L’empereur comme acteur de l’innovation linguistique : le grec des Julio-Claudiens dans les Vies des XII Césars de Suétone

This study examines Suetonius’ Lives of the XII Caesars from the viewpoint of the Julio-Claudians’ use of Greek and Latin. The goal is to highlight the emperors’ role in the developments of bilingual practices in Roman society, at a time of cultural and political transformation. Although educated in Greek language, Augustus mostly expressed himself in Latin in public. Tiberius kept separate uses for each language, stressing the prevalence of Latin in official contexts, such as in the Senate assemblies. Claudius used Greek more openly in official communication, suggesting a wider acceptance by the Roman people. By contrast, Nero was criticised for his admiration of Greek culture. This paper traces the progression of Greek language from a restricted and targeted use to an integrated and institutionalised use, examining the emperors’ roles as both preservers of Roman identity and cultural innovators. Finally, it contributes to our understanding of the complex dynamics between language and power in the early Roman Empire.