ROBERT

See also:

• ROBERT DINWIDDIE (1693-1770)

DINWIDDIE (1693-1770)  , English colonial governor 'Io ropia), Dio Cassius had dedicated to the emperor Severus of Virginia, was born near Glasgow, Scotland, in 1693 . From the an account of various dreams and prodigies which had position of customs clerk in Bermuda, which he held in 1727-1738, presaged his elevation to the throne (perhaps the 'EvS a he was promoted to be surveyor-general of the customs " of attributed to Dio by Suidas), and had also written a biography the southern ports of the continent of America," as a reward 1 of his fellow-countryman Arrian . The history of Rome, which consisted of eighty books,—and, after the example of Livy, was divided into decades, began with the landing of Aeneas in Italy, and was continued as far as the reign of Alexander Severus (222–235) . Of this great work we possess books 36-6o, containing the history of events from 68 B.C.–A.D . 47; books 36 and 55-6o are imperfect . We also have part of 35 and 36-8o in the epitome of John Xiphilinus, an firth-century Byzantine monk . For the earlier period the loss of Dio's work is partly supplied by the history of Zonaras, who followed him closely . Numerous fragments are also contained in the excerpts of Constantine Porphyrogenitus . Dio's work is a most important authority for the history of the last years of the republic and the early empire . His industry was great and the various important offices he held afforded him ample opportunities for historical investigation . His style, though marred by Latinisms, is clearer than that of his model Thucydides, and his narrative shows the hand of the practised soldier and politician; the language is correct and free from affectation . But he displays a superstitious regard for miracles and prophecies; he has nothing to say against the arbitrary acts of the emperors, which he seems to take as a matter of course; and his work, although far more than a mere compilation, is not remarkable for impartiality, vigour of judgment or critical historical faculty .

The best edition with notes is that of H . S . Reimar (1750–1752), new ed. by F . G . Sturz (1824–1836) ;

text by I . Melber (1890 foil.), with account of previous editions, and U . P . Boissevain (1895–1901) ; translation by H . B . Foster (Troy, New York, 1905 foil.), with full bibliography; see also W . Christ, Geschichte der griechischen Litteratur (1898), p . 675; E .

Schwartz in Pauly-Wissowa's Realencyclopadie, iii. pt . 2 (1899) ; C .

Wachsmuth, Einleitung in das Studium der alien Geschichte (1895) .