Tiberius (RESET) Flashcards
(52 cards)
How does Tacitus portray Tiberius? What did he have to base his account on?
- Tacitus portrays Tiberius as cryptic, harsh, perverted, reitcent, and cold. The emperor, here, is inscrutable to the senate. He stands in stark contrast to Augustus and is presented as an unworthy successor (Annals 1.10.7),
- His account is not first-hand, but based on documents he had access to as a senator, existing literary accounts, and unverifiable rumours.
What perspective does Tacitus write from?
- Writes as a senator and often portrays events in the context of the relationship between emperor and senators,
- Claims that he is writing to teach moral lessons (Annals 3.65), highlights failings so they are not repeated.
How does Suetonius portray Tiberius initially?
Acknowledges that Tiberius was at first respectful and courteous to the senate (Tiberius 27, 29-32). This changing after his son’s death in AD 23 (Tiberius 33).
What does Velleius Paterculus say of Tiberius?
Is highly positive in his view of Tiberius’ reign.
What is a contradiction between Suetonius and Paterculus?
Suetonius (Tibby 47) claims that ‘no magnificent public works’ took place under Tiberius. Paterculus (HoR 2.130.1-2) describes his ‘magnificent public buildings’. The disparity between the works is marked and should caution us about being over-credulous.
What did Tiberius lack compared to Augustus? What did Tiberius, thus, need to do?
Although he was given proconsular imperium equal to Augustus, and had been groomed publicly as his successor, he lacked the auctoritas that Augustus had acquired through his long pre-eminence and particular personality.
Immediately he had to be seen to exercise power, while at the same time appearing to the Senate unwilling to do this, so that they might confer upon him the authority to exercise that power. By trying not to offend the Senate, he laid himself open to the blatant hypocrisy as written by Tacitus.
What initial hardship did Tiberius face in his reign? What caused this issue?
Hampered by the rebellion of the Pannonian legions (Annals, 1,16-18) and a second mutiny by the German legions in Mainz (Annals, 1.28-35). Neither of these were political in nature, although the German legions did prefer Germanicus for emperor, but were motivated by the fact that many soldiers had been underpaid or had exceeded their terms of service, yet had not been released. Highlights that, during periods of accession and transfer of power, the opportunity for crisis was far greater.
For what reason does Tacitus claim the Pannonian revolt began?
(Annals 1.16)
1. That the mutiny ‘could be traced to no fresh causes except the change of emperors and the prospect it held out of license in tumult and of profit from civil war’,
2. A man named ‘Percennius, who had once been a leader of one of the theatrical factions, then became a common soldier, had a saucy tongue, and had learnt from his applause of actors how to stir up the crowd. By working on ignorant minds, which doubted as to what would be the terms of military service after Augustus.’
Who was Drusus the younger?
Drusus the younger, 13BC - AD23, was the legitimate son of Tiberius. He received tribunician power in 22 AD, marking him for succession, but was murdered the following year. He is not to be confused with Drusus, Tiberius’ brother.
How did Tiberius handle the Pannonian revolt?
Tiberius who had already irked the Senate (Annals 1.11-12), especially Asinius Gallus, despatched Drusus the younger to deal with the Pannonian rebellion, while Germanicus subdued the German legions.
How does Tacitus portray the quelling of these rebellions?
He highlights the character traits of both Tiberius and Germanicus. In 1.46 Tiberius appears highly ineffective to his contemporaries; while in 1.52, when the mutinies are eventually suppressed, his delight is mixed with concern that Germanicus has now become too popular with the soldiery.
How does Paterculus portray Tiberius’ response to the rebellion?
His account of the mutinies (HoR 2.125.1-5) by contrast presents the accession as seamless. Tiberius seems to deal with the mutinies almost overnight by his ‘long experience as an army commander’ (2.15.3)
What started the conflict between Tiberius and Germanicus?
