Eutropius: BREVIARIVM HISTORIAE ROMANAE

[1] Anno octingentesimo et quinquagesimo ab urbe condita, Vetere et Valente consulibus res publica ad prosperrimum statum rediit bonis principibus ingenti felicitate commissa.Domitiano enim exitiabili tyranno, Nerva successit, vir in privata vita moderatus et strenuus, nobilitatis mediae. Qui senex admodum operam dante Petronio Secundo, praefecto praetorio, item Parthenio interfectore Domitiani, imperator est factus; aequissimum se et civilissimum praebuit.

[1] In the year 850 from the founding of the city, with Vetere and Valente consuls, the res publica returned to a most prosperous state, committed to good princes with great felicity.For to the deadly tyrant Domitian Nerva succeeded, a man moderate and vigorous in private life, of the middle nobility. He, an old man, by the diligence of Petronius Secundus, praetorian prefect, and Parthenius, the slayer of Domitian, was made emperor; he showed himself most just and most civil.

Rei publicae divina provisione consuluit Traianum adoptando. Mortuus est Romae post annum et quattuor menses imperii sui ac dies octo, aetatis septuagesimo et altero anno, atque inter Divos relatus est.

He provided for the republic by divine providence by adopting Trajan. He died at Rome after one year and four months and eight days of his reign, in the seventy-second year of his age, and was carried among the gods.

[2] Successit ei Ulpius Crinitus Traianus, natus Italicae in Hispania, familia antiqua magis quam clara.Nam pater eius primum consul fuit. Imperator autem apud Agrippinam in Galliis factus est.

[2] Ulpius Crinitus Traianus succeeded him, born of Italic stock in Hispania, of a family ancient rather than famous.For his father had been consul once. He was moreover proclaimed imperator at Agrippina in the Gauls.

Rem publicam ita administravit, ut omnibus principibus merito praeferatur, inusitatae civilitatis et fortitudinis. Romani imperii, quod post Augustum defensum magis fuerat quam nobiliter ampliatum, fines longe lateque diffudit. Urbes trans Rhenum in Germania reparavit.

He administered the res publica so as to be deservedly preferred before all princes, of uncommon civility and fortitude. He spread the borders of the Roman Empire far and wide; the empire, which after Augustus had been defended rather than splendidly enlarged. He restored cities beyond the Rhine in Germania.

Daciam Decibalo victo subegit, provincia trans Danubium facta in his agris, quos nunc Taifali, Victoali et Tervingi habent. Ea provincia decies centena milia passuum in circuitu tenuit.

He subdued Dacia after defeating Decibalo, making it a province beyond the Danube in those fields which now the Taifali, Victoali, and Tervingi hold. That province measured a circuit of one million paces.

[3] Armeniam, quam occupaverant Parthi recepit, Parthomasiri occiso, qui eam tenebat.Albanis regem dedit. Hiberorum regem et Sauromatarum et Bosphoranorum et Arabum et Osdroenorum et Colchorum in fidem accepit.

[3] He recovered Armenia, which the Parthians had occupied, Parthomasir, who had held it, being killed.He gave a king to the Albanians. He received into fidelity the king of the Iberians and of the Sauromatae and of the Bosporans and of the Arabs and of the Osdroeni and of the Colchi.

Carduenos, Marcomedos occupavit et Anthemusium, magnam Persidis regionem, Seleuciam, Ctesiphontem, Babylonem; Messenios vicit ac tenuit. Usque ad Indiae fines et mare Rubrum accessit atque ibi tres provincias fecit, Armeniam, Assyriam, Mesopotamiam, cum his gentibus, quae Madenam attingunt. Arabiam postea in provinciae formam redegit.

He occupied the Carduenes and Marcomedes and Anthemusium, the great region of Persis, Seleucia, Ctesiphon, Babylon; he overcame and held the Messenii. He pushed on as far as the borders of India and the Red Sea and there made three provinces, Armenia, Assyria, Mesopotamia, with those peoples that adjoin Madenah. He afterwards reduced Arabia into the form of a province.

In mari Rubro classem instituit, ut per eam Indiae fines vastaret.

In the Red Sea he established a fleet, that by it he might ravage the borders of India.

