"Galba succeeded Nero."
-Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars (London, 2007), p. 242.
For the first twelve Roman Emperors and the conflict between Galba, Otho, Vitellius and Vespasian after the death of Nero, see Caesars.
For Poul Anderson's additional reference to Vespasian's son and successor, Titus, see Another Caesar And Synagogues.
For Anderson's reference to Domitian, see Domitian.
Thus, Anderson's "Star of the Sea" refers to the last seven of Suetonius' twelve "Caesars."
I have been to the gym today and will shortly go to a meeting. Staying here and blogging would make me lose my reason!
The heavens opened this afternoon but fortunately there is a local bus service from the Bus Station to near here. Civilized life continues in Lancaster.
5 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
"Star of the Sea" makes mention of people wondering if Domitian was truly such a hound from Hell but also did some worthwhile things.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean: Domitian offended a lot of -upper-class- people. That was a... really bad idea.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
He sure did--and it certainly was!
But I recall how even Suetonius mentioning that Domitian was a just judge when he heard law cases. And was popular with the legions, who took his assassination very badly.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean: yeah, but the common people and the legions weren't at court in Rome!
The drawback of being Emperor was that nobody contradicted you to your face. Marcus Aurelius absolutely -encouraged- people to do so.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
True, what you said about who was at the Imperial court, mostly bureaucrats and those patricians Domitian so fatally enraged.
What you said about Marcus Aurelius reminded me of what he wrote about his adoptive father, Antoninus Pius, who also encouraged his "comites" to speak frankly to him.
It's an ancient problem for all heads of state, whatever their title, being tempted to favor sycophants telling them what they want to hear, not what they need to be told. Wiser rulers do what Marcus Aurelius did, listen to people not afraid to argue with them.
Ad astra! Sean
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