- Augustus forced Tiberius into adopting Germanicus in AD 4, Tiberius was expected to further the man’s career as a potential successor,
- Tiberius, however, already had a son, Drusus the Younger, so this was problematic,
- Moreover, Germanicus was a capable military leader who inspired loyalty in his troops, as revealed by their desire to make him emperor (Tacitus, Annals 1.35.3; Paterculus 2.125.1). This popularity perturbed Tiberius and, according to Tacitus (1.62.2), made him see Germanicus as a threat.
How did Tiberius remove Germanicus from the political scene in 17 AD?
When problems arose in the eastern provinces, particularly Judaea and Syria, Tiberius suggested that Germanicus settle matters. This had the advantage of seeming to utilise his capabilities, but separated him from the region of his military support. Tiberius also simultaneously replaced the governer of Syria with Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso.
Who was Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso?
Appointed governer of Syria in AD 17 to assist Germanicus in his eastern mission. The two men fell out, and Piso was implicated in Germanicus’ death in AD 19.
What does Tacitus write of Piso’s intentions in Syria?
According to Tacitus, Piso believed he was in Syria to curb Germanicus’ hopes. Tacitus highlights how groups within the imperial court attached to different potential successors: people flocked to Germanicus because of Tiberius’ personality.
What does Tacitus write of Germanicus and Piso travelling to Syria, AD 18?
In 18 AD, on his way east (Annals 2.53; 2.55), Germanicus was welcomed and lauded everywhere he stopped. Yet Piso, travelling behind him, stopped in all the same places and undermined him (2.53). Piso overtook Germanicus at Rhodes and arrived in Syria first, where he began to turn the legions to his side through ‘lavishness and favouritism’ (2.55). The men finally confronted each other and parted in open hatred (2.57).
What does Tacitus write of Germanicus and Piso in the Syrian campaign, AD 19?
The year AD 19 begins with Germanicus visiting the province of Egypt, but without the permission of Tiberius (Annals 2.59-60). Tiberius saw this as a serious challenge to his authority, and indeed his permission was needed, in keeping with the Augustan practice. While Germanicus was away, Piso continued to undermine Germanicus’ activities (2.69.1) (‘Germanicus meanwhile, as he was returning from Egypt, found that all his directions to the legions and to the various cities had been repealed or reversed,’) and upon his return to Syria, Piso elected to leave. However at this point Germanicus fell severely ill and died. He was convinced that Piso had poisoned him (2.69-71) and that Tiberius was involved.
What were Germanicus’ supposed last words to his wife?
In his dying words to his wife Agrippina (the Elder), Germanicus warned her not to anger those in power. Agrippina the Elder was mother of the future emperor Gaius and granddaughter to Augustus.
What happened to Piso after Germanicus’ death?
He was brought back to Rome for trial, the main charge was that of stirring up civil war in the province of Syria. Piso committed suicide when he realised that Tiberius would not assist him. The Senate still passed a series of judgements over him and his sons, but we get the impression that Tiberius was trying to resolve the matter as quickly as possible.
What does Tacitus highlight from the events surrounding Germanicus’ death?
Uses this episode to highlight Tiberius’ cruelty and his disconnection from the plebs. When news of Germanicus’ illness reached Rome, the people grieved in mass, speculating that Tiberius was partly responsible. Tiberius refused even to meet Agrippina when she returned with Germanicus’ ashes, and limited the public honours, encouraging the people to stop grieving. Tiberius appears cold and distant, and Tacitus suggests no real grief for the loss of his adopted son.
What does Paterculus write of the events surrounding Germanicus’ death?
(HoR 2.130.3-130.5) glosses over Germanicus’ death as merely one of Tiberius’ misfortunes, with the real issue being the ‘sorrow, fury, and shame’ that he was forced to endure because of the subsequent hostility of Agrippina and her sons.
Who was Lucius Aelius Sejanus?
Prefect of the Praetorian Guard from AD 14 until his execution in AD 31.
What does Tacitus accuse Sejanus of being?
In the Annals, if Tiberius is the villain, Sejanus is the right-hand man. His character is vilified like no other in the Annals. He is accused of being sexually perverse (4.1), corrupt, power hungry (4.1), and able to manipulate Tiberius to a tremendous degree (4.1).
