Paulus Diaconus: HISTORIA ROMANA

1 Anno octingentesimo et quinquagesimo ab Vrbe condita, Vetere et Valente consulibus, res publica ad prosperrimum statum rediit, bonis principibus ingenti felicitate commissa. Domitiano enim, exitiabili tyranno, Nerua successit, ut in priuata uita moderatus et strenuus, nobilitatis mediae. Qui senex admodum, operam dante Petronio Secundo praefecto praetorio, item Parthenio interfectore Domitiani, imperator est factus.

1 In the year 850 since the City was founded, with Vetus and Valens as consuls, the res publica returned to a most prosperous condition, entrusted to good princes with great felicity. For Nerva succeeded Domitian, a ruinous tyrant, he being in private life moderate and vigorous, of middle nobility. Who, being very old, with Petronius Secundus, the praetorian prefect, giving his effort, and Parthenius the slayer of Domitian, was made emperor.

Aequissimum se et ciuilissimum praebuit. Rei publicae diuina prouisione consuluit Traianum adoptando. Mortuus est Romae post annum et quattuor menses imperii sui ac dies octo, aetatis septuagesimo et altero anno, atque inter diuos relatus est.

He showed himself most equitable and most civil. By divine providence he provided for the res publica by adopting Traianus. 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 enrolled among the gods.

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

2 He was succeeded by Ulpius Crinitus Trajan, born at Italica in Hispania, of a family more ancient than famous. For his father had been consul once. Moreover he was made imperator at Agrippina in Gaul.

Rem publicam ita administrauit ut omnibus principibus merito praeferatur, inusitatae ciuilitatis et fortitudinis. Romani imperii, quod post Augustum defensum magis fuerat quam nobiliter ampliatum, fines longe lateque diffudit. Vrbes trans Renum in Germania reparauit.

He administered the state so that, by merit, he was preferred before all princes, for unusual civility and fortitude. He spread the bounds of the Roman Empire far and wide, which after Augustus had been more defended than nobly enlarged. He restored cities across the Rhine in Germania.

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

He subdued Dacia, with Decebalus defeated, making it a province beyond the Danube in those fields which the Taifali now, the Victoali and the Tervingi occupy. That province measured 1,000,000 paces in circuit.

3 Armeniam, quam occupauerant Parthi, recepit Farmatosyrie occiso qui eam tenebat. Albanis regem dedit. Hiberorum regem et Sauromatarum et Bosporanorum et Arabum et Osdroenorum et Colchorum in fidem accepit.

3 He recovered Armenia, which the Parthians had occupied, Farmatosyrie, who held it, having been slain. He gave a king to the Albani. He received into his 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 Colchians.

Carduenos, Marcomedos occupauit et Antemusium, magnam Persidis regionem, Seleuciam et Tesifontem, Babylonem, Messenios uicit ac tenuit. Vsque ad Indiae fines et mare Rubrum accessit atque ibi tres prouincias fecit, Armeniam, Assyriam, Mesopotamiam, cum his gentibus quae Madenam adtingunt. Arabiam postea in prouinciae formam redegit.

He seized the Carduenos, the Marcomedos and Antemusium, the great region of Persis, Seleucia and Tisiphon, Babylon; he conquered and held the Messenios. He advanced as far as the bounds of India and the Red Sea, and there made three provinces — Armenia, Assyria, Mesopotamia — together with those peoples that border on Madenam. Arabia he afterward reduced into the form of a province.

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

He established a fleet in the Red Sea, that by means of it he might lay waste the frontiers of India.

4 Gloriam tamen militarem ciuilitate et moderatione superauit, Romae et per prouincias aequalem se omnibus exhibens, amicos salutandi causa frequentans uel egrotantes uel cum festos dies habuisset, conuiuia cum isdem indiscreta uicissim habens, saepe in uehiculis eorum sedens, nullum senatorum laedens, nihil iniustum ad augendum fiscum agens, liberalis in cunctos, publice priuatimque ditans omnes et honoribus augens quos uel mediocri familiaritate cognouisset, orbem terrarum aedificans, multas inmunitates ciuitatibus tribuens, nihil non tranquillum et placidum agens, adeo ut omni eius aetate unus senator damnatus sit atque his tamen per senatum ignorante Traiano. Ob haec per orbem terrarum deo proximus nihil non uenerationis meruit et uiuus et mortuus.

