Roman Historians: Annales, Commentarii, and Their Impact
The Annales and the Dawn of Roman Historiography
The tradition of historical writing in Rome traces back to the early documents of both the public and private sectors. Early Roman historians named their works *annales*, imitating the annual records kept by the pontiffs. Consequently, the first historians were known as annalists.
Fabius Pictor: The First Annalist
Fabius Pictor, a Roman, holds the distinction of being the first annalist, although he wrote his work in Greek. It was not until the arrival of Cato that historical works began to be written in Latin.
The Significance of Historical Writing in Rome
Historical writing was a very important genre in Rome. It served various purposes, including:
- Political propaganda (Livy)
- Justification of actions (Julius Caesar)
- Critique of certain sectors of society (Sallust)
- Critique of certain political regimes (Tacitus)
Key Figures in Roman Historiography
Caesar: Triumvir, Conqueror, and Historian
Julius Caesar played a pivotal role in the history of Rome. As a member of the First Triumvirate, he was the conqueror of Gaul. He was assassinated on March 15, 44 BC.
Caesar authored two historical works concerning events in which he participated, titled *Commentarii*:
- *De Bello Gallico* (Commentaries on the Gallic War)
- *De Bello Civili* (Commentaries on the Civil War)
Both works present campaign reports and serve as a justification for his actions. They interweave factual statements and battle narratives with speeches and military harangues. While a subjective historical source, Caesar’s writing is considered classic and elegant, praised for its linguistic perfection and clarity of exposition.
Sallust: Historian of Intrigue and War
Sallust, born into a wealthy family, served as governor in North Africa. After Caesar’s death, he retired from politics and dedicated himself to writing historical works. He penned several historical monographs, two of which survive:
- *The Conspiracy of Catiline*: Narrates the events and background of the conspiracy led by Catiline to seize power in 63 BC.
- *The Jugurthine War*: Recounts Rome’s war against Jugurtha, King of Numidia, which took place between 111 and 104 BC.
Sallust modeled his writing after the Greek historian Thucydides. His works blend war narratives, descriptions, speeches, psychological portraits, moral reflections, and political analysis. His language is somewhat archaic. He is considered the first great Roman historian and has been widely imitated.
Livy: Chronicler of Rome’s Grand Narrative
Livy studied rhetoric and philosophy in Rome and belonged to the circle of Maecenas, alongside poets like Virgil and Horace. He devoted his life to history.
His magnum opus, *Ab Urbe Condita*, comprised 142 books, grouped in decades, chronicling the history of Rome from its founding to the time of Augustus. Only the first decade and part of the fifth have been preserved. His work is monumental, and its influence has been enormous. The epitomes of Florus and Eutropius are particularly famous. Livy is considered, along with Tacitus, one of the best Roman historians.
Tacitus: A Critical Voice in Imperial Rome
Tacitus, after studying rhetoric, began his political career under the protection of his father-in-law, Julius Agricola. He was appointed consul and later articulated his critical view of the empire in his two great historical works: *Annales* and *Historiae*. He also authored a description of the Germanic peoples in *Germania*, an ethnological monograph, and a biography of Julius Agricola.
In both *Annales* and *Historiae*, Tacitus recounts events year by year during the historical period he covers. His profound political education, rhetorical skill, distinctive style, critical vision, sensitivity, and reliability of sources make him a highly contemporary author.