Publius, or Gaius, Cornelius Tacitus (56?? AD-120?? AD), Roman historian. Known for two partially preserved works of history on the Roman republic and empire: the
Annals (covering 14 AD-68 AD) and the
Histories (69 AD-96 AD). He is also known to have written the
Agricola, a biography of his father-in-law
Gnaeus Julius Agricola, but that is now almost entirely lost.
Tacitus was primarily concerned with the concentration of power into the hands of the Roman emperors. His writings are filled with tales of corruption and tyranny, and display a particular hatred for the emperor Tiberius.