Horace says more about himself than any other ancient poet does, and our main source for his life must be his own poems. A subsidiary authority is the ancient Vita abbreviated from Suetonius, De Poetis; his official posts under Hadrian enabled him to quote the correspondence of Augustus.

From Venusia to Philippi (65-42 bce)

Quintus Horatius Flaccus was born on 8 December 65 bce; the Romans cared more than the Greeks for dates and birthdays. His birthplace was Venusia (Venosa) on the border of Apulia and Lucania (Satires 2.1.34-5). He recalls the mountains of his homeland (Satires 1.5.77-8, Odes 3.4.9-16) and the river Aufidus or Ofanto (Odes 3.30.10, 4.9.2), but the ties were not to last.

Horace was the son of a freedman, though he himself was born free (cf. Satires 1.6.8). Moderns have speculated about Greek or even Eastern roots, but he seems to have regarded himself as a Sabellus or Samnite (Epistles 1.16.49, cf. Satires 2.1.35-6); his father had perhaps been enslaved as a result of capture in the Social War. The reproach of servile origin rankled (Satires 1.6.45-8), but was later exploited by the poet when he wished to exaggerate the humbleness of his background (Epistles 1.20.20).