4 Yet he surpassed militaric glory by civility and moderation, presenting himself at Rome and through the provinces equal to all, frequenting friends for the sake of greeting them whether they were sick or had kept festival days, holding indiscreetly reciprocal banquets with the same, often sitting in their carriages, injuring none of the senators, doing nothing unjust to increase the fisc, generous to everyone, enriching all publicly and privately and augmenting with honors those whom he had known even by moderate intimacy, building the orb of the lands, granting many immunities to cities, doing nothing but what was tranquil and placid, so that in all his age one senator was condemned — and this with Trajan ignorant through the senate. For these things he deserved everywhere to be nearest to God and to be venerated in all ways, 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 priuatis, quales esse sibi imperatores priuatus optasset. Post ingentem igitur gloriam belli domique quaesitam e Perside rediens apud Seleuciam Isauriae profluuio uentris extinctus est. Obiit autem aetatis anno sexagesimo tertio, mense uno, die quarto, imperii nono decimo, mense sexto, die quinto decimo.

5 Among other things this is reported as his notable saying: when friends, reproaching him that he was too common toward all, he replied that he was an emperor to private men such as a private man would have wished his emperors to be. After therefore having won vast glory in war and at home, returning from Persia, he was extinguished at Seleucia of Isauria by a flux of the belly. He died in the 63rd year of his age, in the 1st month, on the 4th day; in the 19th year of his reign, in the 6th month, on the 15th day.

Inter diuos relatus est. Solus omnium intra Vrbem sepultus est; ossa conlata in urnam auream in foro quod aedificauit sub columna posita sunt, cuius altitudo cxl pedes habet. 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 optinuit, ut uel adsentantibus uel uere laudantibus occasionem magnificentissimi praestet exempli.

He was counted among the gods. He alone of all was buried within the City; his bones, collected, were placed in a golden urn in the forum which he had built, set beneath a column whose height is 140 feet. So great was this memorial that down to our age princes in the senate are not otherwise acclaimed, save “more fortunate than Augustus, better than Trajan.” So fully did the glory of his goodness obtain that, whether to those assenting or to those truly praising, he afforded the opportunity of the most magnificent example.

6 Defuncto Traiano Aelius Adrianus creatus est princeps, sine aliqua quidem uoluntate Traiani, sed operam dante Plotina Traiani uxore; nam eum Traianus quamquam consobrinae suae filium uiuus noluerat adoptare. Natus et ipse Italicae in Hispania. Qui Traiani gloriae inuidens statim prouincias tres reliquid, quas Traianus addiderat, id est Suriam et Mesopotamiam, Armeniam, reuocauit exercitus ac finem imperii esse uoluit Eufraten.

6 Upon Trajan’s death Aelius Hadrianus was created princeps, not through any will of Trajan, but by the agency of Plotina, Trajan’s wife; for Trajan, while alive, had not wished to adopt him, the son of his cousin. He himself was also born at Italica in Spain. He, envious of Trajan’s glory, immediately relinquished the three provinces which Trajan had added — that is, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Armenia — recalled the armies and wished the Euphrates to be the limit of the empire.

Idem de Dacia facere conantem amici deterruerunt, ne multi ciues Romani barbaris traderentur, propterea quia Traianus uicta Dacia ex toto orbe Romano infinitas eo copias hominum transtulerat ad agros et urbes colendas; Daciae enim diuturno bello Deciuali res fuerant exhaustae.

They likewise deterred him, as he was attempting the same concerning Dacia, lest many Roman citizens be handed over to the barbarians, because Trajan, with Dacia conquered, from the whole Roman orb had transferred innumerable multitudes of men thither to till fields and to populate cities; for the affairs/resources of Dacia had been exhausted by the long Decian war.

7 Pacem tamen omni imperii sui tempore habuit, semel tantum per praesidem dimicauit. Orbem Romanum circumiit; multa aedificauit. Facundissimus Latino sermone, Greco eruditissimus fuit.

7 He nevertheless enjoyed peace throughout the whole of his empire, and fought in arms but once, against a praeses. He traveled the Roman world; he erected many buildings. Most eloquent in the Latin tongue, he was exceedingly learned in Greek.

