SWETONIUS, SWETOUN. Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, c. A.D. 70-c. 160, was the son of Suetonius Laetus. It appears that he was born in Hippo Regius, Algeria; a monument to him has been unearthed there. His principal surviving work, De vita Caesarum, was written while he was one of the imperial secretaries under Trajan.

The Monk says that Swetonius is the source for his tale of Nero, MkT 2463-2465. Chaucer has, however, used Boccaccio's De casibus virorum illustrium VII.4, and Boethius's De consolatione philosophiae II, Metr 6.1-32; Bo III, Metr 4.1-12. The Monk recommends Swetoun for the facts about Julius, MkT 2720. [Julius: Nero]

Swetonius occurs in final rhyming position, MkT 2465; Swetoun, the shortened form, occurs in medial position, MkT 2720. Both forms are derived through pronunciation of Latin Suetonius, the family's clan name.