[4] Gloriam tamen militarem civilitate et moderatione superavit, Romae et per provincias aequalem se omnibus exhibens, amicos salutandi causa frequentans vel aegrotantes vel cum festos dies habuissent, convivia cum isdem indiscreta vicissim habens, saepe in vehiculis eorum sedens, nullum senatorum laedens, nihil iniustum ad augendum fiscum agens, liberalis in cunctos, publice privatimque ditans omnes et honoribus augens, quos vel mediocri familiaritate cognovisset, per orbem terrarum aedificans multa, inmunitates civitatibus tribuens, nihil non tranquillum et placidum agens, adeo ut omni eius aetate unus senator damnatus sit atque is tamen per senatum ignorante Traiano.Ob haec per orbem terrarum deo proximus nihil non venerationis meruit et vivus et mortuus.

[4] Yet he outshone in military glory by civility and moderation, showing himself in Rome and through the provinces equal to all, frequenting friends for the sake of greeting whether sick or when they held festival days, holding banquets indiscriminately in turn with the same, often sitting in their carriages, injuring none of the senators, doing nothing unjust to swell the fisc, liberal toward everyone, enriching all publicly and privately and advancing with honors those whom he had known even by moderate intimacy, building many things through the orb of lands, granting immunities to cities, doing nothing untranquil or unplacid, so that in his entire age one senator was condemned — and that one, however, with the senate being ignorant, through Trajan.For these things, throughout the world, next to a god he deserved every veneration, both living and dead.

[5] Inter alia dicta hoc ipsius fertur egregium.Amicis enim culpantibus, quod nimium circa omnes communis esset, respondit talem se imperatorem esse privatis, quales esse sibi imperatores privatus optasset. Post ingentem igitur gloriam belli domique quaesitam e Perside rediens apud Seleuciam Isauriae profluvio ventris extinctus est.

[5] Among other things this remarkable saying is reported of him.For, to friends reproaching him that he was too common toward all, he replied that he was such an imperator to private men as private men had wished their imperators to be to him. After therefore having won great glory in war and in peace, returning from Persia he was extinguished at Seleucia in Isauria by a profuse flux of the belly.

Obiit autem aetatis anno sexagesimo tertio, mense nono, die quarto, imperii nono decimo, mense sexto, die quinto decimo. Inter Divos relatus est solusque omnium intra urbem sepultus est. Ossa conlata in urnam auream in foro, quod aedificavit, sub columna posita sunt, cuius altitudo CXLIV pedes habet.

He died in the sixty-third year of his age, in the ninth month, on the fourth day; in the nineteenth year of his reign, in the sixth month, on the fifteenth day. He was admitted among the Divines and alone of all was buried within the city. The bones, having been gathered, were placed in a golden urn in the forum which he had built, set beneath a column whose height is 144 feet.

Huius tantum memoriae delatum est, ut usque ad nostram aetatem non aliter in senatu principibus adclametur, nisi "Felicior Augusto, melior Traiano". Adeo in eo gloria bonitatis obtinuit, ut vel adsentantibus vel vere laudantibus occasionem magnificentissimi praestet exempli.

So famed is the memory of this man that down to our age no other shout is raised in the senate to the emperors except, "More fortunate than Augustus, better than Trajan." So great a glory of goodness obtained in him that, whether to flatterers or to sincere eulogists, he provides an occasion of the most magnificent example.

[6] Defuncto Traiano Aelius Hadrianus creatus est princeps, sine aliqua quidem voluntate Traiani, sed operam dante Plotina, Traiani uxore; nam eum Traianus, quamquam consobrinae suae filium, vivus noluerat adoptare.Natus et ipse Italicae in Hispania. Qui Traiani gloriae invidens statim provincias tres reliquit, quas Traianus addiderat, et de Assyria, Mesopotamia, Armenia revocavit exercitus ac finem imperii esse voluit Euphraten.

[6] Upon the death of Trajan, Aelius Hadrian was made princeps, not through any will of Trajan, but by the agency of Plotina, Trajan’s wife; for Trajan, though the son of his cousin, had not wished to adopt him while alive.He himself also was born at Italica in Spain. Who, envious of Trajan’s gloria, at once relinquished the three provinces which Trajan had annexed, and withdrew the armies from Assyria, Mesopotamia, and Armenia, and wished the Euphrates to be the boundary of the empire.

