Tiberius

Julio-Claudian Dynasty

• AD 14-68
• Directly or indirectly related to Augustus
• Control of military power more important than any other consideration
• Autocratic nature of imperial power soon apparent
  • Unpleasant surprise for the wealthy
• Control of/access to emperor main path to power for non-emperors

Tiberius (AD 14-37)

• At death of Augustus, already in possession of substance of imperial power
  • After initial charade in senate, is given all of Augustus' powers
    • Refuses title pater patriae
• Mutinies on Rhine, Danube at time of succession
  • Troops unhappy about terms of service
  • Tiberius sends sons Drusus and Germanicus to deal with mutinies
    • Emperor cannot risk personal prestige
    • What if he is spurned?
  • Troops soon brought under control with minor concessions
    • No further troubles with them for 200 yrs.
• Fails to grasp nature of system
  • Wants senate to take substantive role in governing
    • Unrealistic expectation given imperial powers
    • Angry when it refuses to take initiative
    • Sarcastic, sardonic, obscure
    • Not "people person"
      • Lousy as "resource manager"
    • Indicisive
• Allows treason trials to get out of hand
  • Unscrupulous junior senators and others bring charges against the famous and/or wealthy
  • Outcomes very uncertain
    • Leads to much anxiety among the senators
• Dynastic troubles
  • Bad relations with Germanicus
  • Worse relations with his widow AGrippina (granddaughter of Augustus)
  • Praetorian praefect Sejanus worms his way into Tiberius' affections
    • Gets Tiberius to arrest Agrippina and her elder two sons
    • Adultery with wife of Tiberius' son Drusus and murder of Drusus?
      • Part of plot to marry widow and become guardian of young emperor?
    • Sejanus destroys foes in senate
    • Persuades Tiberius to leave Rome in AD 26
    • Sejanus destroyed by Tiberius in AD 31
      • Sejanus' power rests solely on Tiberius' favor
      • Tiberius' motives in destroying Sejanus. unclear
      • Tiberius worried about loyalty of praetorian guard
        • More proof of Tiberius' failure to understand system
        • Preatorian guard loyalty to house of Augustus, not their commander
      • Downfall of Sejanus famous incident in antiquity
    • Downfall of Sejanus does nothing to help Agrippina and sons
• Uniform joy at Tiberius' death
  • Leaves two heirs at death, no clear successor
    • a) Gaius son of Germanicus and b) the emperor's own (younger) grandson
    • More proof of indecision
    • Irresponsible act