Last Updated on March 16, 2023 by Vladimir Vulic
| NAME | PERIOD | BACKGROUND & FAMOUS WORKS | LANGUAGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acts of Pilate | early fourth century AD | Forged documents circulated round the east of the empire by emperor Maximinus II Daia to discredit Christianity | Greek |
| Ammianus Marcellinus | ca. AD 330-95 | Born at Antioch. Served in the Roman army in the 350’s and 360’s. He retired to Rome and wrote a history of the years AD 96-378. The books describing AD 353-78 still survive. | Latin |
| Anonymus Valesii | fifth & sixth century AD | Two unknown authors dubbed the ‘Valesii’ after the first editor of the two works, H.Valesius in 1636. Their respective works are a ‘Life of Constantine the Great’ in the fifth century, based on imperial collections of the fourth century – and a sixth century study of the years 474-526, with particular regard to Theodoric the Ostrogoth. | Latin |
| Appian | ca. AD 100-170 | Born at Alexandria, moved to Rome ca. 125 AD. He wrote during the reign of Antoninus Pius. His works include a history of the political and military events surrounding civil war at the end of the Roman republic. He also wrote accoutns on the Roman conquests of Mediterranean lands. | |
| Arius | ca AD 260-336 | Probably Libyan by birth. Christian teacher at Alexandria. Founder of Arianism. Three letters and fragments of his doctrines survive. | Greek |
| Arrian | second century AD | Born at Nicomedia. Governor of Cappadocia under emperor Hadrian. Wrote a history of Alexander the Great and a history of Alexander’s successors, works on Parthia, India, Bithynia and the Alans, a tactical manual and maritime guide to the Black Sea. | Greek |
| Athanasius, Saint | ca AD 295-373 | Bishop of Alexandria. Wrote historical treatises and letters. | Greek |
| Augustine, Saint | AD 354-430 | Born at Thagaste. Bishop of Hippo Regius. His ninety two works include works on the Trinity and attacks on eight categories of heretics. | Latin |
| Aurelius, Marcus | Emperor AD 161-80. Wrote twelve books of ‘Meditations’ following the principles of stoic philosophy. | Greek | |
| Ausonius | ca. AD 310-95 | Born at Burdigala. Consul in AD 379. Various poems and twentyfive letters. | Latin |
| Caesar, Julius | 100-44 BC | Wrote commentaries on Gallic War 58-49 BC and the Civil War 49-48 BC). Unknown sources continued the narrative until 45 BC. | Latin |
| Cassius, Dio | second to third century | Born at Nicaea.Consul in AD 205 and 229. Eighty books of Roman history from beginnings to AD 229, preserved partly in full but mainly in abbreviations. | Greek |
| Chronographer of AD 354 | AD 354 | Unknown author of an illustrated calendar dated to AD 354. | Latin |
| Claudian | d. ca. AD 404 | Born at Alexandria. Various poems. | Latin |
| Cyril, Saint | d. AD 444 | Bishop of Alexandria. Author of twenty books refuting the pagan views of emperor Julian the Apostate. | Greek |
| Dexippus | b.ca. AD 210 | Athenian sophist, statesman and commander. Wrote chronicle AD 269-70, history of Alexander’s successors, and on Gothic wars from AD 238 to Aurelian. Fragments survive. | Greek |
| Dionysius of Halicarnassus | first century BC | Greek historian teaching at Rome. He wrote an early history of Rome. | Greek |
| Dioscorides | first century AD | Born at Anazarbus. Served emperor Nero’s army as a doctor. Wrote medical work materia medica | Greek |
| Eudocia, Aelia | d. AD 460 | Born at Athens. Married Theodosius II. Wrote religious poems. | Greek |
| Eunapius | b. ca. AD 345 | Born at Sardis. Pagan philosopher and priest. Wrote on philosophy and history of the years AD 270-404 | Greek |
| Euric | AD 466-84 | King of the Visigoths, who gave his name to a collection of laws, the Codex Euricianus, of which most survives. | Latin |
| Eusebius | ca. AD 260 – 340 | Born in Syria Palaestina. Bishop of Caesarea Maritima. His works include a history of the church and a biography of Constantine the Great | Greek |
| Eutropius | Fourth century AD | Court official under a whole series of emperors from Constantius II to Theodosius who wrote a survey of Roman history from its beginning to AD 364. | Latin |
| Festus | Fourth century AD | Court official of emperor Valens who wrote a survey of Roman history from its beginning to AD 364. | Latin |
| Florus | Second century AD | Born in North Africa, probably a friend of Hadrian’s. Wrote a history of the wars of Augustus. | Latin |
| Fronto | ca. AD 100-166 | Born at Cirta. Orator and tutor of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus. Wrote various letters. | Latin |
| Galen | AD 129-99 | Born at Pergamum. Gladiators’ doctor in Asia Minor and Marcus Aurelius’ court physician. Wrote 153 works, of which those on anatomy and medicine are most influential. | Greek |
