Fabius Rusticus
Encyclopedia
Fabius Rusticus was a Roman historian who was quoted on several occasions by Tacitus
. Tacitus couples his name with that of Livy
and describes him as "the most graphic among ancient and modern historians." Tacitus also said that he embellished matters with his eloquence. Fabius Rusticus is described by Tacitus as a close friend of Seneca
who was inclined to praise him in his work.
Fabius Rusticus was a contemporary of Claudius
and Nero
, but little is known of the extent of his work except that it related to events during the reign of Nero
. Fabius Rusticus was one the primary sources for Tacitus' Annals and probably for other later historians like Suetonius
and Josephus
as well.
Tacitus cites Fabius Rusticus when describing some of the most controversial aspects of Nero's life including Nero's alleged desire to kill his mother, Nero's alleged lust for his mother and Seneca's suicide.
Tacitus
Publius Cornelius Tacitus was a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire. The surviving portions of his two major works—the Annals and the Histories—examine the reigns of the Roman Emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero and those who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors...
. Tacitus couples his name with that of Livy
Livy
Titus Livius — known as Livy in English — was a Roman historian who wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people. Ab Urbe Condita Libri, "Chapters from the Foundation of the City," covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome well before the traditional foundation in 753 BC...
and describes him as "the most graphic among ancient and modern historians." Tacitus also said that he embellished matters with his eloquence. Fabius Rusticus is described by Tacitus as a close friend of Seneca
Seneca the Younger
Lucius Annaeus Seneca was a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, dramatist, and in one work humorist, of the Silver Age of Latin literature. He was tutor and later advisor to emperor Nero...
who was inclined to praise him in his work.
Fabius Rusticus was a contemporary of Claudius
Claudius
Claudius , was Roman Emperor from 41 to 54. A member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, he was the son of Drusus and Antonia Minor. He was born at Lugdunum in Gaul and was the first Roman Emperor to be born outside Italy...
and Nero
Nero
Nero , was Roman Emperor from 54 to 68, and the last in the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Nero was adopted by his great-uncle Claudius to become his heir and successor, and succeeded to the throne in 54 following Claudius' death....
, but little is known of the extent of his work except that it related to events during the reign of Nero
Nero
Nero , was Roman Emperor from 54 to 68, and the last in the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Nero was adopted by his great-uncle Claudius to become his heir and successor, and succeeded to the throne in 54 following Claudius' death....
. Fabius Rusticus was one the primary sources for Tacitus' Annals and probably for other later historians like Suetonius
Suetonius
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, commonly known as Suetonius , was a Roman historian belonging to the equestrian order in the early Imperial era....
and Josephus
Josephus
Titus Flavius Josephus , also called Joseph ben Matityahu , was a 1st-century Romano-Jewish historian and hagiographer of priestly and royal ancestry who recorded Jewish history, with special emphasis on the 1st century AD and the First Jewish–Roman War, which resulted in the Destruction of...
as well.
Tacitus cites Fabius Rusticus when describing some of the most controversial aspects of Nero's life including Nero's alleged desire to kill his mother, Nero's alleged lust for his mother and Seneca's suicide.