Boys will be Boys: The Portrayal of Youthful Emperors in Roman Imperial Histories and Biographies Britta Signe Johansson BA (Hons, class I) A thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Philosophy at The University of Queensland in 2016 School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry ABSTRACT This thesis examines the portrayal of youthful Roman emperors in imperial histories and biographies, specifically in the works of Suetonius, Tacitus, Cassius Dio, Herodian, and the Historia Augusta. As such, it limits the scope of research to the first three centuries AD. The emperors that fall into this category are Caligula (25 at accession), Nero (16 at accession), Commodus (co-Augustus at age 16; 19 as Augustus), Caracalla (co-Augustus at age 11; joint-rule with Geta at age 23), Geta (co-Augustus at age 20; joint-rule with Caracalla at age 22), Elagabalus (14 at accession), Alexander Severus (13 at accession) and Gordian III (13 at accession). For the purpose of this thesis, the phase of youth will be defined as the period between 13/14 years of age and 28 years, in line with the stages of the human life-course suggested by Macrobius.1 Laes and Strubbe suggest this age boundary as one that was accepted and popular among the ancient Romans.2 They further acknowledge that although people in antiquity did not possess age awareness comparable to modern society, they were not indifferent towards the factor of age. Rather, they discerned a phase between childhood and adulthood to which they did not assign fixed and universal numerological boundaries. Nonetheless, this critical stage of human life was one characterised by restlessness, conflict and change. This thesis studies the imperial histories and biographies of these young emperors alongside the traditional rhetoric associated with ‘good’ and ‘bad’ emperors. In saying this, it will demonstrate that the age of the youthful emperors played a role in excusing or condemning their carefree behaviour. As was typical of histories and biographies, the nature and character of the emperor was believed to significantly affect the quality of their rule. The emperors discussed within this thesis are generally regarded as bad emperors. Thus, they were often portrayed as lacking self-control, and possessing a licentious and cruel nature. However, it is their youth that made these emperors stand above other bad emperors as the worst of the worst. Reaching the highest office at an age where they typically would not have been allowed to enter political life, these young emperors were perceived as never outgrowing their youthful vices. Focusing on three thematic areas of youth (guiding youths, youths and leisure, and narratives of cruelty), this thesis will argue that these authors used the topos of ‘youth’ in order to condemn certain negative aspects of the young emperors’ reigns. While cultural expectations of youth gave them a 1 Macrobius. Comm. Somn. Scip. 1.6.70. 2 Laes and Strubbe 2014: 27-8. i margin of allowance to behave in a youthful manner, typically early on in their reign, the Roman elite authors interpreted the vices that arose from this behaviour as characterising their rule of the Empire. Accordingly, their youth was used as part of the rhetoric of praising and condemning emperors in order to illustrate the inability of a youth to rule in line with expectations of imperial power. ii DECLARATION BY AUTHOR This thesis is composed of my original work, and contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference has been made in the text. I have clearly stated the contribution by others to jointly-authored works that I have included in my thesis. I have clearly stated the contribution of others to my thesis as a whole, including statistical assistance, survey design, data analysis, significant technical procedures, professional editorial advice, and any other original research work used or reported in my thesis. The content of my thesis is the result of work I have carried out since the commencement of my research higher degree candidature and does not include a substantial part of work that has been submitted to qualify for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution. I have clearly stated which parts of my thesis, if any, have been submitted to qualify for another award. I acknowledge that an electronic copy of my thesis must be lodged with the University Library and, subject to the policy and procedures of The University of Queensland, the thesis be made available for research and study in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968 unless a period of embargo has been approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. I acknowledge that copyright of all material contained in my thesis resides with the copyright holder(s) of that material. Where appropriate I have obtained copyright permission from the copyright holder to reproduce material in