Written c. 100-110, Tacitus' Histories covers the Year of Four Emperors following the downfall of Nero (69 AD), the rise of Vespasian, and the rule of the Flavian Dynasty (69-96) up to the death of Domitian.
| Book 1:1-49. | The short reign of Galba. |
| Book 1:50-90. | Otho, now emperor, prepares to take the field against the rival claimant Vitellius. |
| Book 2:1-51. | Otho's forces are defeated by those of Vitellius at Bedriacum; Otho commits suicide. |
| Book 2:52-101. | Vitellius now emperor, but yet another claimant, Vespasian, is raising troops in the Orient. |
| Book 3:1-25. | Vitellius' forces challenged by Vespasian's in Italy. |
| Book 3:26-62. | Vitellius' forces give way rather fast, eventually only holding Rome and the Latium. |
| Book 3:63-86. | Vitellius murdered in Rome by troops favoring Vespasian. |
| Book 4:1-37. | Batavian units in the Roman army revolt under Civilis. |
| Book 4:38-53. | Politics and maneuvering in Vespasian's Rome and in the eastern theater of operations. |
| Book 4:54-79. | The Batavian War with Civilis, continued. |
| Book 4:80-89. | A view into the psyche and concerns of Vespasian and his son Domitian. |
| Book 5:1-13. | The beginning of the Judaean War under Titus. |
| Book 5:14-26. | The end of the Batavian War, more or less — although the fate of Civilis is left hanging as our manuscripts abruptly fail. |