Non magnam clementiae gloriam habuit; diligentissimus tamen circa aerarium et militum disciplinam. Obiit in Campania maior sexagenario, imperii anno uicesimo primo, mense decimo, die uicesimo. Senatus ei tribuere noluit diuinos honores; tamen cum successor ipsius Titus Aurelius Antonius Fuluius hoc uehementer exigeret et uniuersi senatores palam resisterent, tandem optinuit.

He did not win great glory for clementia; nevertheless he was most diligent concerning the aerarium and the discipline of the soldiers. He died in Campania, being over sixty years old, in the 21st year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the twentieth day. The Senate would not grant him divine honors; yet when his successor Titus Aurelius Antonius Fuluius vehemently demanded this and all the senators openly resisted, he at last obtained them.

8 Ergo Adriano successit Marcus Antonius Fuluius Boionius, isdem etiam Pius nominatus, genere claro sed non admodum uetere, uir insignis et qui merito Numae Pompilio conferatur, ita ut Romulo Traianus aequetur. Vixit ingenti honestate priuatus, maior in imperio, nulli aceruus, cunctis benignus, in re militari moderata gloria defendere magis prouincias quam amplificare studens, uiros aequissimos ad administrandam rem publicam quaerens, bonis honorem habens, improbos sine aliqua aceruitate detestans, regibus amicis uenerabilis non minus quam terribilis, adeo ut barbarorum plurimae nationes depositis armis ad eum controuersias suas litesque deferrent sententiaeque parerent. Hic ante imperium ditissimus opes quidem omnes suas stipendiis militum et circa amicos liberalitatibus minuit, uerum aerarium opulentum reliquid.

8 Therefore, after Hadrian succeeded Marcus Antonius Fulius Boionius, also surnamed Pius, of a noble but not very ancient lineage, a man outstanding and who may rightly be compared to Numa Pompilius, so that Trajan is equaled with Romulus. He lived with immense probity as a private citizen, greater in the empire, hostile to no one, kindly to all, in military affairs of moderate glory, more eager to defend provinces than to augment them, seeking the most upright men to administer the res publica, esteeming honor for the good, detesting the wicked without any acrimony, to friendly kings as venerable as he was formidable — so much so that very many nations of barbarians, having laid down arms, brought their disputes and lawsuits to him and yielded to his sentence. Before his reign he had indeed reduced all his very great riches by soldiers’ pay and by liberality about friends, yet he left an opulent treasury.

Pius propter clementiam dictus est. Obiit apud Orium uillam suam miliario ab Vrbe duodecimo, uitae anno septuagesimo septimo, imperii uicesimo tertio, atque inter diuos relatus est et merito consecratus.

He was called Pius on account of his clemency. He died at his villa at Orium, twelve miles from the City, in the 77th year of his life, in the 23rd year of his reign, and was numbered among the divines and rightly consecrated.

9 Post hunc imperauit Marcus Antonius Verus, haud dubie nobilissimus, quippe cum eius origo paterna a Numa Pompilio, materna a Solentino rege penderet, et cum eo Lucius Annius Antonius Seuerus. Tumque primum Romana res publica duobus aequo iure imperium administrantibus paruit, cum usque ad eum singulos semper habuisset Augustos.

9 After him Marcus Antonius Verus governed, doubtless most noble, since his paternal origin traced to Numa Pompilius, his maternal to King Solentinus, and with him Lucius Annius Antonius Severus. Then for the first time the Roman res publica yielded to two jointly administering the imperium with equal right, since up until him they had always held single Augusti.

10 Hi et genere inter se coniuncti fuerunt et adfinitate. Nam Verus Annius Antonius gener Antonini Pii fuit per uxorem Galeriam Faustinam iuniorem, consobrinam suam. Hi bellum contra Parthos gesserunt, qui post uictoriam Traiani tum primum rebellauerant.

10 These men were joined to one another both by birth and by affinity. For Verus Annius Antoninus was the son‑in‑law of Antoninus Pius through his wife Galeria Faustina the Younger, his cousin. They waged war against the Parthians, who, after Trajan’s victory, had then for the first time rebelled.

Verus Antonius ad id profectus est. Qui Antiochiae et circa Armeniam agens multa per duces suos et ingentia patrauit; Seleuciam Assyriae urbem nobilissimam cum cccc^tis milibus hominum coepit; Parthicum triumphum reuexit. Cum fratre eodemque socero triumphauit.