Idem de Dacia facere conatum amici deterruerunt, ne multi cives Romani barbaris traderentur, propterea quia Traianus victa Dacia ex toto orbe Romano infinitas eo copias hominum transtulerat ad agros et urbes colendas. Dacia enim diuturno bello Decibali viris fuerat exhausta.

The same attempt concerning Dacia was checked by his friends, lest many Roman citizens be handed over to the barbarians, because Trajan, Dacia having been conquered, had transferred thither from the whole Roman world countless multitudes of men to till the fields and to found cities. For Dacia, by a prolonged war with Decibalus, had been exhausted of men.

[7] Pacem tamen omni imperii sui tempore habuit, semel tantum per praesidem dimicavit.Orbem Romanum circumiit; multa aedificavit. Facundissimus Latino sermone, Graeco eruditissimus fuit.

[7] Yet he had peace through all the time of his imperium, he fought only once against a praeses.He traversed the Roman orb; he built many things. Most eloquent in the Latin sermo, he was most learned in Greek.

Non magnam clementiae gloriam habuit, diligentissimus tamen circa aerarium et militum disciplinam. Obiit in Campania maior sexagenario, imperii anno vicesimo primo, mense decimo, die vicesimo nono. Senatus ei tribuere noluit divinos honores, tamen cum successor ipsius T. Aurelius Antoninus Fulvius hoc vehementer exigeret, etsi universi senatores palam resisterent, tandem obtinuit.

He did not possess great glory for clemency, yet was most diligent concerning the aerarium and the discipline of the soldiers. He died in Campania above sixty years of age, in the 21st year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the 29th day. The Senate would not grant him divine honors; nevertheless, when his successor T. Aurelius Antoninus Fulvius vehemently demanded this, and although all the senators openly resisted, at last he obtained them.

[8] Ergo Hadriano successit T. Antoninus Fulvius Boionius, idem etiam Pius nominatus, genere claro, sed non admodum vetere, vir insignis et qui merito Numae Pompilio conferatur, ita ut Romulo Traianus aequetur.Vixit ingenti honestate privatus, maiore in imperio, nulli acerbus, cunctis benignus, in re militari moderata gloria, defendere magis provincias quam amplificare studens, viros aequissimos ad administrandam rem publicam quaerens, bonis honorem habens, inprobos sine aliqua acerbitate detestans, regibus amicis venerabilis non minus quam terribilis, adeo ut barbarorum plurimae nationes depositis armis ad eum controversias suas litesque deferrent sententiaeque parerent. Hic ante imperium ditissimus opes quidem omnes suas stipendiis militum et circa amicos liberalitatibus minuit, verum aerarium opulentum reliquit.

[8] Therefore to Hadrian succeeded T. Antoninus Fulvius Boionius, likewise called Pius, of a clear (not very ancient) lineage, a distinguished man and one who may rightly be compared to Numa Pompilius, so that Trajan is equalled to Romulus.He lived with great honesty as a private man, greater still in the empire; harsh to no one, benign to all, of moderate glory in military matters, more intent on defending the provinces than on amplifying them, seeking the most equitable men to administer the res publica, holding honour for the good, detesting the wicked without any bitterness, venerable to friendly kings no less than terrible, so that very many nations of barbarians, having laid down arms, brought their disputes and lawsuits to him and obeyed his judgments. This man, richest before his principate, indeed diminished all his own riches by soldiers’ stipends and by liberality toward his friends, yet left the aerarium opulent.

Pius propter clementiam dictus est. Obiit apud Lorium, villam suam, miliario ab urbe duodecimo, vitae anno septuagesimo tertio, imperii vicesimo tertio, atque inter Divos relatus est et merito consecratus.

He was called Pius on account of his clemency. He died at Lorium, his villa, twelve miles from the city, in the 73rd year of his life, in the 23rd year of his reign, and was admitted among the Divines and deservedly consecrated.

[9] Post hunc imperavit M. Antoninus Verus, haud dubie nobilissimus, quippe cum eius origo paterna a Numa Pompilio, materna a Solentino rege penderet, et cum eo L. Annius Antoninus Verus.Tumque primum Romana res publica duobus aequo iure imperium administrantibus paruit, cum usque ad eum singulos semper habuisset Augustos.

