The Language of Revolt: Tacitus’ Portrayal of Military Dissidence in the Histories

Megan M. Daly (University of Florida)

In the Histories 1.4, Tacitus tells us that once the secret of the empire was revealed, namely that the princeps could be made elsewhere than at Rome, all men throughout the empire down to “the most degenerate slaves” were affected in one way or another. The military and its generals were by no means an exception to this. In fact, with Nero’s death the soldiery was quickly flung into a chaotic whirlpool of influences, a confused mixture of old allegiances and new mutinous intrigues complicated by donatives, gifts of citizenship, and images of power.

With such a wide variety of motives in play, mutiny rears its head in many forms in the Histories. It is fueled by different types of agents, and then played out and resolved in various ways, oftentimes sparking the next step in the comedy of errors. Yet in spite of this complicated framework, Tacitus manipulates certain elements of language to color each uprising in a certain light. In 1.14, for example, when Galba realizes the severity of mutiny in Germany, he gathers a council and announces his adoption of Piso. Hoping that this will improve their situation, the council decides to publicly declare this decision first in the camps. Tacitus’ language from this point in 1.17 on through 1.18 becomes particularly crafty in terms of depicting the delicate ambiance of the military. Beginning this section with mention of gloomy weather and ill omens, Tacitus follows with a summary of Galba’s sober address, emphasizing his awkward gesture towards the sedition, the disappointed expectations and reactions of the men, then the doom which Galba’s “antiquus rigor et nimia severitas” will bring. With the color and careful arrangement of words Tactius constructs a narrative thick with the intensity of military dissidence. Within this very short span of text, the reader sees an emperor attempt a resolution to mutiny, but instead fuel even more discontentment and spark the flame of his own destruction at the hands of his troops. By using meticulously engineered description, Tacitus spares no expense in his portrayal of impending ruin due to military strife.