Verus Antonius proceeded for that purpose. He, operating at Antioch and around Armenia, suffered many things through his commanders and endured great hardships; he began against Seleucia of Assyria, a most noble city, with 400,000 men; he brought back a Parthian triumph. He triumphed with his brother and the same father-in-law.

Obiit tamen in Venetia, cum a Concordia ciuitatem Altinum proficisceretur et cum fratre in uehiculo sederet, subito sanguine ictus, casu morbi quem Greci apoplexin uocant. Vir ingenii parum ciuilis, reuerentia tamen fratris nihil umquam atrox ausus. Cum obisset undecimo imperii anno, inter deos relatus est.

He died, however, at Venice, when he was setting out from Concordia for the city of Altinum, and, sitting in a vehicle with his brother, was suddenly struck with a bleeding — the malady which the Greeks call apoplexy. A man of talent not very civil, yet from reverence for his brother he never once ventured anything harsh. When he died in the 11th year of his reign, he was reckoned among the gods.

11 Post eum Antoninus solus rem publicam tenuit, quem mirari facilius quisquam quam laudare possit. A principio uitae tranquillissimus, adeo ut ab infantia quoque uultum nec ex gaudio nec ex merore mutauerit. Philosophiae deditus Stoicae, ipse etiam non solum uitae moribus, sed etiam eruditione philosophus.

11 After him Antoninus alone held the republic, whom anyone could more easily admire than praise. From the beginning of life most tranquil, so that even from infancy he altered his countenance neither from joy nor from sorrow. Devoted to Stoic philosophy, he himself was a philosopher not only in the morals of life but also in erudition.

Tantae admirationis adhuc iuuenis, ut eum successorem parauerit Adrianus relinquere, adoptato tamen Antonino Pio generum ei idcirco esse uoluerit, ut hoc ordine ad imperium perueniret.

So great was the admiration even in youth that Hadrian prepared to leave him as successor; yet, Antoninus Pius having been adopted, he wished him to be a son‑in‑law for that very reason, that by this order he might come to the imperium.

12 Institutus est ad philosophiam per Apollonium Calcedonem, ad scientiam litterarum Grecarum per 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. Prouincias ingenti benignitate moderatione tractauit.

12 He was instructed in philosophy by Apollonius of Chalcedon, in the science of Greek letters by the Chaeronean nephew of Plutarch, and in Latin letters by the most noble orator Fronto. This man conducted himself at Rome with impartial justice, was lifted to no insolence by the summit of empire, and was of the most ready liberality. He governed the provinces with immense kindness 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 grauius est factum, quod uniuersi exercitus Romani perierant; sub hoc enim tantus casus pestilentiae fuit, ut post uictoriam Persicam Romae ac per Italiam prouinciasque maximas hominum pars, militum omnes fere copiae languore defecerint.

Against the Germans under that prince matters were happily accomplished. He himself waged but one war, the Marcomannic, yet it was of such weight that no memory remained, so much so that it is compared to the Punic [wars]. For it was made the more grievous by the fact that the whole Roman armies had perished; for under this there was such a calamity of pestilence, that after the Persian victory, in Rome and throughout Italy and the greatest provinces a part of the people, and almost all the troops’ forces, failed from languor.

13 Ingenti ergo labore et moderatione, cum apud Carnuntum iugi triennio perseuerasset, bellum Marcomannicum confecit, quod cum his Quadi, Wandali, Sarmatae, Sueui atque omnis barbaria commouerat, multa hominum milia interfecit, ac Pannoniis seruitio liberatis Romae rursus cum Commodo Antonino filio suo, quem iam Caesarem fecerat, triumphauit. Ad huius belli sumptum, cum aerario exhausto largitiones nullas haberet neque indicere prouincialibus aut senatui aliquid uellet, instrumentum regii cultus, facta in foro diui Traiani sectione, distraxit, uasa aurea, pocula christallina et murrina, uxoriam ac suam sericam et auream uestem, multa ornamenta gemmarum, ac per duos continuo menses uenditio habita est multumque auri redactum. Post uictoriam tamen emptoribus pretia restituit qui reddere comparata uoluerunt, molestus nulli fuit qui maluit semel empta retinere.

