153:
257:
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379:, "All the Books That Survive of the Histories of Alexander the Great of Macedon." Much of it is missing. Apart from his name on the manuscripts, nothing else certain is known of him. This fact alone has led philologists to believe that he had another historical identity, to which, due to the accidents of time, the link has been broken. A few theories exist. They are treated with varying degrees of credibility by various authors. Meanwhile, the identity of Quintus Curtius Rufus, historian, is maintained separately.
33:
428:
766:. He did some writing to gratify his own interests, such as the translation of Curtius, which reveals the depth of his education and research. He remained so unself-confident that he did not put his name on the work. In the Preface, he begins one footnote with "As a stranger to antiquarian studies, I hesitate to point out ...." He was certainly no stranger. The book received professional reviews, becoming popular.
391:
emperor. The emperors intended to publish it posthumously but did not find a political opportunity. They had adopted the identity of
Alexander for themselves. The provinces fashioned from the Macedonian Empire were difficult to govern, always on the point of rebellion. The work of Curtius, Pratt conjectures, was not politically appropriate because it would have encouraged independence.
467:) due to failure to obtain a stable emperor, with an incident of the Roman Empire in which the risk of the civil war was avoided by the appointment of a new emperor in a single night. Not very many incidents fit the description. Baynham summarizes the argument of Julius Nützell that the crisis might be the night of 24/25 January, 41 AD, following the assassination of
80:
701:, or first printed edition, was published in 1470 or 1471 at Venice by Vindelinus Spirensis. A slow but steady stream of editions appeared subsequently until more of a need for standardization was perceived. In 1867 Edmund Hedicke instigated a convention that persists yet. He based his edition of that year on the five best manuscripts.
603:
If
Curtius took office at the minimum age of 25, and Tiberius made his comment in the year of his own death, Curtius would have been 19 or younger when described as a self-made man. In an age when Alexander had become regent of Macedon at 16, a rise to fame at 19, and consulship at 25, would not have
494:
under Roman dominion." The peace of the empire came to an end in 43 AD when
Claudius invaded Britain. None of these dates are certain, but the union of all the ranges presents a credible view of Curtius' date. Baynham says: "many modern scholars now accept a date in the middle to late part of
418:
of
Macedonia. New coins and medals were issued in Macedonia on Alexandrian themes. Pratt conjectures that the manuscript in storage, by this time damaged and partly destroyed, was published finally, accounting for the previous lack of references to it. It is also possible Books I and II along with
455:
recusing themselves from Greek overlordship and restoring a purely
Iranian empire. It defended itself successfully against Rome, even though Rome absorbed what was left of the Macedonian kingdoms. The dates of the Parthian Empire are 247 BC through 224 AD. Although Curtius may have been
390:
Curtius' work is uniquely isolated. No other ancient work refers to it, or as far as is known, to him. Peter Pratt pointing out that the Senate and emperors frequently proscribed or censored works, suggests that
Curtius had not published the manuscript before his death, but left it in care of the
709:
In what remains of his work, Curtius mainly does not identify sources. They were, perhaps, stated in the missing books. Speculations of what they were based on thorough analysis of the content and style vary widely. Yardley and Heckel say: "The internal evidence for
Curtius' sources is
444:, which casts the empire as the restoration of monarchy for the suppression of the civil wars fomented by the contention of powerful noblemen vying for control of the Republic. Curtius' glowing endorsement of the policy dates him to the Roman Empire.
152:
604:
been incredible. Tiberius would have been a senior emperor when
Curtius came to his attention. What his qualifications were for the patronage remain obscure. If, on the other hand, Quintus Curtius Rufus is to be identified with
435:
The dating available relies entirely on internal evidence, which is not certain but offers some degree of preponderance. In Book X Curtius digresses to give an encomium on blessings of peace under the empire, citing the
641:, all deriving from an original in the 9th century. As it was a partial text, already missing large pieces, they are partial as well. They vary in condition. Some are more partial than others, with
1132:"Quintus Curtius [History of Alexander] with an English translation by John C. Rolfe (2 voll., Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd, 1971-76)"
600:. Tacitus hints that Curtius was of low birth, possibly the son of a gladiator. The story is only compatible with the name if one assumes adoption, which Tiberius could easily have arranged,
649:, "books," equivalent to our chapters. Book I and II are missing, along with any Introduction that might have been expected according to ancient custom. There are gaps in V, VI, and X. Many
596:
unless politically incorrect would have impressed the scholarly
Claudius. Tiberius already had been an admirer before the book: he said that Curtius Rufus was his own ancestor; i.e., a
456:
writing about an empire that vanished in his own day, the most straightforward approach assumes that he wrote in a window, 63 BC (start of the Roman Empire) through 224 AD.