[9] After him Marcus Antoninus Verus reigned, undoubtedly most noble, since his paternal origin traced to Numa Pompilius and his maternal line to King Solentinus, and with him L. Annius Antoninus Verus.And then for the first time the Roman res publica obeyed two persons administering the imperium with equal right, for until him it had always held a single Augustus.

[10] Hi et genere inter se coniuncti fuerunt et adfinitate.Nam Verus Annius Antoninus M. Antonini filiam in matrimonium habuit, M. autem Antoninus gener Antonini Pii fuit per uxorem Galeriam Faustinam iuniorem, consobrinam suam. Hi bellum contra Parthos gesserunt, qui post victoriam Traiani tum primum rebellaverant.

[10] These men were joined to one another both in stock and by affinity.For Verus Annius Antoninus took in marriage the daughter of M. Antoninus, and M. Antoninus moreover was the father‑in‑law of Antoninus Pius through his wife Galeria Faustina the Younger, his own consobrina. They waged war against the Parthians, who, after Trajan’s victory, had then for the first time rebelled.

Verus Antoninus ad id profectus est. Qui Antiochiae et circa Armeniam agens multa per duces suos et ingentia patravit. Seleuciam, Assyriae urbem nobilissimam, cum quadringentis milibus hominum cepit; Parthicum triumphum revexit.

Verus Antoninus set out for that purpose. He, operating at Antioch and around Armenia, accomplished many things through his generals and achieved immense deeds. He took Seleucia, the most noble city of Assyria, with 400,000 men; he brought back a Parthian triumph.

Cum fratre eodemque socero triumphavit. Obiit tamen in Venetia, cum a Concordia civitate Altinum proficisceretur et cum fratre in vehiculo sederet, subito sanguine ictus, casu morbi, quem Graeci apoplexin vocant. Vir ingenii parum civilis, reverentia tamen fratris nihil umquam atrox ausus.

He celebrated a triumph with his brother and with the same father‑in‑law. He died, however, in Venetia, when he was setting out from the town of Concordia for Altinum and was sitting with his brother in a vehicle, suddenly struck by blood, by a chance of disease which the Greeks call apoplexy. A man of rather uncivil temperament, yet out of reverence for his brother he never dared anything cruel.

Cum obisset undecimo imperii anno, inter deos relatus est.

When he died in the 11th year of his reign, he was borne among the gods.

[11] Post eum M. Antoninus solus rem publicam tenuit, vir quem mirari facilius quis quam laudare possit.A principio vitae tranquillissimus, adeo ut ex infantia quoque vultum nec ex gaudio nec ex maerore mutaverit. Philosophiae deditus Stoicae, ipse etiam non solum vitae moribus, sed etiam eruditione philosophus.

[11] After him M. Antoninus alone held the res publica, a man whom one would more easily admire than praise.From the beginning of life most tranquil, so that even from infancy he altered his visage neither from joy nor from sorrow. Devoted to Stoic philosophy, he was himself a philosopher not only in the habits of life but also in erudition.

Tantae admirationis adhuc iuvenis, ut eum successorem paraverit Hadrianus relinquere, adoptato tamen Antonino Pio generum ei idcirco esse voluerit, ut hoc ordine ad imperium perveniret.

So great admiration in him while still a youth, that Hadrian prepared and left him as successor; yet, having adopted Antoninus Pius, he wished the son‑in‑law to be his for this reason, that by this order he might come to the empire.

[12] Institutus est ad philosophiam per Apollonium Chalcedonium, ad scientiam litterarum Graecarum per Sextus Chaeronensem, Plutarchi nepotem, Latinas autem eum litteras Fronto, orator nobilissimus, docuit.Hic cum omnibus Romae aequo iure egit, ad nullam insolentiam elatus est imperii fastigio; liberalitatis promptissimae. Provincias ingenti benignitate et moderatione tractavit.

