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Roman History, Volume IV: Books 41–45
Dio Cassius (Cassius Dio), ca. 150 235 CE, was born at Nicaea in Bithynia in Asia Minor. On the death of his father (Roman governor of Cilicia) he went in 180 to Rome, entered the Senate, and under the emperor Commodus was an advocate. He held high offices, becoming a close friend of several emperors. He was made governor of Pergamum and Smyrna; consul in 220; proconsul of Africa; governor of Dalmatia and then of Pannonia; and consul again in 229.
Of the eighty books of Dio's great work "Roman History," covering the era from the legendary landing of Aeneas in Italy to the reign of Alexander Severus (222-235 CE), we possess Books 36-60 (36 and 55-60 have gaps), which cover the years 68 BCE-47 CE. The missing portions are partly supplied, for the earlier gaps by Zonaras, who relies closely on Dio, and for some later gaps (Book 35 onwards) by John Xiphilinus (of the eleventh century). There are also many excerpts. The facilities for research afforded by Dio's official duties and his own industry make him a very vital source for Roman history of the last years of the republic and the first four emperors.
The Loeb Classical Library edition of Dio Cassius is in nine volumes.
Of the eighty books of Dio's great work "Roman History," covering the era from the legendary landing of Aeneas in Italy to the reign of Alexander Severus (222-235 CE), we possess Books 36-60 (36 and 55-60 have gaps), which cover the years 68 BCE-47 CE. The missing portions are partly supplied, for the earlier gaps by Zonaras, who relies closely on Dio, and for some later gaps (Book 35 onwards) by John Xiphilinus (of the eleventh century). There are also many excerpts. The facilities for research afforded by Dio's official duties and his own industry make him a very vital source for Roman history of the last years of the republic and the first four emperors.
The Loeb Classical Library edition of Dio Cassius is in nine volumes.
512 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 230
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About the author
Cassius Dio
375 books44 followersCassius Dio or Dio Cassius (c. 155 – c. 235) was a Roman statesman and historian of Greek origin. He published 80 volumes of history on ancient Rome, beginning with the arrival of Aeneas in Italy.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
December 4, 2023
Caesar has crossed the Rubicon, and Pompey and the Senate flee Rome. Caesar lets them go and goes to subdue Hispania first. Then Caesar pursues them to Brundisium where they cross over to Macedonia. Caesar risks a winter crossing of the Ionian Sea with few troops and harasses Pompey's troops on the coast. Pompey comes to fight him, but finally Antony brings reinforcements from Italy, so Pompey retreats to Thessaly. The two armies meet at Pharsalos and stare at each other for a while. Then they fight, Caesar wins and Pompey flees. Eventually he goes to Egypt to raise a new army where he is betrayed and beheaded.
Caesar goes to Egypt, finds Pompey's head, and has it buried with honors. He takes up with Cleopatra, keeps her brother Ptolemy under watch, and waits for his troops to arrive while he hides out in the capital at Alexandria while the Egyptians revolt. When his troops arrive he subdues Egypt, Ptolemy is dead, Cleopatra is Queen. Then he went to Asia and won there so easily that he said "Vini, vidi, vici." He went to Africa and defeated Scipio and Cato. Then he went back to Hispania and conquered there again. Then he went to Rome and actually stayed there a whole year. Then he got stabbed.
After he was dead the Romans did not know what to do. In order to avoid civil war they agreed to let the orders of Caesar stand. Since Antony had all of Caesar's papers this was convenient for him, and he revealed that Caesar's written wishes were whatever Antony wanted them to be. Octavius comes back from Greece to collect his inheritance, he and Antony stare down each other for a while, Antony bribes the soldiers to build up an army, Octavius offers them more money so they join him, so Antony goes to Gaul to take the troops and money under the command of Brutus there. Octavius follows and is unsure who to fight because he wants them both dead. While everyone in power is away, Brave Sir Cicero returns to Rome to call Antony a drunk and a pervert and that he should be dead. All the while Lepidus, History's Third Wheel, plots to take over Rome and no one cares.