538:
The candidates for the historical identity of the author are but few. Given the time frame of the mid-1st century, however, there is a credible candidate. He is a certain
762:. His employment was to research and publish documents on the East Indies trade. He expanded that process into writing universal history books, such as the
608:, Consul Suffect of 43, then the most likely circumstantial evidence places his birth in the early years of the 1st century, in the reign of Augustus.
1286:
256:
483:. His reign concentrated on the restoration of the rule of law. A lawyer, he issued up to 20 imperial edicts per day, re-establishing the
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1204:
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98:
1004:
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1050:. Bibliotheca scriptorum Graecorum et Romanorum Teubneriana (in Latin). Berolini ; Novi Eboraci : Walter De Gruyter.
620:
372:
247:
917:, pp. 3–4. They are B for Bernensis, F for Florentinus, L for Leidensis, P for Parisinus, and V for Vosianus.
1271:
17:
1083:. Clarendon Ancient History Series. Introduction and historical commentary by J. E. Atkinson. Oxford; New York:
236:
726:. All accounts based on them are by analogy also termed "primary." These works are also called "the Vulgate."
1056:
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was emperor then. Curtius' relations with
Caligula are not mentioned. But Caligula was not in his vicinity.
527:. Moreover, the same name tended to be repeated, typically from grandfather to grandson. After centuries of
995:
653:, or "places," throughout are obscure, subject to interpretation or emendation in the name of restoration.
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once. These men were participants in the Alexander story and therefore are counted as eyewitnesses, or
54:
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45:
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other loci were censored out. As the emperors probably had surmised, it was immediately popular.
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The upper limit is provided by a passage that mentions the "continued prosperity of
406:. The emperor attempted to build national pride among the former Macedonian states.
260:
Qui. Curse En La Vie Alexand. Le Grand, illumination from manuscript located at the
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of Africa during that time, which would have given him the opportunity to use the
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The earliest opportune moment was the year 167, when the campaign of the emperor
367:, probably of the 1st century, author of his only known and only surviving work,
487:. If this argument is correct, Curtius' work must be dated to after 41 AD.
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with the implication of contemporaneity. In essence he reasserts the policy of
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had failed, and the returning troops were in bad morale and infected with the
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758:, pp. xvi–xxi): The lesser-known Pratt was a clerk in the library of
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414:, returning veterans, was promoted to Consul. He claimed descent from the
32:
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on that day. The Senate met on an emergency basis to debate whether the
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forced its way in to insist on the appointment of Caligula's uncle,
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that developed since the 9th century. The original contained ten
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1205:"Quinte-Curce, Histoires, VIII-X, orientations bibliographiques"
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679:
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452:
634:
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180:
1014:
Hamilton, J.R. (1988). "The Date of Quintus Curtius Rufus".
313:
1244:. A slightly different version on the ForumRomanum website.
1180:"Events Immediately After Alexander's Death; Curt. 10.6-10"
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for October through December, 43 AD under the emperor
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might turn up in history at any location or in any period.
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992:
Alexander the Great: The Unique History of Quintus Curtius
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Curtius, Rufus Quintus (1896). Humphreys, Willard (ed.).
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495:
the first century A.D. as a likely floruit for Curtius."
377:
Historiarum Alexandri Magni Macedonis Libri Qui Supersunt
290:
1081:
Curtius Rufus, Histories of Alexander the Great, Book 10
1058:
The History of the Life and Reign of Alexander the Great
1027:. Penguin Classics. Translated by Yardley, J.C. London:
660:. It is the main source for a genre of tales termed the
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By his name, Quintus Curtius Rufus was a member of the
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Rufus, Quintus Curtius. Khunji, Amir-Hussain (ed.).
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has been omitted. Presumably it is Quintus.) In the
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1134:(in Latin and English). Hathi Trust Digital Library
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1006:Selections from the History of Alexander the Great
958:, "Philippic History," Books 11-12 (in epitome by
1160:"Historiarum Alexandri Magni Libri Qui Supersunt"
1263:
1025:Quintus Curtius Rufus: The History of Alexander
929:, Introduction: C. Curtius' Sources and Models.
93:for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling
1070:. Vol. I, Books I-V. Cambridge; London:
463:contrasts the civil wars of the Macedonians (
1068:Quintus Curtius, with an English Translation
459:For further localization, the same imperial
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382:
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710:disappointing." He does, however, mention
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117:Learn how and when to remove this message
1209:Bibliothèque des Sciences de l'Antiquité
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833:, p. xii On Book IV, Chapter 4, 21.
569:in a year or two before the consulship.
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592:On Curtius' return, a book such as the
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1061:. Vol. I. London: Samuel Bagster.
