Biographies of Romans

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The history of ancient Rome saw the emergence of many outstanding figures who left a lasting mark on the history of the world. Some of them are remembered by posterity as cruel tyrants, such as Caligula, Nero, and Caracalla. Others became renowned as reformers and builders of the Roman state’s power, including Augustus, Claudius, Marcus Aurelius, Diocletian, and Constantine the Great. It is also impossible to ignore the Roman generals, who often saved the state from collapse.

History also includes outstanding figures of Roman culture – writers, philosophers, and artists whose work had a profound impact on the development of European civilization. In this section, I present profiles of individuals who achieved great deeds or whose actions left a lasting mark on the pages of history.

Polemon of Laodicea

(c. 88-144 CE)

Polemon of Laodicea Polemon is considered one of the greatest orators of the imperial period. He came from Laodicea in Caria (Asia Minor), from a famous senatorial family. He spent most of his life in…Więcej

Antoninus Pius

(19 September 86 - 7 March 161 CE)

Antoninus Pius Names Titus Aurelius Fulvius Boionius Arrius Antoninus Ruled as Imperator Caesar Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius Reign 10 July 138 – 7 March 161 CE Born 19 September 86 CE Died 7…Więcej

Favorinus of Arelate

(c. 80 - 160 CE)

Sophist Favorinus of Arelate (today Arles in the south of France) lived in the years around 80-160 CE and was a famous sophist and philosopher. Although he was Gaul, he mastered Greek to perfection, which…Więcej

Pliny the Elder

(23 - 25 August 79 CE)

Pliny the Elder on the nineteenth-century image. Interestingly, in a letter from Pliny the Younger to Tacitus about the eruption of Vesuvius, Pliny the Elder is presented as a very fat person, so the artist’s…Więcej

Hadrian

(24 January 76 - 10 July 138 CE)

Hadrian Name Publius Aelius Hadrianus Ruled as Imperator Caesar Divi Traiani filius Traianus Hadrianus Augustus Reign 11 August 117 – 10 July 138 CE Born 24 January 76 CE Died 10 July 138 CE Coin…Więcej

Suetonius

(c. 69 - after 122 CE)

Suetonius in the illustration from the Nuremberg Chronicle. Suetonius (Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus) was probably born around 69 CE in Italy. Roman writer and historian, creator of the biography of Roman emperors. He wrote in both…Więcej

Pliny the Younger

(61 - c. 113 CE)

Pliny the Younger Pliny the Younger (Plinius Minor) was born as Gaius Caecilius Cilo in 61 CE in Comum Novum (now Como in Lombardy, in northern Italy). Pliny was a lawyer, writer, and Roman official.…Więcej

Publius Cornelius Tacitus

(55 - 120 CE)

Publius Cornelius Tacitus Publius Cornelius Tacitus, also called Tacitus, was born in 55 CE, most likely in Gaul. His other name may have been Gaius. Tacitus is called a king of Roman historians. He was…Więcej

Trajan

(18 September 53 - 9 August 117 CE)

Trajan Name Marcus Ulpius Traianus Ruled as Imperator Caesar Divi Nervae Filius Nerva Traianus Germanicus Augustus Reign 28 January 98 – 9 August 117 CE Born 18 September 53 CE Died 9 August 117 CE…Więcej

Domitian

(24 October 51 - 18 September 96 CE)

Domitian Name Titus Flavius Domitianus Ruled as Imperator Caesar Domitianus Germanicus Augustus Reign 14 September 81 – 18 September 96 CE Born 24 October 51 CE Died 18 September 96 CE Coin of Domitian Domitian…Więcej
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