# Augustan History

> late Roman collection of biographies, written in Latin, of the Roman Emperors, their junior colleagues, designated heirs and usurpers of the period 117–284; much of its content is regarded as fictional

**Wikidata**: [Q722678](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q722678)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historia_Augusta)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/augustan-history

## Summary
The Augustan History (also known as *Historia Augusta*) is a late Roman collection of biographies of Roman emperors and imperial figures from 117 to 284 CE. Much of its content is now considered fictional, and it was composed in Latin. It is regarded as a key source for understanding the political and biographical landscape of the Severan era and beyond, though its historical accuracy is often questioned due to the inclusion of fabricated or exaggerated narratives. The work is traditionally attributed to multiple fictional authors, including Aelius Spartianus, Trebellius Pollio, and others, though modern scholars believe it to be a later literary creation.

## Key Facts
- The Augustan History is also known by its Latin title *Historia Augusta*.
- It covers the emperors from 117–284 CE, including their junior colleagues, heirs, and usurpers.
- The work is written in Latin and is considered a literary creation rather than a strictly historical one.
- The text is traditionally attributed to multiple authors, including Aelius Spartianus, Flavius Vopiscus, and others, but modern scholarship questions their actual authorship.
- The collection includes 30 biographical works, many of which are considered fictional or semi-legendary.
- The text was likely composed in the late 4th century, though its historical value is debated due to its legendary and unreliable nature.
- It is classified as a literary work and a biography, and is part of the broader genre of imperial biographical literature.
- It is part of the literary tradition of the Second Sophistic, which emphasized rhetorical style over historical accuracy.

## FAQs
### What is Augustan History?
The Augustan History is a collection of Latin biographies of Roman emperors and key political figures from 117 to 284 CE. It is considered a literary work and part of the broader biographical tradition of imperial Rome.

### Who wrote the Augustan History?
The work is traditionally attributed to several authors, including Aelius Spartianus, Trebellius Pollio, and Flavi0us Vopiscus, though modern scholars question these attributions due to the work's semi-legendary status.

### What time period does it cover?
The Augustan History covers the period from 117 to 284 CE, focusing on emperors, their junior colleagues, designated heirs, and usurpers of the Roman Empire.

### Is the content reliable?
Much of the content is regarded as fictional, especially in the context of the late Roman period, where historical accuracy is often questioned due to the inclusion of semi-legendary or invented narratives.

### What is the purpose of the work?
The work serves as a literary and historical document of the imperial biographical tradition, focusing on the lives of emperors and their political context.

### Why is it significant?
The Augustan History is significant for its role in the development of Latin biographical writing and its influence on later imperial historiography.

## Why It Matters
The Augustan History is important for its role in shaping the tradition of imperial biography in the late Roman period. It provides a window into the literary and political culture of the time, especially in its portrayal of emperors and their courts. The work is also significant for its influence on the development of Latin imperial biographical writing, particularly through the *Historia Augusta*, which includes both historical and semi-legendary content.

## Notable For
- The *Historia Augusta* is notable for being a literary creation of the late Roman period, combining historical and semi-legendary biographical content.
- It is one of the few surviving works that blends historical and fictional narratives, making it a key text in understanding the literary and political context of the late Roman Empire.
- It is often cited in historical and literary studies of the period.

## Body
The *Historia Augusta* is a collection of biographies of Roman emperors, their junior colleagues, heirs, and usurpers from 117 to 284 CE. It is considered a key source for understanding the political and literary culture of the late Roman Empire. The work includes both historical and semi-legendary content, and is part of the Second Sophistic, a literary and cultural movement in the late Roman period. The work is often considered a literary creation, with much of its content regarded as fictional or semi-legendary.

### Authors and Attribution
The *Historia Augusta* is traditionally attributed to multiple authors, including Aelius Spartianus, Trebellius Pollio, and Flavius Vopiscus. These names are associated with the work due to its semi-legendary status and its role in the Second Sophistic. The work is part of the broader biographical tradition of the late Roman period, focusing on the lives of emperors and their courts.

### Notable Authors and Attribution
- Aelius Spartianus
- Iulius Capitolinae
- Flavius Vopiscus
- Trebellius Pollio
- A. D. Chastagnol

The *Historia Augusta* is a literary creation of the late Roman period, and is part of the broader biographical and literary tradition of the time. The work includes both historical and semi-legendary content, and is considered a key source for understanding the political and literary culture of the late Roman period. It is often cited in historical and literary studies of the period, and forms part of the Second Sophistic, a movement that emphasized literary style over historical accuracy.

### Related Works and Context
The *Historia Augusta* is part of the broader biographical and literary tradition of the late Roman period. The work includes both historical and semi-legendary content, and is often considered a literary creation of the time. It is part of the Second Sophistic, which emphasized literary style over historical accuracy, and is often cited in historical and literary studies of the period.

### Literary Style and Content
The work is part of the broader biographical and literary tradition of the late Roman period. It includes both historical and semi-legendary content, and is often cited in historical and literary studies of the period. The work is part of the Second Sophistic, which emphasized literary style over historical accuracy, and is often considered a literary creation of the time.

### Notable People
- Aelius Spartianus
- Julius Capitolinus
- "Flavius Vopiscus"
- Aelius Lampridius
- Trebellius Pollio
- Vulcacius Gallicanus

These individuals are part of the broader biographical and literary tradition of the late Roman period. The work is often cited in historical and literary studies of the period, and is part of the Second Sophistic, which emphasized literary style over historical accuracy.

### Literary and Historical Context
The *Historia Augusta* is part of the broader biographical and literary tradition of the late Roman period. It includes both historical and semi-legendary content, and is often considered a literary creation of the time. The work is part of the Second Sophistic, which emphasized literary style over historical accuracy, and is often cited in historical and literary studies of the period.

## References

1. Clavis Historicorum Antiquitatis Posterioris
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013