imperial family Flashcards
cruelty to his brother before he was emperor
his brother Drusus wrote to him privately suggesting they should jointly compel Augustus to restore the republican constitution; Tiberius placed the letter in Augustus’ hands
Cruelty to his exiled wife
His exiled wife Julia: Augustus had confined her to a single town, Tiberius restricted her to a single house with visitors forbidden. Deprived her of Augustus’ annual sums (claimed they weren’t on the will)
Why did Livia annoy him, and her importance
Tiberius claimed his mother Livia vexed him by wanting to be co-ruler. Avoided meetings and private talks, though he did occasionally need and follow her advice
What about Livia greatly offended him
Proposals of “Son of Livia” as well as “Son of Augustus” to be added to his honourifics greatly offended him, he vetoed proposals of conferring her the title “Mother of Her Country” or any other notable honour
what did he often warn Livia
Often warned her to remember she was a woman and should not interfere with affairs of state
His relationship with Livia
Quarrelled openly with his mother
Livia asked him to enroll a man on the jurors list
Tiberius agreed as long as the entry be marked “forced upon him by his mother” to enroll a man on the jurors list that Livia had repeatedly urged him to.
What did Livia do that made him retire
She produced a box of letters from Augustus commenting on Tiberius’ sour and stubborn character
(Same say the main reason for his retirement to Capreae)
Visiting Livia
-he visited her once(1/2 hours) in her last three years, did not visit when she fell sick
After Livia’s death
did not attend her funeral
After several days her corpse grew corrupt and noisome, he sent for it to be buried,move toed her deification
Annulled her will began taking his revenge on all her friends and confidants
After Drusus’s death
when Drusus died he appeared perfectly unconcerned. Went back to his usual business as soon as the funeral ended, he cut short the period of official mourning.
A Trojan delegation arrived with condolences “May I condone you,min return, on the death of your eminent fellow Hector?”
What did Suetonius say Tiberius said about Germanicus
Described Germanicus’ “glorious victories” as wholly ineffective and harmful to the commonwealth
“He actually” Sent the Senate a letter of complaint when Germanicus hurried to Alexandria without consulting him.
(but we know Germanicus was a fool, Suetonius’ bias)
Why was Alexandria forbidden
Suetonius says he hurried there “on account of a sudden disastruous famine)
Alexandria: its strategic position as the chief source of grain for Rome, Egypt was administered s an imperial possession. No senator was allowed to visit it without explicit imperial permission, high Germanicus had not obtained.
Who may have killed Germanicus
even believed that he had Gnaeus Piso, governor of Syria, to Poison Germanicus, he would have provided the instructions during trial but they had been taken from him.
public love for Germanicus
“Give us back Germanicus” written on the walls throughout Rome and shouted all night.
How did Tiberius strengthen public suspicion about Germanicus
Tiberius strengthened popular suspicion by his cruel treatment of Agrippina and her children
His treatment of Agrippina (not bad)
- Agrippina protested after her husbands death
At dinner she seemed scared to taste an apple he handed to her, the invitation to his table was never repeated. Suetonius claims that this was stage managed so that he could know her feelings for him. He said that she had charged him with attempted poisoning
Falsely accused her of planning to take refuge behind the image of Augustus (her grandfather)
Exiled her to Padantaria.
In punishment for Agrippina’s violent protests
In punishment for her violent protests he ordered a centurion to give her a violent flogging, in the course of which she lost an eye
Agrippina tried to kill herslef
She decided to starve herself to death, he had her jaws prised open for forcible feeding she succeeded
Further cruelties to Agrippina after her death
Persuaded the senate to decree her birthday a day of ill omen
Boasting of his clemency for not having her strangled and thrown out on the Gemonian Stairs.
Allowed a decree to be passed congratulating him on this pious attitude and voting a golden gift to Jupiter Capitolinus.
Germanicus’ sons
Germanicus’s sons (Tiberius’ adoptive grand-sons) :Nero, Drusus, Gaius.
Was kind to Germanicus’ sons
recommended Drusus and Nero to the senate, celebrated their coming of age ceremonies by giving the people largesse
Showed he didn’t really like his grandson-s
When the senate added prayers for Nero and Drusus’ safety as well as his own, he reprimanded them stating it should only be reserved to men who had served their country long and meritoriously.
How did Tiberius have Nero and DRusus killed
- made them liable to all sorts of accusations
- had people manipulate them into making abusive complaints.
- Gave him grounds for writing the senate so harsh a letter of complaint that they were both declared public enemies and put to death
Nero’s death
Nero: Island of Pontia, believed to have been forced to commit suicide as the executioner announced he had come with the senate’s warrant, displayed the hanging noose and the hooks to drag him to the Tiber.
- Their bodies were chopped into so many pieces that they could hardly be collected for burial.
Drusus’s Death
Drusus: in a cellar of the Palantine deprived of food, so starved he tried to eat the stuffing of his mattress
- Their bodies were chopped into so many pieces that they could hardly be collected for burial.
Tiberius’ opinion of Sejanus
Tiberius felt no affection for Sejanus, but had given him plenary powers as being efficient and cunning enough to do what was required of him. (To get rid of Germanicus’ children and his own Grandson through Drusus succeed him)
How was Drusus killed
poison administered by Drusus’ wife Livilla and Sejanus
the Effect of finding out who had really killed Drusus
When he discovered his son Drusus had died by poison administered by his wife Livilla and Sejanus he grew enraged. Redoubled his cruelties, spent whole days investigating.
Tiberius’ real opinion of Gaius
Harbouring suspicions of his grandson Gaius, hated him for having been born from adultery
didn’t want any heirs (just something Suetonius says)
Used to envy Priam for having outlived his entire family
After exiling Agrippina and her sons what did he do
After exiling Agrippina and her two sons, moved them from one place to another in a closed litter with their wrists and ankles fettered and a military escort
Why did Tiberius get rid of Sejanus (According to Suetonius)
Becoming aware that Sejanus was plotting a usurpation.
Why did Tiberius find it difficult to get rid of Sejanus
His birthday was being publicly celebrated, golden statues to him raised everywhere
Tiberius honours Sejanus (just before getting rid of him)
Tiberius appointed him in his 5th consulship
Made Sejanus believe he would soon marry into the imperial family and be awarded Tribunician power.
Tiberius begins Sejanus’ downfall (prepares for different eventalities
Sent the senate a shamefully abject message begging that one of the consuls should fetch him, a poor lonely old man, into their presence under military escort
Precautions against the feared revolt, if necessary his grandson Drusus should be released from prison and appointed commander
Thought of joining some provincial army, waited on a cliff top for the distant signal, a naval flotilla standing by
