People > Quintus Marcius Rufus

Quintus Marcius Rufus

Background

Quintus Curtius Rufus was a Roman historian and biographer best known for his work on the life and exploits of Alexander the Great. Despite the gaps in his biography and the criticisms of his historical accuracy, his writings offer a vivid account of Alexander's conquests and have been influential in shaping the legacy of one of history's most famous military leaders. Here is a detailed overview of Curtius Rufus and his work:

Personal History and Date

• Unknown Personal History: Little is known about the personal life of Quintus Curtius Rufus. There are no definitive records of his birth, life, or death, and much of what is inferred about him comes from his writings.
• Probable Date: Modern scholars generally place Curtius Rufus in the 1st century AD, likely flourishing during the reign of Emperor Claudius (AD 41–54). This dating is based on stylistic and contextual analysis of his work, as well as references to historical events and figures that suggest this timeframe.

Work: "De Rebus gestis Alexandri Magni"

• Title and Structure: His work, known as "De Rebus gestis Alexandri Magni" ("On the Deeds of Alexander the Great"), originally consisted of ten books. However, the first two books are entirely lost, and the surviving eight books are incomplete in places.
• Content and Style: Curtius Rufus's account is noted for its engaging and picturesque style, focusing on the dramatic and personal aspects of Alexander's life and campaigns. Despite its literary qualities, the work is often criticized for its lack of critical historical methodology.
• Sources and Reliability: Curtius Rufus appears to have drawn on earlier sources such as Cleitarchus, a historian of Alexander's campaigns. However, his work is uncritical, displaying notable inaccuracies in geography, chronology, and military matters. This has led some scholars to question the reliability of his account as a historical document.

Criticisms and Contributions

• Criticisms:

  • Geographical and Chronological Errors: Curtius Rufus's work is marred by numerous geographical and chronological inaccuracies, reflecting either his lack of knowledge or the unreliable nature of his sources.
  • Lack of Military Understanding: His descriptions of military events and strategies often reveal a lack of understanding of military science, further undermining the historical accuracy of his work.
  • Rhetorical Focus: As a rhetorician, Curtius Rufus prioritized dramatic and rhetorical elements over factual accuracy, which has led to criticisms from modern historians.

• Contributions:

  • Vivid Narrative: Despite its flaws, the work of Curtius Rufus provides a compelling and vivid narrative of Alexander the Great's life, offering insights into his character and the dramatic events of his campaigns.
  • Influence on Later Historiography: Curtius Rufus's account has been influential in shaping the popular image of Alexander the Great in later historical and literary traditions. His work contributed to the mythologizing of Alexander as a larger-than-life figure.
  • Preservation of Stories: The work preserves stories and anecdotes about Alexander that might have otherwise been lost, offering a valuable, if imperfect, glimpse into ancient perceptions of the Macedonian conqueror.

Conclusion

Quintus Curtius Rufus remains an enigmatic figure whose work on Alexander the Great, despite its historical inaccuracies, has had a lasting impact on the historiography of Alexander. His "De Rebus gestis Alexandri Magni" is both a flawed historical document and a masterful piece of rhetorical literature, reflecting the complexities of historical writing in the ancient world. While modern historians approach his work with caution, it continues to be an important source for understanding how Alexander was viewed by later generations and how his legend was constructed and perpetuated.

Sources

There are numerous editions: (text) T. Vogel (1889), P. H. Damste (1897), E. Hedicke (1908); (with notes), T. Vogel (1885 and later), M. Croiset (1885), H. W. Reich (1895), C. Lebaigue (1900), T. Stangl (1902). There is an English translation by P. Pratt (1821). See S. Dosson, Étude sur Quinte-Curce, sa vie, et ses œuvres (1887) a valuable work; F. von Schwarz, Alexander des Grossen Feldzüge in Turkestan (1893), a commentary on Arrian and Curtius based upon the author’s personal knowledge of the topography; C. Wachsmuth, Einleitung in das Studium der alten Geschichte (1895), p. 574, cf. p. 567, note 2; Schwarz, “Curtius Rufus” No. 31 in Pauly-Wissowa (1901).

1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, Volume 7

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