# Cornelius Tacitus

## Biography

Publius Cornelius Tacitus, often simply known as Tacitus, was a prominent Roman historian and politician, born around 56 AD and dying approximately 120 AD. Regarded by many as one of the greatest Roman historians, he received a comprehensive education in rhetoric and law, preparing him for a distinguished public career. He steadily advanced through the Roman civil service, holding positions such as quaestor, praetor, and eventually becoming a consul in 97 AD. Tacitus married Julia Agricola, the daughter of the esteemed general Gnaeus Julius Agricola, whose biography he later penned.

His most significant works include the Annals and the Histories, which together chronicle the Roman Empire from the death of Augustus to the reign of Domitian, though portions are lost. He also authored monographs like *Agricola*, detailing his father-in-law’s life and military campaigns, and *Germania*, offering a description of the Germanic tribes. Tacitus is celebrated for his sophisticated Latin prose and his astute, often critical, analyses of Roman power and human nature, making him an invaluable primary source for understanding imperial Rome.

## Books

- [The Germany and the Agricola of Tacitus](https://samolit.com/books/96591)