Abstract
This thesis analyzes early Roman imperial literature and its representation of provincials of Gallic and Germanic origin in the first century CE. I focus on the literary conceptualization and portrayal of the provincial identities in relation to the Roman Empire and the Roman identity. I examine and analyze three case studies involving the provincials and their interactions with the Romans in the imperial context. First, the German bodyguards of the Julio-Claudian emperors occupied a difficult and alien position in the literature as suspected foreigners in arms planted inside the capital against Roman citizens. The Gallic revolt of 21 in Tacitus’ Annals questions the effectiveness of civitas in managing the provinces and presents the discourse of division between the provincials and Romans as an oratorical tool for both provincial and Roman sides. The narrative of the Batavian Revolt of 69-70 in the same author’s Histories raises similar questions and further explores the discourse of integration and division. Throughout the thesis, I see identities as fluid and circumstantial and both provincials and Romans negotiated with identities to justify and gather support for their respective causes. The Empire persistently forms the background of these negotiations and ultimately dictates the terms and confirms the outcomes of them.