Les 12 Césars: Auguste et César

During the reign of Hadrian (117-138), the historiographer Suetonius worked at the palace as a secretary and librarian. Using the imperial archives he freely consulted, he began writing biographies of the first Caesars, from Julius Caesar to Domitian, thus tracing nearly 150 years of history that had revolutionized the history of Rome. His work, the Lives of the Twelve Caesars, rich in intimate details about the rulers of Rome, is an essential source that has remained famous despite its many exaggerations and inaccuracies. By placing the first emperors in their social, political, and especially family context, Virginie Girod, with her intimate knowledge of the period, skillfully follows in Suetonius's footsteps and recounts their true saga of betrayal, manipulation, and disappointed love. She presents a [History Course] dedicated to them for Storiavoce listeners. In this first installment of a three-part series, she explores the reigns of Caesar and Augustus. She is interviewed by Christophe Dickès. Our professor: Virginie Girod, a doctor of history, worked under the supervision of Yann Le Bohec. She specializes in the history of women and sexuality in Roman Antiquity. In 2013, she published a highly acclaimed work, Women and Sex in Ancient Rome, which was reissued in the Texto paperback collection by Tallandier. With Tallandier, she is also the author of a biography devoted to the mother of Emperor Nero, Agrippina the Younger, and to Empress Theodora. She recently published The True History of the Twelve Caesars (Perrin, 413 pages, €24).