Tiberius

### **Childhood (42 BC-24 BC)**

Tiberius Julius Caesar was born November 16, 42 BC. This is two years after the assassination of Julius Caesar, so his childhood carries on under the civil war following the assassination. Tiberius' father was Tiberius Claudius Nero and his mother was Livia Drusilla.

Tiberius Claudius Nero had been an officer under Julius Caesar, but had sided with Mark Antony. Thus, the family lived in exile, constantly fearing Caesar Augustus. **"His childhood and youth were beset with hardships and difficulties because Nero and Livia took him wherever they went in their flight from Augustus." -Suetonius**

In 40 BC, while hiding in Naples, Augustus' men broke into the city and the family had to make a quiet escape through the port. The infant Tiberius cried so loudly that he nearly betrayed the whole party. From here, the family moved to Sicily and eventually Sparta. During a nighttime escape from Augustus, Livia scorched her hair while running through a forest fire. When Tiberius turned 3, Augustus declared amnesty for all conspirators.

The family returned to Rome in 39 BC. At this time, Livia pulled a leaf from her husbands book and left Nero for a man who could grant a better future for her and her son: Emperor Augustus. Three months after their marriage, Livia delivered a son named Claudius Nero Drusus. Of course, the father wasn't Augustus, but Nero. Livia wanted her son to inherit the throne, but had no children by Augustus.

Meanwhile, Augustus had been preparing his own two grandchildren, Gaius Caesar and Lucius Caesar to succeed him. These boys were the sons of Augustus' daughter Julia the Elder and his right-hand man, Marcus Agrippa. The parents were both alive, but Augustus adopted the two boys in order to groom them for succession (a common practice at the time).

### **Political and Military Career (24 BC-6 BC)**

Livia's effort to bypass the line of succession did pay for Tiberius. In his early adolescence, Tiberius had the privilege of organizing some gladiatorial games for the Forum. But more importantly, he was allowed to ride on Augustus' chariot following the sucess after the Battle of Actium. At age 18, Tiberius was appointed quaestor, an entry-level magistrate whose responsibility it was to collect taxes or even recruit soldiers in conquered territory. (His skill and energy soon led to a military command.)

In 22 BC, 20 year old Tiberius was dispatched to Iberia as a Tribunus Laticlavius, an officer who served as second-in-command to the Legatus, the head of the Legion. Tiberius served in the northern region of Cantabria. The locals had rebelled against Rome and Tiberius had restored peace by decimating them. This success in Spain would grant Tiberius a more prestigious assignment.

Tiberius was now put at the head of a Legion (does that make him a Legatus?) and sent to Armenia in 20 BC to install a king friendly to Rome. The neighboring Parthians (modern-day Iranians) were not amused and threatened war. Tiberius demonstrated his negotiating skills, making a compromise: a neutral king would rule Armenia, making it a buffer state between Rome and Parthia. In exchange, the Parthians would return three Legionary battle standards captured from Marcus Crassus at the Battle of Carrhae. Tiberius returned to Rome with three Eagles and was hailed as a hero.

In 19 BC, Tiberius married his first wife, Vipsania, who he loved dearly. When the newlyweds had a son, they named him Drusus Julius Caesar.

In 15 BC, Tiberius joins his younger brother Drusus in Gaul, or as Suetonius described it, the **"Long-Haired Providence."** The Gallic chieftains were feuding, but Tiberius brought peace. He then fought in the Alps, Austria, and Germany. He ensured these populations bend the knee to Rome, which secured the northern Empire. During his campaign in Germany, he captured 40,000 German prisoners who he forcibly relocated to Gaul to put an end to their revolts.

Meanwhile. Livia is still ensuring the career progress of Tiberius, and had her eye on the throne for Tiberius. Tiberius went along with her schemes, although we don't know how much he participated in voluntarily. 7.25

Tiberius was Augustus' general, who became emperor after Augustus died. When he came to power, the Rhine Legions started a mutiny. Tiberius sent his nephew, Germanicus, to quell the mutiny. Germanicus used two legions to launch campaigns into Germanica. Germanicus rose in popularity, which scared Tiberius. Tiberius claimed that the campaigns wasted a lot of resources, so Germanicus was sent to Syria, where he died under mysterious circumstances.

Tiberius later becomes fed up and isolates himself in Capri. He leaves matters to his Praetorian prefect, Sejanus. Sejanus used his position to pursue and kill his own rivals, and planned to kill Tiberius. Tiberius discovered Sejanus' plot, and had Sejanus assassinated. Tiberius becomes paranoid after this and begins purging people in treason trials. At some point, Tiberius forces Caligula's mother and brothers into committing suicide. Caligula is likely only spared because he is young. Tiberius had Caligula stay with him in his villa on his island of Capri. This was a sick game, in which Tiberius forced 19-year-old Caligula to stay with the man who killed his family. Here, Caligula witnessed Tiberius' perversion. Tiberius "played" with underage boys and girls, before having them tossed over a cliff to meet their demise. Tiberius grows fond of Caligula. Tiberius is quoted as saying "I am nursing a viper for the Roman people."

Tiberius is very unpopular at this point. When he gets sick, news spreads across the empire that he died, and people cheer. Some shout that Tiberius should be thrown into the Tiber River. Tiberius actually isn't dead, so one of his guards suffocates him, and Germanicus' son, Caligula, takes over as emperor.