[12] He was instructed in philosophy by Apollonius of Chalcedon, in the science of Greek letters by Sextus of Chaeronea, Plutarch’s grandson, and Latin letters Fronto, a most noble orator, taught him.Here he behaved toward all in Rome with equal justice, was raised to no insolence by the height of empire; most prompt in generosity. He administered the provinces with vast benevolence and moderation.

Contra Germanos eo principe res feliciter gestae sunt. Bellum ipse unum gessit Marcomannicum, sed quantum nulla memoria fuit, adeo ut Punicis conferatur. Nam eo gravius est factum, quod universi exercitus Romani perierant.

Against the Germans, with that prince affairs were prosperously accomplished. He himself waged only one war, the Marcomannic, but it was of such magnitude that there was no precedent in memory, so much so that it is compared to the Punic [wars]. For it was the more grievous because the whole Roman army had perished.

Sub hoc enim tantus casus pestilentiae fuit, ut post victoriam Persicam Romae ac per Italiam provinciasque maxima hominum pars, militum omnes fere copiae languore defecerint.

For under this there was so great a case of pestilence that, after the Persian victory, in Rome and throughout Italy and the provinces a very great part of the people, and almost all the military forces, were struck down by languor.

[13] Ingenti ergo labore et moderatione, cum apud Carnuntum iugi triennio perseverasset, bellum Marcomannicum confecit, quod cum his Quadi, Vandali, Sarmatae, Suevi atque omnis barbaria commoverat, multa hominum milia interfecit, ac Pannoniis servitio liberatis Romae rursus cum Commodo Antonino, filio suo, quem iam Caesarem fecerat, triumphavit.Ad huius belli sumptum cum aerario exhausto largitiones nullas haberet neque indicere provincialibus aut senatui aliquid vellet, instrumentum regii cultus facta in foro divi Traiani sectione distraxit, vasa aurea, pocula crystallina et murrina, uxoriam ac suam sericam et auream vestem, multa ornamenta gemmarum. Ac per duos continuos menses ea venditio habita est multumque auri redactum.

[13] By enormous toil and temperance, since he had persevered at Carnuntum for a continuous three-year period, he completed the Marcomannic war, which with the Quadi, Vandals, Sarmatae, Suebi and all the barbarian peoples had stirred up great trouble; he killed many thousands of men, and, Pannonia having been freed from servitude, he triumphed again at Rome with Commodus Antoninus, his son, whom he had already made Caesar.Because the treasury was exhausted for the expenses of this war, and he had no distributions to make nor wished to levy anything on the provinces or the senate, he tore away the apparatus of the royal cult that had been made in the section of the Forum of the divine Trajan: golden vessels, crystalline and murrhine cups, his wife’s and his own silk and gold garments, many ornaments set with gems. And for two consecutive months that sale was held, and much gold was realized.

Post victoriam tamen emptoribus pretia restituit, qui reddere conparata voluerunt; molestus nulli fuit, qui maluit semel empta retinere.

After the victory, however, he restored the prices to the purchasers who wished to return the things they had procured; he was troublesome to no one who preferred to retain what had once been bought.

[14] Hic permisit viris clarioribus, ut convivia eodem cultu quo ipse et ministris similibus exhiberent.In editione munerum post victoriam adeo magnificus fuit, ut centum simul leones exhibuisse tradatur. Cum igitur fortunatam rem publicam et virtute et mansuetudine reddidisset, obiit XVIII imperii anno, vitae LXI, et omnibus certatim adnitentibus inter Divos relatus est.

[14] He permitted the more illustrious men to hold banquets with the same cultus by which he himself and his like attendants exhibited them.In the presentation of the games after the victory he was so magnificent that he is said to have exhibited a hundred lions at once. When therefore he had restored the fortunate res publica by both virtue and clemency, he died in the 18th year of his imperium, aged 61, and, with all striving eagerly, was borne among the Gods.

[15] Huius successor L. Antoninus Commodus nihil paternum habuit, nisi quod contra Germanos feliciter et ipse pugnavit.Septembrem mensem ad nomen suum transferre conatus est, ut Commodus diceretur. Sed luxuria et obscenitate depravatus gladiatoriis armis saepissime in ludo, deinceps etiam in amphitheatro cum huiusmodi hominibus dimicavit.