13 With immense toil and moderation, when he had persevered for three continuous years at Carnuntum, he completed the Marcomannic war, which, having stirred up the Quadi, Vandals, Sarmatians, Suebi and all barbarism, slew many thousands, and, with Pannonia freed from servitude, he triumphed again at Rome with his son Commodus Antoninus, whom he had already made Caesar. For the expense of this war, since the treasury was exhausted and he had no largesses to give nor wished to assign anything to the provinces or the Senate, he tore away the apparatus of royal cult, taken from the section of the Forum of the divine Trajan: golden vessels, crystal and murrhine cups, his wife’s and his own silk and golden dress, many jeweled ornaments; and for two continuous months a public sale was held and much gold was reduced to cash. After the victory, however, he restored the prices to the buyers who wished to return what they had purchased; he was troublesome to none who preferred to retain what they had once bought.

14 Hic permisit uiris clarioribus ut conuiuia eodem cultu quo ipse et ministris similibus exhiberent. In editione munerum post uictoriam adeo magnificus fuit, ut centum simul leones exhibuisse tradatur. Cum igitur fortunatam rem publicam et uirtute et mansuetudine reddidisset, obiit octauo decimo anno imperii, uitae sexagesimo primo, et omnibus certatim adnitentibus inter diuos relatus est.

14 He allowed the more illustrious men to present banquets with the same pomp as he and his like attendants. At the giving of the games after the victory he was so munificent that he is said to have exhibited a hundred lions at once. Therefore, when he had restored the fortunate commonwealth by both virtue and clemency, he died in the 18th year of his reign, in the 61st year of his life, and, with all eagerly striving, was borne up among the gods.

15 Huius successor Lucius Antoninus Commodus nihil paternum habuit, nisi quod contra Germanos feliciter et ipse pugnauit. Septembrem mensem ad nomen suum transferre conatus est, ut Commodus diceretur. Sed uxoria obscenitate deprauatus gladiatoriis armis saepissime in ludo, deinceps etiam in amphiteatro cum huiusmodi hominibus dimicauit.

15 His successor Lucius 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 name, that he might be called Commodus. But, corrupted by uxorial obscenity, he very often fought in gladiatorial arms in the ludus, and thereafter likewise in the amphitheatre contended with such men.

Obiit morte subita atque adeo ut strangulatus uel ueneno interfectus putetur, cum annis xii post patrem et viii mensibus imperasset, tanta execratione omnium ut hostis generis humani etiam mortuus iudicaretur.

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

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

16 To him succeeded Pertinax, an elderly man who had reached the age of seventy, then holding the Prefecture of the City, and by decree of the Senate was ordered to rule. On the eightieth day of his reign he was slain in a sedition of the Praetorian soldiers and by the crime of Julian.

17 Post eum Saluius Iulianus rem publicam inuasit, uir nobilis et iure peritissimus, nepos Saluii Iuliani qui sub diuo Adriano perpetuum conposuit edictum. Victus est a Seuero apud Miluium 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 Milvian Bridge and slain in the palace. He lived seven months after he began to rule.

18 Hinc imperii Romani administrationem Septimius Seuerus accepit, oriundus ex Africa, prouincia Tripolitana, oppido Lepci. Solus omni memoria et ante et postea ex Africa imperator fuit. Hic primum fisci aduocatus, mox militaris tribunus, per multa deinde et uaria officia atque honores usque ad administrationem totius rei publicae uenit.

18 From here the administration of the Roman empire was assumed by Septimius Severus, sprung from Africa, the province Tripolitan, the town Leptis. He alone, in all memory both before and after, was an emperor from Africa. He was first an advocate of the fisc, soon a military tribune, and then through many and various offices and honours came at last to the administration of the whole res publica.

Pertinacem se appellari uoluit in honore eius Pertinacis qui a Iuliano fuerat occisus. Parcus admodum fuit, natura saeuus. Bella multa et feliciter gessit.

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

Pescennium Nigrum, qui in Aegypto et Suria rebellauerat, apud Cizicum interfecit. Parthos uicit et Arabas interiores et Azabenos; Arabas eo usque superauit, ut etiam prouinciam ibi faceret; idcirco Parthicus, Arabicus, Azabenicus dictus est. Multa toto orbe Romano reparauit.

He put Pescennius Niger to death at Cizicum, who had rebelled in Egypt and Syria. He defeated the Parthians and the interior Arabs and the Azabeni; he conquered the Arabs so far as even to make a province there; therefore he was called Parthicus, Arabicus, Azabenicus. He repaired many things throughout the Roman world.