this thesis. iii PUBLICATIONS DURING CANDIDATURE Paper Title and Details Forum and Details Percentage and Type of Contribution Tacitus and Dio Cassius’ AMPHORAE VIII – 2014 100% - Presentation Perception of Nero and his Advisors Commodus, ‘Manly’ Sports, and AMPHORAE IX – 2015 100% - Presentation Gladiatorial Aspirations The Speech of Faltonius Pacific Rim – 2015 100% - Presentation Nicomachus (HA Tac. 6.1-9) and Anxieties about Young Emperors in the Historia Augusta The Use of Anxieties in the Perspectives on Identity – 100% - Presentation Speech of Faltonius Nicomachus 2015 (HA Tac. 6.1-9) in the Construction of the Identity of Young Roman Emperors Juvenile Delinquents: Narratives ASCS - 2016 100% - Presentation of Cruelty of the Young Roman Emperors Publications included in this thesis None Contributions by others to the thesis No contributions by others. Statement of parts of the thesis submitted to qualify for the award of another degree None iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to take this opportunity to thank the numerous people who have given me so much help and support over the last two years, and without whom this thesis would not be complete. First and foremost, I would like to thank my supervisors Dr. Caillan Davenport and Dr. Janette McWilliam for their help and support. I would especially like to thank my principal supervisor, Caillan, for his time and effort in helping me through the trials and tribulations of my research, and for the constant reminders to persevere. I would also like to thank Ass. Prof. Tom Stevenson, whose door was always open and happy to spare time and give some advice. I would also like to thank my friends and colleagues up on Michie level 5, for their support and distracting conversations, and for reading my numerous drafts. All these scholars have offered me invaluable advice and words of encouragement, and have expanded my knowledge of the ancient world beyond the confines of this thesis. Momentary distractions from the world of a young emperor was always most welcome. Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank my loved ones. Without your constant support, I would not have made it through the last two years. My grateful thanks to my parents, Nerida and Gary, and grandmother, Sherrie, for their unwavering support and constant advice. Particularly to my grandmother for reading my thesis, and my mother for listening to my ideas even if she didn’t know where I was going with them – most of the time I didn’t either. I would also like to dedicate this work to my grandfather, Warner (Pompei) whose memory and insatiable passion for history has continued to inspire me over the years. Finally, to my loving partner Brendan, vir perfectissimus. Thank you for everything – for your constant encouragement; for listening to my ideas and ramblings; for always making me smile; for supporting me to the end. v Keywords roman emperor, youth, imperial, histories, biographies, tacitus, suetonius, cassius dio, herodian, historia augusta. Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classifications (ANZSRC) ANZSRC code: 210306, Classical Greek and Roman History, 100% Fields of Research (FoR) Classification FoR code: 2103, Historical Studies, 100% vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract i Declaration by Author iii Publications During Candidature iv Contributions by Others to the Thesis iv Acknowledgements v Keywords vi Table of Contents viii List of Abbreviations x Introduction I. The Premise of the Thesis 1 II. Youths In Roman Society and Imperial Power 3 III. The Do’s and Dont’s of Being an Emperor: Imperial 5 Virtues and Vices IV. Approaching Roman Imperial Histories and Biographies 7 V. Thesis Structure 11 Chapter One – The Road to Adulthood: Guiding Youths I. Introduction 14 II. All a Part of Growing Up: The Necessity of Guidance 14 III. Elite Roman Males as ‘Good’ Advisors 17 IV. When Things Go Wrong: Resisting Good Advice 22 V. Damned if You Do, Damned if You Don’t: Women as ‘Bad’ 28 Advisors VI. Conclusion 35 Chapter Two – The Young and the Restless: The Leisure Years I. Introduction 38 II. Youthful Pastimes: Leisure, and a Decadent and Debauch 41 Lifestyle II.i. Acting the Part: Youths, Music, and Theatre 41 II.ii. Seeking Virtus: Youths and Gladiatorial Hunts 43 II.iii. Promiscuous Youths: Sexual Pastimes 45 III. Blurred Lines: Tyrannical Emperor or Licentious Youth? 46 III.i. Turning Points: From Youthful Emperor to 46 Tyrannical Ruler III.ii. It’s in Their Nature: Raising a Megalomaniac 58 Youth IV. Conclusion 65 Chapter Three – Juvenile Delinquents: Narratives of Youthful Cruelty I. Introduction 67 II. Models of Impetuous Youths 68 vii III. The Actions of a Princeps: Political Murder and 72 Traditional Tyranny IV. Boys being Boys: Playful Cruelty 77 V. More than Just ‘Boys being Boys’?: Youthful Tyrants 82 VI. Peter Pan Syndrome: Emperors Who Don’t Grow Up 85 VII.