Tacitus, Annals, 15.20­-23, 33­-45. Latin Text, Study Aids with Vocabulary, and Commentary, 2013a

69 – 79 Vespasian In Rome from 75 onwards (if not
earlier)
77/78: marriage to Julia Agricola,
daughter of Gnaeus Julius
Agricola (dates: 40–93; governor
of Britain 77–85)
79 – 81 Titus 80s (or even earlier): Membership
in the priestly college of the
Quindecimviri sacris faciundis
c. 81: Quaestor Augusti
(or Caesaris)?
81 – 96 Domitian 88: Praetor
89–93: Absence from Rome,
perhaps on official appointments
96 – 98 Nerva 97: Suffect consul (after the death
of Verginius Rufus)
98: Publication of the Agricola and
the Germania
98 – 117 Trajan c. 101/2: Publication of the
Dialogus
? c. 109–10: Publication of the
Histories
112–13: Proconsulship of Asia
117 – 138 Hadrian Died not before 118, c. 120?
? Shortly before: Publication of
the Annals
Overall, we are looking at an impressive career both in Rome and in
provincial government, which he entered at an early age and sustained
throughout his life. As Birley notes with respect to one of his earliest
appointments: ‘His membership of the XVviri, prestigious enough at
any stage in a man’s career, had come early. Often senators did not get
into this élite priestly college or one of the other three of equal status
until after being consul. Further, in 88 the XVviri had a particularly
important role: supervising the Secular Games.’ 7 Tacitus managed
7 Birley (2000) 234. Tacitus himself records his involvement at Annals 11.11.1: Isdem
consulibus ludi saeculares octingentesimo post Romam conditam, quarto et sexagesimo quam