ANNALISTS, writers of annals (annales, chronicles, properly year-books) ; a name commonly given to a group of Roman writ ers to whom is due the formation of the conventional history of Rome from the earliest times. It is alleged that from the begin ning it was customary to keep a record of all important events; that these records, restored as far as possible after the Gaulish invasion, were continued down to the pontificate of P. Mucius Scaevola ; and that the 8o books of the annales maximi embodied the substance of them. In modern times, great and well-founded doubt has been expressed as to the age and accuracy of these supposed chronicles (cf. ROMAN HISTORY : Authorities) . At all events, the oldest annalists, from the time of the Second Punic War, used such public records as they could find, supplementing them with family traditions and, in all probability, filling gaps largely from their own or their Greek preceptors' imaginations, since Rome seems to have been extraordinarily poor in sagas and myths of all kinds. In course of time a sort of orthodox pseudo tradition grew up concerning the earliest history of Rome (cf. EVANDER, ROMULUS). The annalists may be divided into two groups, the earlier, from Fabius Pictor (q.v.) to Piso, being, on the evidence of Cicero (de orat., ii. 53) very plain and una dorned in style, while the later, mostly of the time of Sulla, were more literary and rhetorical. Caelius Antipater (see below) seems to mark the turning-point ; he had, says Cicero, little learning and no great stylistic ability, but he polished his work as well as he could. Some of the chief names are as follows: Q. Fabius Pictor and L. Cincius Alimentus, contemporaries of Hannibal, who took the latter prisoner; both wrote histories of Rome from the foundation to their own day, and both wrote in Greek. M. Porcius Cato (q.v.) who wrote in Latin; L. Cassius Hemina, about 146 B.C. ; L. Calpurnius Piso Censorius Fruci, consul B.C. It is noteworthy that Livy thinks him less trustworthy than Fabius, and that he is often cited for details plainly ficti tious (cf. Piso). Of the later group Quintus Claudius Quad rigarius (about 8o B.c.) wrote a history, in at least 23 books, which began with the conquest of Rome by the Gauls and went down to the death of Sulla or perhaps later. He was freely used by Livy in part of his work (from the sixth book onwards). A long fragment is preserved in Aulus Gellius (ix. 13), giving an account of the single combat between Manlius Torquatus and the Gaul. His language was antiquated and his style dry, but his work was considered important. Valerius Antias, a younger con temporary of Quadrigarius, wrote the history of Rome from the earliest times, in a voluminous work consisting of 75 books. He is notorious for his wilful exaggeration, both in narrative and numerical statements. Nevertheless, Livy at first made use of him as one of his chief authorities, until he became convinced of his untrustworthiness. C. Licinius Macer (died 66), who has been called the last of the annalists, wrote a voluminous work full of rhetoric and of authorities anything but certainly authentic. Hav ing been convicted of extortion, he committed suicide (Cicero, De Legibus, i. 2, Brutus, 67 ; Plutarch, Cicero, 9) .
The writers mentioned dealt with Roman history as a whole; some of the annalists, however, confined themselves to shorter periods. Thus, L. Caelius Antipater (about i 20) limited himself to the Second Punic War. He was regarded as the most careful writer on the war with Hannibal, and one who did not allow him self to be blinded by partiality in considering the evidence of other writers (Cicero, De Oratore, ii. 12) . Livy made great use of him in his third decade. Sempronius Asellio (about Ioo B.e.) military tribune of Scipio Africanus at the siege of Numantia, composed Rerum Gestarum Libri in at least 14 books. As he himself took part in the events he describes, his work was a kind of memoirs. He was the first of his class who endeavoured to trace the causes of events, instead of contenting himself with a bare statement of facts. L. Cornelius Sisenna (119-6 7) , wrote 23 books on the period between the Social War and the dictator ship of Sulla. His work was commended by Sallust (Jugurtlia, 95), who, however, blames him for not speaking out sufficiently. Cicero remarks upon his fondness for archaisms (Brutus, 74, 259). Sisenna also translated the tales of Aristides of Miletus. The autobiography of Sulla may also be mentioned.
BIBLIOGRAPHY. Historicorum Romanorum Fragmenta (1883) . See Bibliography. Historicorum Romanorum Fragmenta (1883) . See also Fragments in H. Peter, Historicorum Romanorum Reliquiae (187o, 1906), and ROME, History (ancient) ad. fin., section "Authorities," and LIVY, where the use made of the annalists by the historian is discussed ; Pauly-Wissowa, Realencyclopddie, art. "Annales"; the histories of Roman Literature by Teuffel-Schwabe and Schanz-Hosius (bibl.) (H. J. R.)