refused to eat meat.
  • B. He lived frugally, wearing home-woven clothes and eating common food.
  • C. He spent most of his time in military camps to avoid the Senate.
  • D. He dressed as a commoner and secretly walked the streets of Rome at night.
Question 4 of 10
Why did Caligula build a three-mile artificial 'road' of ships across the Gulf of Naples?
  • A. To facilitate the quick transport of grain during a famine in Rome.
  • B. To provide a grand stage for his massive gladiatorial combat shows.
  • C. To defy an astrologer's prophecy that said he was unlikely to become emperor.
  • D. To launch a surprise naval attack against his political enemies in the Senate.
Question 5 of 10
How did Claudius manage to survive the dangerous and deadly reign of his nephew, Caligula?
  • A. He led a successful military campaign in Britain, keeping him far away from Rome.
  • B. He was perceived as frail and was mercilessly mocked, making him seem harmless.
  • C. He formed a secret alliance with the Praetorian Guard to protect himself.
  • D. He paid massive bribes to Caligula's closest advisors and assassins.
Question 6 of 10
According to Suetonius, what was Nero's true passion, which distracted him from effectively ruling the empire?
  • A. Expanding the borders of the Roman Empire into Germania.
  • B. Achieving fame and recognition as a great artist and musician.
  • C. Studying philosophy and writing historical texts about the Republic.
  • D. Competing as a gladiator in the arenas of Rome.
Question 7 of 10
What was Vespasian's famous 'sponge trick'?
  • A. He promoted corrupt officials to let them collect bribes, then charged them with extortion to seize their money.
  • B. He absorbed the debts of the lower classes to gain their unwavering loyalty against the Senate.
  • C. He used public funds to build massive bathhouses to distract the populace from his tax hikes.
  • D. He intentionally lost minor battles to draw enemies deep into Roman territory before destroying them.
Question 8 of 10
How did Titus's reputation change after he succeeded his father, Vespasian, as emperor?
  • A. He was expected to be a mild-mannered ruler but quickly became a ruthless tyrant.
  • B. He was feared to be another cruel Nero but proved to be a generous and mild-mannered ruler.
  • C. He was known as a great builder but stopped all public works projects to save money.
  • D. He was celebrated as a military genius but lost several key provinces to barbarian tribes.
Question 9 of 10
What deceptive tactic did Domitian frequently use before executing his victims?
  • A. He would invite them to a lavish banquet and publicly poison their wine.
  • B. He would challenge them to a rigged gladiatorial duel in the Colosseum.
  • C. He would speak to them movingly about mercy to lull them into a false sense of security.
  • D. He would promote them to high office and then have them assassinated by a mob.
Question 10 of 10
Which sequence correctly represents the succession of the Flavian Dynasty as described in the text?
  • A. Galba, Otho, Vitellius
  • B. Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula
  • C. Claudius, Nero, Galba
  • D. Vespasian, Titus, Domitian

The Twelve Caesars — Full Chapter Overview

The Twelve Caesars Summary & Overview

The Twelve Caesars (121 CE) is one of the most colorful biographical works ever written. By turns opinionated, sensational, and dramatic, it documents the lives of the men who wielded absolute power in Rome after its transformation from a republic into an empire in 27 BCE. A one-time private secretary to one of those emperors, Hadrian, Suetonius was intimately familiar with court life. In the Twelve Caesars, he uses that knowledge to shed light on the highs and lows of the empire’s early years, as well as on the virtues and all-too-human failings of its supposedly divine rulers. 

Who Should Listen to The Twelve Caesars?

  • History buffs
  • Classicists
  • Fans of drama and intrigue

About the Author: Suetonius

Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus was born into a wealthy Roman family around 69 CE. A prolific scholar and intellectual, he wrote biographies of the important figures of his day as well as studies of topics ranging from the role of courtesans in political life to poetry and Roman culture. Suetonius also served the imperial court during the reign of the emperors Trajan and Hadrian. The Twelve Caesars, Suetonius’s best-known work, was written in 122 CE. 

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