Module 8: Julio-Claudians Flashcards
Emperors Relationship with the Amry
Tiberius: Strong from background
Gaius: Popular
Claudius: Realised he needed to do better.
Nero: Despised.
Changing role of Princeps - Tiberius
Efficient economic manager: minimal building projects and reduced tax.
Boosted Senate involvement in government by bringing comitia votes to them.
More autocratic government.
Changing Role of Princeps - Gaius
Autocratic
Living god which the senate despised
Relied on traditional patronage system (higher class to lower class benefits)
Changing role of princeps - Claudius
Relied on PG heavily to centralise Roman power and decreased senates control - wanted military loyalty.
Changing role of princeps - Nero
Marinated Claudius’ changes but tyranny alienated the classes and army of Rome.
Relationship with the senate - Tiberius
Understood/relied on the senate to sustain executive responsibility.
Elections from magistraies in comitia were converted to the senate.
Replaced Augustus consilium with friends and 20 men elected from senate.
Tiberius respected and asked of the senate on what to do - Sejanus interfered.
Relationship with the senate - Gaius
Comitia elections returned to the public
Removed maiestra trials
Started fine relationship but when he got sick it went bad:
Reintroduced maiestras
Spent all treasury money and wanted senators too
Right to vote magistrates was brought back to people.
Accused senate of plotting against him - assassinated.
Relationship with the senate - Claudius
PG brought him to power, so he out to sustain relation, in turn bringing senates power down - also to increase efficiency.
More Autocratic.
Changing relationship with the senate - Nero
Initially good under influence, when poppea and Tigerlus (?) was introduced, tyranny began.
Initially agreed to senates dubious laws
Then clashed at finance, neglect duties and became an enemy of the senate.
Tiberius - reforms and policies
Political: dismissed corrupt officials, PG put in one camp.
Religion: Didn’t like own worship and banned foreign cults.
Administrative: reduced tax, aid to provinces and kept good governors in office longer.
Gaius - reforms and policies
Political: recalled what Tiberius exiled, right to elect magistrates was returned to people.
Social: revived gladiator games
Religion: defied as god: wanted Jews in Judea to worship, threatened to build statues.
Administrative: abolished sales tax and finished Tiberius building projects, died before his started.
Claudius - reforms and policies
Social: celebrated secular games
Legal: extended judicial periods, raised minimum wage
Religion: traditional Roman, allowed temples of him in camulodunum Britain.
Administrative: centralised gov on freedmen.
Nero - reforms and policies
Legal: abolished capital punishment, slaves could take legal action against masters.
Religion: defied himself as sun god, hated Christian’s.
Who was Sejanus?
Chief administrator in Rome. Was the sole commander of praetorian guard under Tiberius rule. Trusted greatly and controlled day-to-day life when Tiberius went to island of capri. Wanted to marry livilla to become emperor and pursue power. Eventually found out and killed along with family and followers.
Tiberius - changing image
Sustained Augustan government
Gaius - changing image
Destroyed Augustun republic facade and created the association between princeps and tyranny.
Claudius - changing image
Conservative and sustained Augustan rule, aligned with PG heavily and was easily influenced.
Nero - changing image
Started good under influence but. Senate didn’t like him. Later influence from tigellius and poppaea made him a tyrant.
Tiberius - Role of PG
9 cohorts merged to one camp, they respected Tiberius during to military background and this allowed Sejanus rise.
Role of Sejanus
Convinced Tiberius ATE plotted against him. Given permission to exile her and 2 sons, Gaius was left.
Approved candidate for consulship - something emperor could only do originally.
Gaius - Role of PG
Popular due to Germanicus
Supported by Marco as he: became prefect, purged Sejanus and Tiberius. Later became prefect of Egypt to prevent ascension.
Nero - Role of PG
Positive initially under influence.
Livia’s succession
Called Tiberius to Nola Campania to witness Augustus death to ensure he becomes princeps.
Germanicus’ succession
Success in Germany and awarded for triumph and consulship with Tiberius.
ATE’s succession
Exiled initially by sejanus, Gaius was left though and ascended to the throne after their downfall
ATY’s succession
Married Claudius for reputation and tie-in into princeps. Got Burrus and Seneca to boost Nero’s reputation against britannicus.
Threatened to support britannicus when Nero become more independent
Effect of Nero’s Death
Failed revolt from vindex’s 100,000 men, backed by Galba, Otho, Cacina and Macer.
Nero later committed suicied and Galba came to power by the senate and PG.
Main Consequence: No Julio-Claudian successor and emperors could fight for power if they had the army and followers to back them.
Year of the 4 Emperors
Galba (7): Couldn’t face Roman Aristocracy, citizens nor army.
Otho (3): Wanted to restore what Galba couldn’t address above.
Battle of Bedriacum against Vitelius occurred, Otho lost and committed suicide.
Vitellius (1): Backed properly, but replaced PG with urban cohorts made of German troops. Egypt brought Vespasian to rival and they defeated - Vitellius is captured and killed in Tiber River.
Vespasian: Legal heir to Julio-Claudians and the fruit of the Flavian Dynasty.
