Quintus Curtius Rufus (c. 1st century) was a Roman senator, government official, and author who held high offices in the Roman Empire. He climbed steadily up the political ladder during the early years of Emperor Tiberius (r. 14-37), reaching the rank of praetor. Good start aside, his public career was paused after the politically-precarious downfall of the praetorian prefect, Sejanus, in the year 31. As he laid low, Curtius Rufus embarked on his literary achievement, a novel-esque History of Alexander. The author’s political career began to take off again during the time of Emperor Claudius (r. 41-54), in whose reign he achieved the rank of consul, which, in turn, made him a prime candidate for a proconsul governorship. This political revival and the eventual governor appointment, if the legends are true, would have not come as a surprise to Curtius Rufus, for he supposedly had been foretold this fate by a supernatural entity that he had encountered in North Africa. Curiously enough, the source for this fantastical tale was the most respected and sober-minded of the Roman historians, Tacitus (c. 56/57-117+), who wrote:
“When he grew up he had been employed by the assistant to the governor of Africa. At Hadrumetum, while he was strolling alone at midday in a deserted colonnade, a female figure of superhuman stature appeared to him and said: ‘Rufus, you will come to this province as governor.’ Encouraged by the omen he left for Rome, where his energetic personality, aided by subsidies from friends, won him the quaestorship. Then, defeating noble competitors, he became praetor…Curtius lived to an advanced age, gained the consulship, an honorary Triumph, and finally the governorship of Africa—where, his destiny fulfilled, he died” (Tacitus, Annals of Imperial Rome, XI.21).
Further details about the curious legend were recorded by Tacitus’ contemporary and pen-pal, Pliny the Younger (c. 61/62-113). In a letter to his peer, Licinius Sura, Pliny added more information about the supernatural woman and claimed that she visited Curtius Rufus a second time. Pliny wrote, “there appeared to him the figure of a woman, of superhuman size and beauty. To allay his fears she told him that she was the spirit of Africa, come to foretell his future: he would return to Rome and hold office, and then return with supreme authority to the same province, where he would die. Everything came true. Moreover, the story goes on to say that as he left the boat on his arrival at Carthage the same figure met him on the shore” (Pliny the Younger, Letters, 7.27). This originally hope-inspiring prophecy allegedly soon began to haunt Curtius Rufus. Until he gained his governorship, the prophecy had promised Curtius Rufus further promotions and advancement. After reaching the governorship, however, the prophecy promised only death—he would not leave Africa alive. As told by Pliny, “It is at least certain that when he fell ill he interpreted his future by the past and misfortune by his previous success, and gave up all hope of recovery although none of his people despaired of his life” (Letters, 7.27). Believing in the prophecy of his death, Curtius Rufus allegedly lost the will to live and died unexpectedly due to a relatively mild bout of illness.
Written by C. Keith Hansley
Picture Attribution: (The Tiburtine Sibyl And The Emperor Augustus, by a 16th century artist, [Public Domain] via Creative Commons, the MET, and the Library of Congress).
Sources:
- The Annals of Imperial Rome by Tacitus, translated by Michael Grant. New York: Penguin Classics, 1996.
