Cornelius Tacitus, a Roman Senator during the first century A.D., is considered to be one of the greatest historians from antiquity. His "Histories" is a classic chronicle of the turbulent transition that occurred following the suicide of Roman Emperor Nero and the Flavian dynasty. During the course of a single year, 69 A.D., Rome was catapulted into a period of chaos and civil war. Cornelius Tacitus's "Histories" is the story of this year and the four successive Roman Emperors of the period. Written just thirty years following the occurrence, Tacitus's work is praised for its authenticity and detailed accuracy.