The Annals

Introduction

The Annals begin with the death of Augustus in AD 14 and record Rome under four emperors, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero. Tacitus claims to write 'without anger or partiality', but the court he portrays is full of suspicion, informers, poisonings and terror: Tiberius sombre and mistrustful, Claudius ruled by his wives, Nero murdering his mother, burning the city and persecuting the Christians. The scene of Seneca's calm death is especially moving. It is the classic account of how power corrupts, and one of the earliest non-Christian sources on the persecution of the Christians.