| Gerontius | AD 383 – 439 | Born at Rome. Died at Jerusalem. Abbot and writer of the biography of St. Melania | Greek |
| Gregory, Saint, of Tours | ca. AD 540-94 | Born at Arverna, Bishop of Civitas Turonum. Wrote a history of the Franks and religious writings | Latin |
| Herodes Atticus | ca. AD 101-77 | Consul in AD 143 and friend of four emperors. Wrote philosophical treatises, speeches and letters. | Greek |
| Herodian | b. ca AD 180 | Perhaps from Syria. Minor local official. Wrote a Roman history from the death of Marcus Aurelius to the accession of Gordian III. | Greek |
| Historia Augusta | fourth century AD | the famous Historia Augusta was probably written toward the end of the fourth century AD. It contains biographies of Roman emperors, as well as usurpers from AD 117-284 (the years 244-259 are missing). Much of the contents, including the name of the six authors, is ficticious. | Latin |
| Horace | 65 – 8 BC | Born at Venusia. Poet. | Latin |
| Jerome (Hieronymus), Saint | ca. AD 348-420 | Born at Stridon. Secretary to Pope Damasus. Founder of monastery at Bethlehem. Numerous writings include Ltain translation of the Bible (the Vulgate) and attacks on heresies. | Latin |
| John Chrystostom, Saint | ca. AD 354-407 | Born at Antioch. Patriarch of Constantinople in AD 398. Wrote many treatises, commentaries and over two hundred letters. | Greek |
| John Malalas | ca. AD491-578 | Of Syrian origin. Wrote a history from the creation to AD 563. | Greek |
| Josephus | Of Jewish origin. Fought against the Romans in the Jewish War of AD 66-70. He was taken prisoner, changed his allegiance to Rome and wrote an account of the Jewish War, including valuable description of the Roman army in action. | ||
| Julian the Apostate | emperor AD 361-63. Pagan. Surviving writings include eight speeches, a satire, a comedy and eighty letters. | Greek | |
| Julianus, Salvius | ca. AD 100-69 | Jurist and legal advisor of emperor Hadrian. Wrote the ‘Digesta’, a work of ninety books, excerpts of which survive in later codes. Responsible for the revision and arrangement of the praetorian edict | Latin |
| Justinian the Great | Eastern emperor AD 527-565. Gave his name to a great collection of laws, the ‘Justinian Code’ | Latin | |
| Lactantius | ca. AD 240-320 | Born in north Africa. Summoned by Diocletian to teach rhetoric at Constantinople. Works in defence of Christianity. | Latin |
| Leo the Great | Pope from AD 440-461.Ninety-six sermons and 432 letters. | Greek | |
| Libanius | ca AD 314-393 | Born at Antioch. Pagan professor of rhetoric. Surviving works include 64 speeches and 1600 letters. | Greek |
| Livy | 59 BC- AD 17 | Born at Patavium (Padua). Wrote a history of Rome in 142 books (thirty five survive) | Latin |
| Lucan | AD 39-65 | Born at Corduba. Wrote epic poem about the war between Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great. | Latin |
| Malchus | ca. AD 500 | From Philadelphia in Syria. Wrote ‘Byzantiaca‘, a history of the period extending most likely from Constantine the Great to Anastatius. | Greek |
| Nemesianus | late third century AD | Born at Carthage. Poems | Latin |
| Notitia Dignitatum | AD 395 | List of senior officers of state and military posts in the western and eastern empires in AD 395. It has survived only in apparently accurate copies made in the 15th century | Latin |
| Olympiodorus | ca. AD 380 -425 | Born at Thebes. Pagan. Wrote history or memoirs from AD 407-25, surviving in summaries. | Greek |
| Onesimus | fourth century | From Sparta. Writer of numerous rhetorical works. | Greek |
| Origen | AD 185/6-254-5 | Probably born at Alexandria. Christian writer of religious works. | Greek |
| Orosius | early fifth century | Born at Bracara Augusta. Church officer, his works include a history from the divine creation AD 417, attacking paganism. | Latin |
| Papinian | d. AD 212 | Perhaps born in Syria. Jurist and praetorian prefect. Author of large volumes of law books, exerpts of which survive in later law codes. | Latin |
| Paulus (Julius) | early third century AD | Jurist and praetorian prefect. Wrote 320 books, of which excerpts survive in later law codes. | Latin |
| Petronius ‘Arbiter’ | d. AD 65 | Courtier and minister of emperor Nero. Perhaps Consul in AD 61. Novelist. | Latin |
| Philo Judaeus | 30 BC- AD 45 | Born at Alexandria. Jewish author of numerous theological and philosophical works and a description of his mission to Caligula in AD 39-40. | Greek |
| Philostorgius | ca. AD 368-430/40 | From Cappadocia. Arian. Continued the church history of Eusebius to AD 425. | Greek |
| Philostratus | b. ca. AD 170 | His family came from Lemnos. Member of a philosophical circle patronized by Julia Domna, wife of Septimius Severus. Wrote biography of Apollonius of Tyana. | Greek |
