Historia Augusta

The Historia Augusta (lit. 'Augustan History') is a late Roman collection of biographies, written in Latin, of the Roman emperors, their junior colleagues, designated heirs and usurpers, from 117 to 284. The true authorship of the work, its actual date, its reliability and its purpose have long been matters for controversy by historians and scholars ever since Hermann Dessau, in 1889, rejected both the date and the authorship as stated within the manuscript. Quotes thumb|The Franks themselves betrayed him, whose custom it is to break faith with a laugh. (Ridendo fidem frangere.) Nam cum in quodam convivio ad latrunculos luderetur, atque ipse decies imperator exisset, quidam non ignobilis scurra "Ave" inquit "Auguste," adlataque lana purpurea umeris eius vinxit eumque adoravit; timor inde consciorum atque inde iam exercitus temptatio et imperii. Non nihilum tamen Gallis profuit. nam Alamannos, qui tunc adhuc Germani dicebantur, non sine gloriae splendore contrivit, numquam aliter quam latrocinandi pugnans modo. Hunc tamen Probus fugatum usque ad ultimas terras et cupientem in Francorum auxilium venire, a quibus originem se trahere ipse dicebat, ipsis prodentibus Francis, quibus familiare est ridendo fidem frangere, vicit et interemit. For when once at a banquet they were playing a game of "Brigands"⁠ and Proculus had ten times come out as "King," a certain well-known wit cried out, "Hail, Augustus," and bringing in a garment of purple wool he clasped it about Proculus' shoulders and then bowed in adoration. Then fear fell upon all who had had a part in the deed, and so an attempt was then made to gain both the army and the imperial power. He was, nevertheless, of some benefit to the Gauls, for he crushed the Alamanni — who then were still called Germans — and not without illustrious glory, though he never fought save in brigand-fashion. He was forced by Probus, however, to flee to distant lands, and when he attempted to bring aid to the Franks, from whom he said he derived his origin, Probus conquered and slew him; for the Franks themselves betrayed him, whose custom it is to break faith with a laugh. Firmus, Saturninus, Proculus and Bonosus, 13.2–4 (ed. & tr. David Magie, 1932) External links Category:Histories Category:History of Italy Category:History of Europe Category:Anonymous works