This is more good reporting from a guy who knows Romans. Not overly detailed in the battles, Cassius Dio let's us know what all the big players are doing and their character. Caesar is brash and takes huge risks, but is not always confident of success. He is dedicated to his actions, and once in is all in no matter what. Pompey the Great, the man who turned the Mediterranean into a Roman lake, conqueror of Mithridates, winner of numerous battles who expanded Roman power from the Atlantic to the Persian Gulf, is weak and vacillating, actually cowardly after Pharsalos as he still had many soldiers and allies there and was well supplied but abandoned all of them. He got old really fast. Antony is a drunk and a spendthrift and not much of a general. Cato is everything that Cicero wishes he was, a man dedicated to his principles to the point of self destruction. I can't see why Doloballa wasn't just killed he was such a prat.
Of much interest is how closely everyone is related. Literally. Brutus is Cato's nephew AND his son-in-law, Cassius is his brother-in-law, and he is also related to some other figure, maybe Lepidus. While Antony is consul, his brother is tribune and another brother is praetor. In a large city the ruling class in actually a small, insular, incestuous group who all grew up together and know each other intimately. It is not unlike later Europe under the monarchies with all it's nepotism, incompetence, and corruption, much like Washington D.C. today.
One of the most important historical documents still in existence, and well worth the read.
Caesar goes to Egypt, finds Pompey's head, and has it buried with honors. He takes up with Cleopatra, keeps her brother Ptolemy under watch, and waits for his troops to arrive while he hides out in the capital at Alexandria while the Egyptians revolt. When his troops arrive he subdues Egypt, Ptolemy is dead, Cleopatra is Queen. Then he went to Asia and won there so easily that he said "Vini, vidi, vici." He went to Africa and defeated Scipio and Cato. Then he went back to Hispania and conquered there again. Then he went to Rome and actually stayed there a whole year. Then he got stabbed.
After he was dead the Romans did not know what to do. In order to avoid civil war they agreed to let the orders of Caesar stand. Since Antony had all of Caesar's papers this was convenient for him, and he revealed that Caesar's written wishes were whatever Antony wanted them to be. Octavius comes back from Greece to collect his inheritance, he and Antony stare down each other for a while, Antony bribes the soldiers to build up an army, Octavius offers them more money so they join him, so Antony goes to Gaul to take the troops and money under the command of Brutus there. Octavius follows and is unsure who to fight because he wants them both dead. While everyone in power is away, Brave Sir Cicero returns to Rome to call Antony a drunk and a pervert and that he should be dead. All the while Lepidus, History's Third Wheel, plots to take over Rome and no one cares.
This is more good reporting from a guy who knows Romans. Not overly detailed in the battles, Cassius Dio let's us know what all the big players are doing and their character. Caesar is brash and takes huge risks, but is not always confident of success. He is dedicated to his actions, and once in is all in no matter what. Pompey the Great, the man who turned the Mediterranean into a Roman lake, conqueror of Mithridates, winner of numerous battles who expanded Roman power from the Atlantic to the Persian Gulf, is weak and vacillating, actually cowardly after Pharsalos as he still had many soldiers and allies there and was well supplied but abandoned all of them. He got old really fast. Antony is a drunk and a spendthrift and not much of a general. Cato is everything that Cicero wishes he was, a man dedicated to his principles to the point of self destruction. I can't see why Doloballa wasn't just killed he was such a prat.
Of much interest is how closely everyone is related. Literally. Brutus is Cato's nephew AND his son-in-law, Cassius is his brother-in-law, and he is also related to some other figure, maybe Lepidus. While Antony is consul, his brother is tribune and another brother is praetor. In a large city the ruling class in actually a small, insular, incestuous group who all grew up together and know each other intimately. It is not unlike later Europe under the monarchies with all it's nepotism, incompetence, and corruption, much like Washington D.C. today.
One of the most important historical documents still in existence, and well worth the read.
Displaying 1 of 1 review