Tacitus

Tacitus,
Roman historian.

1. Publius (?) Cornelius Tacitus was born c. AD 56, probably in Narbonese or Cisalpine Gaul (see Gaul (Transalpine) and Gaul (Cisalpine)). He was in Rome at latest by 75, where an uninterrupted career under Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian (Historiae 1. 1. 3) brought him to the praetorship in 88, by which time he was also a member of the prestigious priesthood, the college of the quindecimviri sacris faciundis (guardians of the Sybilline books: see oracles). During 89–93 he was absent from Rome (Agricola 45. 5), presumably holding government posts. In 97 he was suffect consul and pronounced the funeral oration upon Lucius Verginius Rufus. We know of no other office held by Tacitus, till seniority brought him the proconsulship of Asia (see [The entire page is 2314 words long]

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