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A Brief History of Titus Livius (AKA Livy)

 This post is a snapshot of Livy, the great Roman historian. The only surviving work of Livy is his ab Urbe Condita, a history of Rome from its founding up to Livy’s contemporary time, during the reign of Augustus. 

Born Titus Livius in around 59 BC, Livy spent his formative years in an era of civil wars. He was born in Patavium (modern Padua), which was one of the wealthiest cities in the province Cisalpine Gaul. The province was merged with Italy and Julius Caesar granted the inhabitants the status of Roman citizenship. 

It is estimated that Livy went to Rome around 30 BC and began writing while he was there. Unlike many other Roman writers, Livy did not hold any government offices, nor did he serve in the Roman military. It is assumed that he had a level of financial independence and fully devoted himself to writing.

Livy’s history of Rome contains embellishments to highlight Rome as the greatest civilization on Earth and shines a positive light on everything the Romans ever did. Due to this, many modern historians are skeptical about the accuracy of Livy’s work, wondering how much it was edited and changed to portray the Romans in such a way. However, in many cases, it is also one of the only remaining accounts of many of the events that happened throughout the history of Rome. Though it is embellished, the common consensus is that it maintains an adequate level of accuracy.

An important note to someone reading Livy for the first time is that any time Livy quotes a historical figure, it is almost never a direct quote. Unless Livy himself was present for the event, there is no way it is even close to being what was actually said. Livy, like other historians in the ancient world, produced dialogue in his writing by using words to convey the sense or emotion behind what was being said at that point in history. Much of what was said is presented in ways it may not have been during the actual event portrayed. This is due to the fact that many speeches he includes were never recorded. Livy filled in the blanks in a way that would further his purpose in writing, which is to portray Rome and her people as a beacon of honor and strength.

Livy’s history of Rome was very thorough. Many parts of it have not survived through the years. The parts that do survive are used by academics and historians alike as they strive to piece together the events that led to the rise of the Roman Empire. If nothing else, Livy’s writings grant insight into the prevalent views Romans had of themselves during the early stages of the Roman Empire’s formative years.

Livy is thought to have died some time around 17 AD. While much of his work is lost to time, the parts that remain provide valuable information and are still widely used today.

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