How did the Roman Empire descend into the chaos of civil war during the year AD 69, and what does this collapse reveal about the nature of imperial power? Tacitus, a prominent Roman senator and historian, utilizes his access to political archives and his own experience within the Roman administration to analyze the rapid succession of four emperors. He presents a critical examination of the fragility of the principate and the destructive influence of the military on political stability.

Scholars and historians regard this work as a foundational text for understanding the political volatility of the early Roman Empire. Readers frequently note the dense, cynical prose style that characterizes Tacitus's critique of power and corruption.