[15] His successor L. Antoninus Commodus had nothing paternal, except that he himself also fought successfully against the Germans.He tried to transfer the month of September to his own name, that he might be called Commodus. But, corrupted by luxury and obscenity, he very often in the games fought with gladiatorial arms, and thereafter even in the amphitheater contended with such men.

Obiit morte subita atque adeo, ut strangulatus vel veneno interfectus putaretur, cum annis XII post patrem et VIII mensibus imperasset, tanta execratione omnium, ut hostis humani generis etiam mortuus iudicaretur.

He died a sudden death, so much so that he was thought to have been strangled or killed by poison, having reigned 12 years after his father and 8 months; with such execration of all, that even in death he was reckoned an enemy of the human race.

[16] Huic successit Pertinax, grandaevus iam et qui septuagenariam attigisset aetatem, praefecturam urbi tum agens, ex senatus consulto imperare iussus.Octogesimo die imperii praetorianorum militum seditione et Iuliani scelere occisus est.

[16] To him Pertinax succeeded, already very aged and who had reached the age of seventy, then serving as prefect of the city, and by a decree of the senate was ordered to rule.On the 80th day of his reign he was killed by a sedition of the praetorian soldiers and by the crime of Julianus.

[17] Post eum Salvius Iulianus rem publicam invasit, vir nobilis et iure peritissimus, nepos Salvii Iuliani, qui sub Divo Hadriano perpetuum conposuit edictum.Victus est a Severo apud Mulvium pontem, interfectus in Palatio. Vixit mensibus septem, postquam coeperat imperare.

[17] After him Salvius Julianus invaded the res publica, a noble man and most expert in law, the nephew of Salvius Julianus, who under the Divine Hadrian composed a perpetual edict.He was defeated by Severus at the Mulvian Bridge, slain on the Palatium. He lived seven months after he had begun to rule.

[18] Hinc imperii Romani administrationem Septimius Severus accepit, oriundus ex Africa, provincia Tripolitana, oppido Lepti.Solus omni memoria et ante et postea ex Africa imperator fuit. Hic primum fisci advocatus, mox militaris tribunus, per multa deinde et varia officia atque honores usque ad administrationem totius rei publicae venit.

[18] From this point Septimius Severus took on the administration of the Roman empire, sprung from Africa, the province Tripolitania, the town Leptis.He alone in all memory was an emperor from Africa, both before and after. He was first an advocate of the fisc, soon a military tribune, and through many and varied offices and honors came at last to the administration of the whole res publica.

Pertinacem se appellari voluit in honorem eius Pertinacis, qui a Iuliano fuerat occisus. Parcus admodum fuit, natura saevus. Bella multa et feliciter gessit.

He wished to be called Pertinax in honor of that Pertinax who had been killed by Julian. He was very sparing, savage by nature. He waged many wars and carried them out successfully.

Pescennium Nigrum, qui in Aegypto et Syria rebellaverat, apud Cyzicum interfecit. Parthos vicit et Arabas interiores et Adiabenos. Arabas eo usque superavit, ut etiam provinciam ibi faceret.

He killed Pescennius Niger, who had rebelled in Egypt and Syria, at Cyzicus. He vanquished the Parthians and the inner Arabs and the Adiabeni. He so subdued the Arabs that he even made a province there.

Idcirco Parthicus, Arabicus, Adiabenicus dictus est. Multa toto orbe Romano reparavit. Sub eo etiam Clodius Albinus, qui in occidendo Pertinace socius fuerat Iuliano, Caesarem se in Gallia fecit, victusque apud Lugdunum et interfectus.

Therefore he was called Parthicus, Arabicus, Adiabenicus. He repaired many things throughout the Roman orb. Under him also Clodius Albinus, who had been a partner of Julian in the slaying of Pertinax, made himself Caesar in Gaul, and was defeated at Lugdunum and put to death.

[19] Severus tamen praeter bellicam gloriam etiam civilibus studiis clarus fuit et litteris doctus, philosophiae scientiam ad plenum adeptus.Novissimum bellum in Britannia habuit, utque receptas provincias omni securitate muniret, vallum per CXXXIII passuum milia a mari ad mare deduxit. Decessit Eboraci admodum senex, imperii anno sexto decimo, mense tertio.