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950:, p. 1 identifies five: Curtius,
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704:
1287:Historiography of Alexander the Great
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573:says that he was on the staff of the
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1146:Huyse, Philip (1993, updated 2011).
674:, which was written in the style of
73:
26:
682:. These romances spilled over into
656:The work enjoyed popularity in the
24:
1211:. Université Lille. Archived from
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664:(some say romances); for example,
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1186:. irantarikh.com. Archived from
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373:Histories of Alexander the Great
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1023:Heckel, Waldemar, ed. (2004) .
1016:Zeitschrift für alte Geschichte
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451:. It was formed by the eastern
1248:Works by Quintus Curtius Rufus
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714:, a historian in camp, twice,
237:Silver age of Latin literature
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1:
1184:History of the Persian Empire
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996:University of Michigan Press
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7:
1203:Sébastien, Barbara (2010).
1048:Q. Curtius Rufus: Historiae
1046:Lucarini, Carlo M. (2009).
990:Baynham, Elizabeth (1998).
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558:. He had been a protégé of
131:1st-century Roman historian
44:to comply with Knowledge's
10:
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565:He must have written the
369:Historiae Alexandri Magni
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161:. Leiden: Elzevier, 1664.
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1238:on LacusCurtius website.
1158:Rufus, Quintus Curtius.
1148:"Curtius Rufus, Quintus"
1072:Harvard University Press
1066:Rolfe, John C. (1971) .
1009:. Boston: Ginn & Co.
741:
626:Manuscripts and editions
475:should be restored. The
159:Historia Alexandri Magni
57:may contain suggestions.
42:may need to be rewritten
1116:"Quintus Curtius Rufus"
1085:Oxford University Press
157:Quintus Curtius Rufus.
1272:1st-century historians
1079:Yardley, J.C. (2009).
976:, "Life of Alexander."
956:Gnaeus Pompeius Trogus
869:, Book XI, Section 21.
499:Most credible identity
432:
269:
1242:Latin text of Curtius
1236:Latin text of Curtius
1152:Encyclopaedia Iranica
579:Library of Alexandria
548:List of Roman consuls
515:, people of the name
447:He also mentions the
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273:Quintus Curtius Rufus
259:
145:Quintus Curtius Rufus
1074:; William Heinemann.
134:For other uses, see
1190:on 20 December 2003
821:, pp. 205–207.
705:The vulgate authors
666:Walter of Chatillon
227:Alexander the Great
1277:1st-century Romans
1055:Pratt, P. (1809).
1018:. Bd. 37: 445–456.
969:Anabasis Alexandri
433:
423:Most credible date
270:
262:Laurentian Library
225:Life and times of
97:You can assist by
1164:The Latin Library
662:Alexander Romance
412:Legio III Gallica
375:", or more fully
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233:Literary movement
127:
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16:(Redirected from
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1217:. Retrieved
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1167:. Retrieved
1162:(in Latin).
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1120:. Retrieved
1118:. Livius.org
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113:
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91:copy editing
89:may require
88:
60:
51:You can help
41:
927:Heckel 2004
712:Cleitarchus
671:Alexandreis
639:manuscripts
637:, or bound
519:(or female
505:Curtii Rufi
187:Citizenship
1266:Categories
756:Pratt 1809
718:once, and
485:Pax Romana
167:Occupation
99:editing it
1114:(2014) .
954:Book 17;
774:Citations
720:Timagenes
631:Historiae
614:Historiae
594:Historiae
567:Histories
544:praenomen
453:satrapies
416:Seleucids
385:alter ego
365:historian
212:Biography
171:Historian
55:talk page
1219:10 March
1194:10 March
1169:10 March
1138:10 March
1122:10 March
974:Plutarch
730:See also
587:Caligula
583:Tiberius
575:Quaestor
560:Tiberius
556:Claudius
513:adoption
481:Claudius
469:Caligula
442:Augustus
431:Claudius
360:) was a
266:Florence
177:Language
983:Sources
867:Annales
716:Ptolemy
643:lacunae
635:codices
571:Tacitus
533:Curtius
517:Curtius
222:Subject
216:history
136:Curtius
1282:Curtii
1091:
1035:
972:, and
964:Arrian
960:Justin
680:Aeneid
676:Virgil
529:Curtii
521:Curtia
208:Genres
197:Period
53:. The
742:Notes
647:libri
542:(The
362:Roman
203:41 AD
181:Latin
1221:2022
1196:2022
1171:2022
1140:2022
1124:2022
1089:ISBN
1033:ISBN
697:The
690:and
651:loci
612:The
531:, a
492:Tyre
1250:at
962:);
678:'s
371:, "
355:fl.
314:ɜːr
264:of
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337:uː
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297:t
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282:ˈ
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