Historians served as "promoters of change," using the concept of virtus to help Romans redefine their identity as they moved from citizen-soldiers of a Republic to subjects of an Emperor.
Reclaims virtus for the new imperial system, manifesting it in the person of the Emperor (Tiberius) himself rather than just the collective Roman people. Virtus Romana: Politics and Morality in the Rom...
Adapts the concept for life under autocracy. Under tyrannical rule, virtus becomes less about public glory and more about "private" qualities like constancy, moderation, and endurance . Key Takeaways Historians served as "promoters of change," using the
In her book , Catalina Balmaceda explores how the core Roman concept of virtus (manliness or virtue) evolved as Rome shifted from a Republic to an Empire. By analyzing the works of four major historians—Sallust, Livy, Velleius Paterculus, and Tacitus—she demonstrates that these writers did not just record history, but actively shaped Roman identity and morality through their changing definitions of what it meant to be a "good" Roman. Core Themes & Evolution of Virtus Under tyrannical rule, virtus becomes less about public
Views virtus through the lens of decline. He argues that the loss of external threats ( metus hostilis ) led the Roman nobility to abandon true service to the state, replacing virtus with vices like avarice and ambition.
Scholars of Roman history, historiography, and intellectual history, as well as advanced undergraduates.