| Pliny the Elder | AD 23/24-79 | Born at Comum. Wrote encyclopeaedic work on natural history and other sciences, art, etc. His extensive works on history and other subjects are lost. | Latin |
| Pliny the Younger | AD 61/62-114 | Born at Comum. Wrote ten books of literary letters to emperor Trajan | Latin |
| Plotinus | AD 205-69/70 | Born at Lycopolis in upper Egypt. Died in Campania. Philosopher. Numerous Essays. | Greek |
| Plutarch | first/second century AD | Born at Chaeronea in Greece. Wrote during the reign of Trajan. Best known for his series on Greek and Roman politicians and generals, including Marius, Sulla, Lucullus, Caesar, Crassus, Brutus and Mark Antony. | |
| Polybius | ca. 203-120 BC | Greek historian who was witness to the third Macedonian War. He was sent to Rome as a hostage and became a close friend to Scipio Aemilianus. He wrote a history of his own times and included a detailed description of the Roman army. Little of his work survives. | |
| Procopius | ca. AD 500-565 | Born at Caesarea Maritima. Wrote history of the wars of Justinian and about Justinian’s buildings. | Greek |
| Propertius | 54/48-16 BC | Born at Asisium. Poet. | Latin |
| Pseudo-Hyginus | Unknown writer, whose work (De metatione castrorum) describes various units and camps until the reforms of the 3rd century. | Latin | |
| Roman Law of the Visigoths | AD 506 | Drawn up by the Visigothic king, Alaric II, for his Roman subjects in Gaul. Laws from the Theodosian Code and other Roman sources are included. | Latin |
| Sallustius | fourth century | Pagan. Praetorian prefect of the Gauls AD 361-63, consul AD 363. Wrote pagan religious works and on philosophy. | Greek |
| Scaevola, Quintus Cervidius | later second century AD | Jurist and legal advisor of emperor Marcus Aurelius. Wrote extensive works, now lost. | Latin |
| Seneca the Younger | 5/4 BC – AD 65 | Born at Corduba. Minister of Nero and author of ethical treatises, scientific writings, literary letters, tragedies and satires. | Latin |
| Serenus Sammonicus the Elder | late second and early third century AD | Killed by emperor Caracalla in AD 212. Author of Res Reconditae which was dedicated to Septimius Severus and probably Caracalla. It is lost today. | Latin |
| Sidonius Apollinaris | ca. AD 430-88 | Born at Lugdunum. Bishop of Averna (AD469). Wrote poems and nine books of letters | Latin |
| Socrates Scholasticus | ca. AD 380-450 | Lawyer at Constantinople. Continued Eusebius’ church history to AD 439. | Greek |
| Sozomenos, Salamanes Hermeias | fifth century AD | Lawyer at Constantinople. Wrote church history from AD 324-439 | Greek |
| Suetonius | ca AD 69-130/140 | Probably born at Hippo Regius. Lawyer and secretary of emperors Trajan and Hadrian. Wrote biographies of the Caesars from Julius Caesar to Domitian, and of famous tutors, poets, orators and historians. | Latin |
| Tacitus, Cornelius | ca AD 55 -117 | Probably of Gallic or north Italian origin. Consul in AD 97 and governor of Asia. Wrote chronicle of the years AD 14-96 and a biography of his father-in-law Agricola. | Latin |
| Themistius | ca. AD 317-88 | Born in Paphlagonia. Pagan philosopher and rhetorician. Thirty-four speeches survive. | Greek |
| Theodoretus | ca. AD 393-466 | Born at Antioch. Bishop of Cyrrhus. Numerous works include a church history to AD 428 and other religious works. | Greek |
| Theodosius II | AD 401- | East Roman emperor AD 408-80. Gave his name to a collection of laws | Latin |
| Ulpian | d. AD 223 | Born at Ryte. Jurist and praetorian prefect. Nearly 280 works are recorded. | Latin |
| Varro | 116-27 BC | Born at Reate. Most famous Roman scholar. Author of numerous works. | Latin |
| Vegetius | late fourth century AD | Military historian. Wrote manual of Roman military institutions (De re militari). | Latin |
| Victor, Sextus Aurelius | fourth century AD | Born in Africa. Governor of Pannonia Secunda (AD 361) and prefect of Rome (AD 389). Biographer. Wrote on lives of the emperors from Augustus to Constantius II. | Latin |
| Virgil | 70-19 BC | Born ar Andes near Mantua. Died at Brundisium. Poet. | Latin |
| Zonaras | twelfth century | Commander of the Byzantine imperial bodyguard, imperial secretary, and then monk. His works include a universal history to 1118. | Greek |
| Zosimus | ca. 500 | Thought to have been a philosopher from Ascalon or Gaza. Greek courtier and treasury official. Pagan. Wrote a history from emperor Augustus to AD 410. | Greek |
Historian Franco Cavazzi dedicated hundreds of hours of his life to creating this website, roman-empire.net as a trove of educational material on this fascinating period of history. His work has been cited in a number of textbooks on the Roman Empire and mentioned on numerous publications such as the New York Times, PBS, The Guardian, and many more.