Tacitean studies, centred on the work of Tacitus, the ancient Roman historian, constitute an area of scholarship extending beyond the field of history. The work has traditionally been read for its moral instruction, its narrative, and its inimitable prose style; Tacitus has been most influential as a political theorist, outside the field of history. The political lessons taken from his work fall roughly into two camps : the "red Tacitists", who used him to support republican ideals, and the "black Tacitists", those who read his accounts as a lesson in Machiavellian realpolitik.
Justus Lipsius's 1598 edition of the complete works of Tacitus.
Monks like Einhard were the only readers of Tacitus for most of the Middle Ages.
Leonardo Bruni was the first to use Tacitus as a source for political philosophy.
Niccolò Machiavelli resembles Tacitus in his pessimistic realism, but he himself preferred Livy.
Publius Cornelius Tacitus, known simply as Tacitus, was a Roman historian and politician. Tacitus is widely regarded as one of the greatest Roman historians by modern scholars.
Statue of Tacitus outside the Austrian Parliament Building
The title page of Justus Lipsius's 1598 edition of the complete works of Tacitus, bearing the stamps of the Bibliotheca Comunale in Empoli, Italy
