the problem of succession Flashcards
unit 7 (33 cards)
There was an inherent tension for those aspiring to become Emperor between who?
- Those in the Julio-Claudian family
AND - Those who sought the title by excelling in politics and warfare
Who is ultimately chosen to be Augustus’s successor? What was this successor’s most difficult task?
TIBERIUS - A member of the Claudian family, selected as a final resort after all other adult males in Augustus’s family had died
MOST DIFFICULT TASK:
Following an Augustus’s wake, he was taking over a role which was still not formalized.
In terms of administration, what did Tiberius’ reign mark the beginning of? What were two aspects of this new type of administration?
True Imperial Administration rising to power that answered only to the princeps.
1. The power of the Senate was gradually eroded
2. Many members were of equestrian rank
The Imperial Administration was further expanded under who? What was a new significant feature of this expansion?
CLAUDIUS - A new feature was the use of freedmen and trusted enslaved people within the administration.
During the time of the imperial administration, there was an alternative form of advancement for equestrians. What was it?
PRAETORIAN GUARD
What was the praetorian guard?
A specially recruited force created by Augustus that was stationed near Rome.
- Supposed to protect the emperor.
- Became especially influential over the Emperor in the Imperial family during the Julio-Claudian.
What can the history of the Julio-Claudian’s succession be understood as a product of?
It can be understood as a product of:
- uncertainty regarding the right of succession among the Julio-Claudian’s
combined with
- the influence of the prefect of the pretorian guard
When Tiberius came into power, what was one of his first acts as emperor? What else happened during the beginning of his reign
- Execution of Agrippa Postumus - Adopted son of Augustus and potential rival to Tiberius
- He began to become increasingly suspicious of Germanicus - Augustus had forced Tiberius to adopt him.
Throughout Tiberius’s rain, who did he rely on?
PRAETORIAN GUARD AND SEJANUS, THE PRAETORIAN PREFECT
How did Sejanus attempt to maneuver his family into the line of succession during Tiberius’ reign?
- He appears to have murdered Drusus - husband of Livilla (daughter of Germanicus) and son of Tiberius.
- Executed numerous prominent Romans on charges of maiestas
In terms of succession, who became the heir of Tiberius?
TWO HEIRS (meant to be co-heirs)
1. Tiberius Gemellus, grandson of Tiberius
2. Caligula, son of Germanicus
Although Tiberius intended to have two heirs, what occurred after his death in 37 CE?
- Caligula bribed the Pretorian Guard to force Tiberius Gemellus as well as Sutorius Macro to die by suicide.
- Caligula then executed many other prominent men whom he suspected of stirring up a revolt.
- 41 CE Caligula and his family were killed by the praetorian guard.
After the death of Caligula, who became Emperor? What was notable about this new emperor? What was his concern?
CLAUDIUS (uncle of Caligula)
- had a disability
HIS MAIN CONCERN:
- that others would not perceive him as a legitimate heir to the principate because of his disability and his DISTANT blood relation to Augustus
Who became the successor to Claudius?
CO-HEIRS (cuz that went so well last time)
1. Britannicus, son of Claudius
- he was too young so Claudius adopted another
2. Nero, grandson of Germanicus and now adopted son of Claudius
What occurred after Claudius died in 54 CE?
- Agrippina, mother of Nero, eliminated rivals to her son.
- As Nero got older, he resisted being led by Agrippina and her friends
- Nero had Britannicus poisoned and after Agrippina refused to condone his marriage to his mistress, he had Agrippina killed.
- In the last years of his reign, Nero had many other potential rivals eliminated
- Eventually the public and the armies turned against him. When the praetorian guard accepted a bribe and revolted, Nero was forced to die by suicide
What was one of Augustus’s points of pride?
The establishment of the Pax Romana.
What is the evidence of stabilization that occurred from the end of the Battle of Actium (31 BCE) till Nero’s death (69 CE)?
There were no serious threats of civil war during this time.
How did Augustus stabilize the Roman army and the provinces?
He enacted a series of reforms that worked to fully professionalize the army.
In 27 BCE, Augustus divided the empire into two types of provinces. What were these types of provinces? Who administered them?
- Senatorial provinces - administered by ex-magistrates
- Imperial provinces - administered by equestrian legates
Augustus chose the Imperial provinces as they were the most unsettled areas. Why did he make this decision?
These unsettled areas required a larger military presence. By Augustus controlling these provinces, he also controlled the whole of the Roman army.
Describe aspects of the Roman army that furthered the control that Augustus had over them.
- Men were paid from the imperial treasury and given a discharge bonus when they retired
- Led by a military hierarchy
- at the base was equestrians, then provincial legates, then the emperor at the top - Soldiers were recruited primarily among Roman citizens as well as heavily Romanized areas
Why was joining the Roman army a good option?
- steady income
- bonus upon retirement
- while active, could expect to live in the same fort
- prospect of auxiliaries - light army fighting units of locals that would receive a bonus and a citizenship upon discharge
What were two important campaigns that occurred during the Julio-Claudian era? What was notable about each campaign?
- EAST - Rome faced Parthians
- one of Augustus’s greatest moments was returning surviving Roman prisoners as well as the legionary standards they had lost during the battle of Carrhae to the Parthians - WEST - Rome faced a disunited collection of various peoples that were relatively poor and were not united politically
- Augustus experienced his greatest military setback when three Roman legions were ambushed in massacred by Germanic tribes in the Teutoburg forest
Which two scenes does the Gemma Augustea depict? What does it represent?
- Upper Scene - Augustus as Jupiter sitting next to Livia, who represents the goddess Roma.
- Lower Scene - Roman soldiers are setting up a trophy and on their right are captive German soldiers being taken away and sold into slavery
IT REPRESENTS The Pax Romana
