Tacitus the great Roman historian, although this means somewhat different things from what it does now, wrote during the eventful years of the first and second century straddling the changes in Roman society that took place over this time and the first inklings of the vast population movements which were still to come.

In these books he chronicles the events taking place in the year AD 69 during the civil war which followed the death of Nero and the power vacuum left in his wake. The machinations of Otho, Galba, Vitellius and Vespasian are laid bare in a story told from Tacitus's viewpoint. One gets the feeling that he wrote in times of cynicism and greed, corruption and a degenerate society come to the fore. Tacitus was convinced that Roman society, and I'm sure many thought so as well, had declined in its inherent worth. Tacitus always seems to be looking back to the golden eras of a strong, vital and honest society often represented by the early years of expansion and struggle exemplified by the early Republic with figures such as Cato and later by Marius and even Augustus. He writes I think to both judge his time and leave it open for improvement especially as regards the integrity of the common man. The book is full of treachery and corruption from the lowest ranks such as slaves and freed men right up to the senators themselves. Strangely, although these weaknesses consume him he nonetheless points out the decent core yet still awake in the Roman state. At one point Otho the Emperor, at war with Vitellius over the throne, appears a self indulgent man taking too much pleasure in food and drink, rather against the original stoic mind set of his Roman forebears, but in the next he appears not totally without merit through his inspirational speeches to the troops. The same applies to the entire retinue of the warring parties each of whom are analysed in a manner exposing their weaknesses and strengths, all done mostly through the story itself rather than through an in depth analysis of the individual characters as such. Yet another reason Tacitus was such a skilled writer.

As the year progresses and gradually Vitellius becomes dominant as Emperor and finally Vespasian makes his moves through fascinating political manoeuvres which include a number of personages even including Domitian, we see many aspects of the complex process at work in the eventual rise of Vespasian to the throne.

There are some things which stand out in the narrative, one of which disabuses us of the usual interpretation of the situation as regards the views held by the Roman populace to the external "barbarians", especially in free Germany along the Rhine and Danube frontiers. What becomes clear is that even the seemingly alien Germans become part of the political process, they no longer seem a distant agressor hidden in the depths of the dark trackless forests of Germany but rather become human possessing the same weaknesses and strengths as other men. They are no longer seen as strictly alien to Romans themselves but are now players in the field of Empire. These new views seem at odds with other works even Tacitus's own "Agricola and the Germany" where the differences of these peoples from that of Rome is emphasised.

Although this "new" view is noted, much is made of the ability of the German auxiliaries, their toughness and strength and bold recklessness in war, an aura of eliteness surrounds them and even of fear in the eyes of the legions. Similar note is taken of separate legions themselves such as those of Germany who having fought the Germans themselves many times are also considered almost invincible. The 14th Legion which single handedly defeated the Boudiccan rebellion against enormous odds, being outnumbered at least five to one, also stand out and are taken as elite.

Unfortunately some of the original "Histories" is lost and this is shown by the abrupt end to the book just as Vespasian really starts to enter the picture. Nonetheless this is a fascinating book written with much skill and deft handling although it doesn't possess the same wit as his other "Agricola and the Germany". This tome seems a more serious work and may have been intended as such.

A great book bringing the time alive.

Tacitus Histories deals with the turbulent year 69AD the year of four emperors. Tacitus eye for detail which allows us to understand the personalities of Galba, Otho, Vitellius and Vespatian and their motivations and ambitions in this trully chaotic time in Rome's history. The sinister role of the Praetorians in these events is faithfully accounted. I found I could not put it down! Very readable compared to the Annals. The translation is first rate. The work is also supported by numerous foot notes and maps. Anyone interested in this period of Roman history must read this book.

The year 69 CE, called The Year of the Four Emperors, was awfully busy in the Roman Empire. The Emperor Nero had committed suicide in the previous year, the last ruler to have a family connection to Julius Caesar. His place was taken by Servius Sulpicius Galba, who was murdered early in 69 as part of a revolt by the next emperor, Marcus Salvius Otho. Otho himself committed suicide after being militarily bested by the next emperor, Lucius Vitellius. But by December of 69, Vitellius had been assassinated, and his place taken by Titus Flavius Sabinus Vespasianus, the general who had brutally suppressed the Bar Kochba rebellion in Judea. All this in less than 365 days.

Tacitus was a Roman conservative and, if his spirit could be summoned back from the dead, I would love to see him coming "From the Right" on "Crossfire." He was a tremendous writer, and "The Histories" are full of examples of this. There are his epigrams, such as his observation that Galba would have universally been thought of as worthy to rule had he never, in fact, ruled. There are interesting characters, like the great opportunist Antonius Primus, whose nickname translates roughly as "Beaky" because, well, he had a huge nose. There are a great many people mentioned in this work and therefore it needs to be read carefully, as it's hard to keep track of the Romans without a scorecard.

After the year 69, the Presidential election of 2000 seems pretty tame, doesn't it?