Sub eo etiam Glodius Albinus, qui in occidendo Pertinace socius fuerat Iuliano, Caesarem se in Gallia fecit uictusque apud Lugdunum et interfectus.

Under him also Glodius Albinus, who had been Julian’s accomplice in the killing of Pertinax, made himself Caesar in Gaul, and was defeated at Lugdunum and slain.

19 Seuerus tamen praeter bellicam gloriam etiam ciuilibus studiis clarus fuit et litteris doctus, philosophiae scientiam ad plenum adeptus. Nouissimum bellum in Brittania habuit, utque receptas prouincias omni securitate muniret, uallum per xxxii passuum milia a mari ad mare deduxit. Decessit Euoraci admodum senex, imperii anno sedecimo, mense tertio.

19 Severus, however, besides martial glory, was also illustrious in civil studies and learned in letters, having fully attained the science of philosophy. He waged a final war in Britain, and, so that he might fortify the recovered provinces with every security, he drew a rampart extending thirty-two thousand paces from sea to sea. He died at Eboracum, very old, in the 17th year of his reign, in the third month.

Diuus appellatus est. Nam filios duos successores reliquid, Bassianum et Getam, sed Bassiano Antonini nomen a senatu uoluit inponi; itaque dictus est Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Bassianus patrique successit. Nam Geta hostis publicus iudicatus confestim periit.

He was styled divus. For he left two sons as successors, Bassianus and Geta, but the Senate wished the name Antoninus to be imposed on Bassianus; and so he was called Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Bassianus and succeeded his father. For Geta, adjudged a public enemy, immediately perished.

20 Marcus igitur Aurelius Antoninus Bassianus, idemque Caracalla, morum fere paternorum fuit, paulo asperior et minax. Opus Romae egregium fecit lauacri, quae Antonianae appellantur, nihil praeterea memorabile. Impatientis libidinis, qui nouercam suam Iuliam uxorem duxerit.

20 Marcus therefore Aurelius Antoninus Bassianus, the same Caracalla, was of manners almost like his father's, a little harsher and more menacing. He executed in Rome an excellent work, the baths which are called Antonine, nothing memorable besides. Of impatient lust, he took as wife Julia, his stepmother.

Defunctus est in Osdroena apud Edessam moliens aduersum Parthos expeditionem, anno imperii sexto, mense secundo, uix 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, scarcely having completed his 43rd year. He was given a public funeral.

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

21 Then Opilius Macrinus, who was praetorian prefect, made emperor together with his son Diadumenus, accomplished nothing memorable because of the shortness of the time. For their rule was of one year and two months. Both were killed alike in a military mutiny.

22 Creatus est post hos Marcus Aurelius Antoninus. Hic Antonini Caracallae filius putabatur, sacerdos autem Eliogabali templi erat. Hic cum Romam ingenti et militum et senatus expectatione uenisset, probris se omnibus contaminauit.

22 After these, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was made. This Antoninus was thought to be the son of Caracalla, and he was priest of the temple of Elagabal. When he came to Rome with great expectation from both soldiers and the senate, he defiled himself with every imaginable outrage.

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

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

23 Successit huic Aurelius Alexander, ab exercitu Caesar, a senatu Augustus nominatus, iuuenis admodum, susceptoque aduersus Persas bello Xeren eorum regem gloriosissime uicit. Militarem disciplinam seuerissime rexit; quasdam tumultuantes legiones integras exauctorauit. Adsessorem habuit uel scrinii magistrum Vlpianum iuris conditorem.

23 He was succeeded by Aurelius Alexander, appointed Caesar by the army and named Augustus by the senate, a very young man; and having undertaken a war against the Persians he most gloriously defeated their king Xeren. He governed military discipline most severely; he cashiered whole legions that were mutinying. He had as an adviser, or master of the scrinium, Ulpian, the founder of law.

Romae quoque fauorabilis fuit. Periit in Gallia militari tumultu, tercio decimo imperii anno et die octauo. In Mammeam matrem suam unice pius.

He was likewise well‑regarded at Rome. He perished in Gaul in a military tumult, in the 13th year of his reign and on the eighth day. He was singularly dutiful toward his mother Mammea.

EXPLICIT LIBER OCTAVVS

HERE ENDS BOOK EIGHT.