He was one of the best-informed men in the empire, held a top position in Hadrian's government, and was, in a sense, at the source. Responsible for imperial correspondence, Suetonius had access to state archives and the letters of Roman authorities. Based on these rich primary sources, he wrote biographies of the first twelve Roman rulers: from Caesar to Augustus, Nero, and Domitian. With information about their lineage, appearance, character traits, as well as military and political achievements - and despite a touch of gossip - Suetonius' biographies of the emperors are an invaluable resource for historians studying the early Roman Empire. They are now available in a complete edition.