Following in the Footsteps of Lucullus? Tacitus's Characterisation of Corbulo

Abstract

An examination of how Tacitus responds to representations of Nero's commander, Corbulo, probably idealised posthumously as a hero under the Flavian dynasty. Since Tacitus knew that his readers would have certain expectations about Corbulo's presentation in the Annals, he creates instead a problematised portrait of the general, which highlights the perpetual tensions in the imperial power structure between centre and periphery (and between image and reality). The paper suggests, using comparisons drawn primarily from Plutarch, that Tacitus shows Corbulo repeatedly replaying significant moments from the career of the republican general, Lucullus, and that Corbulo's standing as a general suffers as a result. Yet there is more at stake here than the reputation of an individual commander. This nexus of connections between Corbulo and Lucullus, highlighted by Tacitus, must prompt readers to make comparisons: in the end, Corbulo cannot really emulate Lucullus, because the worlds in which the two men operate have changed so much.

Language and Meaning in Tacitus’ Annals

“… 21 Ash 2006 and 2018, discussed above, proposes a more problematic characterisation of Tacitus’ Corbulo, negatively intensified through allusions to Lucullus.…”