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Agrippina returns to Rome-Mourning for Germanicus-Trial of Piso
-Piso's Defense-Fate of Piso, and Trial of Plancina-Tacfarinas
renews the War in Africa Accusation of Lepida - Origin and
Changes of Laws-Nero, Son of Germanicus-Fresh Commotions in

Africa-Debate on the Motion of Cæcina-Commotions in Thrace—
Insurrection in Gaul-Revolt in Gaul suppressed-Breach of the
Law of Majesty-Tiberius on the Luxury of the Times-Causes of
Decline in Luxury investigated-Claims of the Priest of Jupiter dis-
allowed-Rights of Sanctuaries examined-Impeachment of C. Sila-
nus-C. Silanus banished-Demands of Tacfarinas-Death of illus-
trious Persons.....

108-153

.........

...........

Junius Gallio rebuked-Remarkable Letter of Tiberius-Defense of M.
Terentius-Office of Præfect of Rome-Two Daughters of Germani-
cus married-Trials for Treason-Thrasullus the Astrologer-Death
of Agrippina-The Phoenix-Some Informers punished-Intrigues
among the Parthians-War between the Parthians and Armenians
-Death of Trio; his Will-Revolt of the Clitæans-Fire at Rome-
Question of the Succession-Death of Tiberius..........................

34

CONTENTS.

Armenia invaded by Vologeses-Pætus sent to Armenia-Incapacity
of Pætus-The Roman Legions besieged-Pætus retreats from Ar-

THE ANNALS OF TACITUS.

BOOK I.

1. KINGS held dominion in the city of Rome from its foundation: Lucius Brutus instituted liberty and the consulate.1 Dictatorships were resorted to in temporary emergencies:

In this introduction Tacitus gives us a compendious view of the Roman government, in all its various forms, and every deviation from its first principles, from the foundation of the city to the establishment of the Cæsars. The several forms were as follows:

I. The regal government, which lasted, under seven successive kings, above two hundred and forty years, and ended at last by the expulsion of Tarquin.

II. The consulship, and the republican government established by Brutus, A.U.C. 245; before the Christian era 509.

III. The supreme authority of the dictator, created in pressing exigencies, and for a limited time. This office was first instituted, according to Livy, A.U.c. 253.

IV. The decemvirs appointed to frame a body of laws. They were the only magistrates. The government, which was transferred from kings to consuls, was now vested in the decemvirs. Their code of laws was finished within two years. It was called the Twelve Tables. The well-known tyranny of Appius brought upon them the name of the "Ten Tarquins." Their magistracy ended A.U.c. 305.

V. The military tribunes, in a violent contention between the patricians and commonalty, invested with the authority of the consuls, and exercising all the functions of those two magistrates, A.U.c. 310. In the following year the consular government was once more restored. VI. The usurpation of Cinna, A.U.C. 667.

VII. The domination of Sylla; who assumed the power of dictator, A.U.C. 672, and continued in that station till the year 675, when he made a voluntary abdication, and retired to lead the life of a private citizen.

VIII. The triumvirate of Pompey, Crassus, and Julius Cæsar, A.U.C. 699. This was a faction, not a legal institution.

IX. Cæsar perpetual dictator, A.u.c. 706.

X. The triumvirate of Antony, Lepidus, and Augustus, A.U.C. 711.
XI. The supreme power vested in Augustus, A.U.c. 724. Such were
VOL. I.-A

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