[19] Severus, however, besides martial glory, was also renowned for civil studies and learned in letters, having fully acquired the science of philosophy.He waged his last war in Britain, and that he might secure the recovered provinces with every safety, he built a wall from sea to sea of 133 miles. He died at Eboracum, quite old, in the sixteenth year of his reign, in the third month.

Divus appellatus est. Nam filios duos successores reliquit, Bassianum et Getam, sed Bassiano Antonini nomen a senatu voluit inponi. Itaque dictus est M. Aurelius Antoninus Bassianus patrique successit.

He was proclaimed Divine. For he left two sons as successors, Bassianus and Geta, but the senate wished that the name Antoninus be imposed on Bassianus. Therefore he was called M. Aurelius Antoninus Bassianus, and he succeeded his father.

Nam Geta hostis publicus indicatus confestim periit.

For Geta, declared a public enemy, immediately perished.

[20] M. igitur Aurelius Antoninus Bassianus, idemque Caracalla, morum fere paternorum fuit, paulo asperior et minax.Opus Romae egregium fecit lavacri, quae thermae Antoninianae appellantur, nihil praeterea memorabile. Inpatientis libidinis, qui novercam suam Iuliam uxorem duxerit.

[20] M. therefore Aurelius Antoninus Bassianus, the same man called Caracalla, was for the most part of his father's morals, somewhat harsher and more menacing.He made in Rome an outstanding work of bathing-rooms, which are called the Antonine Baths; nothing memorable besides. Of insatiate lust, he took his stepmother Julia as wife.

Defunctus est in Osdroena apud Edessam moliens adversum Parthos expeditionem anno imperii sexto, mense secundo, vix egressus quadragesimum tertium annum. Funere publico elatus est.

He died at Osdroene near Edessa, while preparing an expedition against the Parthians, in the sixth year of his reign, in the second month, having scarcely reached his 43rd year. He was borne with a public funeral.

[21] Deinde Opilius Macrinus, qui praefectus praetorio erat, cum filio Diadumeno facti imperatores nihil memorabile ex temporis brevitate gesserunt.Nam imperium eorum duum mensium et unius anni fuit. Seditione militari ambo pariter occisi sunt.

[21] Then Opilius Macrinus, who was praetorian prefect, and his son Diadumenus, having been made emperors, accomplished nothing memorable because of the brevity of their time.For their rule was 1 year and 2 months. In a military sedition both were alike slain.

[22] Creatus est post hos M. Aurelius Antoninus.Hic Antonini Caracallae filius putabatur, sacerdos autem Heliogabali templi erat. Is cum Romam ingenti et militum et senatus expectatione venisset, probris se omnibus contaminavit.

[22] Afterwards M. Aurelius Antoninus was made.He was thought to be the son of Antoninus Caracalla, and was moreover priest of the temple of Heliogabalus. When he came to Rome with great expectation both of the soldiers and of the senate, he disgraced himself before all by his reproaches.

Inpudicissime et obscenissime vixit, biennioque post et octo mensibus tumultu interfectus est militari et cum eo mater Symiasera.

He lived most shamelessly and most obscenely, and two years and eight months later was killed in a military tumult, and with him his mother Symiasera.

[23] Successit huic Aurelius Alexander, ab exercitu Caesar, a senatu Augustus nominatus, invenis admodum, susceptoque adversus Persas bello Xerxen, eorum regem, gloriosissime vicit.Militarem disciplinam severissime rexit. Quasdam tumultuantes legiones integras exauctoravit.

[23] To him succeeded Aurelius Alexander, by the army Caesar, by the senate named Augustus, a very ingenious man;and, having undertaken war against the Persians, he most gloriously defeated Xerxes, their king. He governed military discipline most severely. He cashiered whole legions that had mutinied.

Adsessorem habuit vel scrinii magistrum Ulpianum, iuris conditorem. Romae quoque favorabilis fuit. Periit in Gallia militari tumultu tertio decimo imperii anno et die nono.

He had as an adviser, or master of the scrinium, Ulpian, the founder of law. He was also favourable in Rome. He perished in Gaul in a military tumult in the 13th year of his reign and on the 9th day.

In Mamaeam, matrem suam, unice pius.

Singularly pious toward Mamaea, his mother.