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De Casibus Virorum Illustribus ( "On the Fates of Famous Men" ) is a work of Latin prose composed by the Florentine figure Giovanni Boccaccio of Certaldo about moral stories of the falls of famous people. It was part of a classical tradition of historiography dealing with the fortunes and calamities of ancient famous people. Boccaccio's perspective focuses on the disastro awaiting all who are too favored by luck and on the inevitable catastrophes awaiting them. It was written by Boccaccio from 1355 to 1375 and for almost four hundred years the better known of his works and far more widely read then the now famous vernacular Tuscan/Italian work Decameron.[1] In this tale, drawing mainly on examples from classical history, with brief forays into direct moral commentary, the narrator seeks to inspire rulers to a virtuous life. De casibus stems from the tradition of exemplary literature works about famous people.
Contents |
[edit] Lives Recounted
In order, directly translated from Latin edition.[2]
[edit] Book One
- Adam and Eve
- Nembroth
- Saturn
- Cadmus, King of Thebes
- Jocasta, Queen of Thebes
- Thyestes and Atreus
- Theseus, King of Athens
- Priam, King of Troy, and his wife Hecuba
- Agamemnon, King of Mycena
- Samson
[edit] Book Two
- Saul, King of Israel
- Rehoboam, King of the Hebrews
- Athaliah, King of Jerusalem
- The Hebrews
- Dido, Queen of Carthage
- Sardanapalus, King of Assyria
- Zedekiah, King of Jerusalem
- Astyages, King of Media
- Croesus, King of the Lydians
[edit] Book Three
- Tarquinius the Great, King of the Romans
- Xerxes I, King of the Persians
- Appius Claudius, the decemvir
- Alcibiades the Athenian
- Hannibal of Carthage
- Artaxerxes, King of the Persians
[edit] Book Four
- Marcus Manlius Capitolinus
- Dionysius of Syracuse
- Polycrates, tyrant of Samo
- Callisthenes the Philosopher
- Alexander of Egypt
- Darius, King of the Persians
- Eumene, leader of Capadocia and Palagonia
- Olympiade, Queen of Macedonia
- Agathocles, King of Sicily
- Arsinoe, Queen of Macedonia
- Pyrrus, King of Egypt
- Arsinoe, Queen of Crete
[edit] Book Five
- Seleucus and Anthiocus, Kings of Asia and Syria
- Marcus Attilus Regulus
- Syphace, King of Numidia
- Anthiocus the Greater, King of Asia and Syria
- Hannibal, leader of Carthage
- Prusia, King of Bithynia
- Perseus, King of Macedonia
- Pseudo-Philip of Macedonia
- Alexander Bala, King of Syria
- Demetrius, King of Syria
- Alxander Zebenna, King of Syria
- Jugurtha, King of the Numidians
[edit] Book Six
- Gaius Marius of Arpinum
- Cleopatra
- Mithridates, King of Pontus
- Orodes, King of Parthia
- Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus
- Marcus Tullius Cicero
- Marcus Antonius, the Triumvirate and Cleopatra
[edit] Book Seven
- Herod, King of the Jews
- Tiberius Caesar, Gauis Caligula and Valeria Messalina
- Nero Claudius Caesar
- Aulis Vitellius Caesar
[edit] External links
Boccaccio De Casibus Virorum Illustrium - Chaucer influences]
