Revolts in the Army

Question 1

According to Tacitus, what were the three main reasons for the mutinies among the soldiers? (3 with 2 quotes)

Answer 1

• A mutiny broke out in the legions of Pannonia “which could be traced to no fresh cause except the change of the emperor…and of profit from civil war”
• The soldiers were tired of army life and having to face much harder conditions than the praetorians who were paid more
• They mutinied in the hope that Germanicus “would not be able to endure another’s supremacy and would offer himself to the legions”

Question 2

According to Velleius Paterculus, what were the main reasons for the mutinies? (2)

Answer 2

• Soldiers were frustrated and had a desire to cause chaos due to there being a new leader and constitution
• They wanted to fix their own level of pay and terms of their engagement

Question 3

Who did Tiberius send to deal with the revolts in the army?

Answer 3

• His deputies and sons Drusus and Germanicus

Question 4

Where were the revolts at the beginning of Tiberius’ reign? (2)

Answer 4

• Pannonia

- Germany

Question 5

Who did Tiberius send to Pannonia to subdue the revolt?

Answer 5

• Drusus, his natural born son

Question 6

Who did Tiberius send to Germany to subdue the revolt?

Answer 6

• Germanicus, his adopted son

Question 7

According to Tacitus, who did Drusus take with him to Pannonia?

Answer 7

• Two battalions of the Praetorian Guard and the pick of his own German bodyguard

Question 8

According to Tacitus, who accompanied Drusus to Pannonia as his advisor?

Answer 8

• L. Aelius Sejanus

Question 9

According to Tacitus, what instructions did Tiberius give Drusus? Quote?

Answer 9

• Directed him “to act as the circumstances required”

Question 10

According to Tacitus, what was good about how Drusus handled the revolt?

Answer 10

• He listened to the soldiers’ demands and was to grant them any concession that could be awarded without the necessity of senatorial debate

Question 11

According to Tacitus, what did Drusus have trusted officers suggest to the men?

Answer 11

• It would be unwise to treat the emperor’s son with hostility

Question 12

What did Drusus promise the soldiers?

Answer 12

• Fair and merciful hearing from his father if discipline was restored

Question 13

How does Tacitus write of Germanicus?

Answer 13

• Favourably, downplaying the negative aspects, but cannot hide Germanicus’ poor leadership

Question 14

According to Tacitus, who did Germanicus bring with him to the revolt?

Answer 14

• His wife and son

Question 15

According to Tacitus, what did Germanicus do wrong?

Answer 15

• Gave a speech praising Tiberius and warning against civil war - completely disregarded the soldiers and their grievances

Question 16

According to Tacitus, what did Germanicus do when the soldiers did not relent? What what the response (quote)?

Answer 16

• He threatened to stab himself

- A soldier offered his sword and said “take mine, it’s sharper”

Question 17

According to Tacitus, what was Tiberius’ reaction to Germanicus’ handling of the revolt?

Answer 17

• “he rejoiced” that the mutiny was crushed, but Germanicus’ methods and fame as a soldier “annoyed him”

Question 18

According to Tacitus, what did Tiberius do to appear pleased at Germanicus’ handling of the revolt? (quote)

Answer 18

• “brought his achievement under the notice of the senate and spoke of his greatness in language elaborated for effect”

Question 19

What did Germanicus do to keep the troops in Germany occupied/distracted?

Answer 19

• Led them across the border where they were instructed to recover the standards lost during the Varus disaster

Question 20

How many expeditions did Germanicus lead into Germany? When? What was his motive?

Answer 20

• 3
• 15-17 AD
• He hoped to regain Roman military prestige

Question 21

Though Germany was never conquered, what was Germanicus able to do? (2)

Answer 21

• Defeat those who had betrayed Varus

- Recover 2/3 of the lost standards

Question 22

What does Tacitus tell us about Tiberius’ reaction to Germanicus’ achievements?

Answer 22

• “Tiberius did not approve” although he was honoured in 17 AD (on his return to Rome) with a triumph

Question 23

Tiberius was aware that Germanicus was anxious to seek personal glory. Who did he dispatch to Syria to keep an eye on him?

Answer 23

• Calpurnius Piso

Question 24

What gave Germanicus higher authority than Piso?

Answer 24

• Maius Imperium

Question 25

What Augustan rule did Germanicus break?

Answer 25

• He entered the province of Egypt without permission from the princeps

Question 26

List 4 ways in which Tacitus tells us Piso attempted to undermine Germanicus

Answer 26

• Made a scathing speech about him to Athens
• Bribed the legions in Syria to revolt (before Germanicus got there), replacing the centurions with his own men
• At a banquet, when Germanicus was presented with a bigger crown than Piso, he threw his to the ground and insulted Germanicus
• When Germanicus returned from Egypt he discovered that all his orders had been reversed or undermined by Piso

Question 27

In terms of the whole Piso situation, what characteristics does Tacitus identify about Germanicus? Give an example for each (3)

Answer 27

• Highlights his good nature (he knew of Piso slandering him yet set triremes to help when Piso was stuck on some rocks during a storm)
• Civil (when Piso threw a tantrum because his gold crown was smaller, Germanicus held his tongue)
• Views himself as emperor in waiting (took an unauthorised trip to Egypt)

Question 28

What does Tacitus tell us happened after Germanicus’ death?

Answer 28

• Piso’s house was searched and skeletal remains and curse tablets were found (points to witchcraft)

Question 29

What did Germanicus supposedly say as he was dying? What does this imply?

Answer 29

• “I die surrounded by my enemies”

- Implies foul play

Question 30

What does Suetonius tell us of Tiberius’ reaction to Germanicus’ death?

Answer 30

• He showed no remorse and cut short the mourning period

Question 31

What was the public’s reaction to Germanicus’ death? What does this suggest?

Answer 31

• They shouted in the streets “give us back Germanicus”

- Suggests they blamed Tiberius

Question 32

What did Agrippina the Elder do shortly after Germanicus’ death?

Answer 32

• Refused an apple from Tiberius as she thought it was poisoned

Question 33

Agrippina the Elder’s insistence of Tiberius’ involvement in Germanicus’ death led to what? (3)

Answer 33

• She was exiled to a prison island
• Flogged so badly she lost an eye
• Tiberius ordered the senate to decree her birthday as a day of ill-omen

Question 34

What posthumous honours did Germanicus receive? (3)

Answer 34

• Triumphal arches
• Statues
• Inscriptions

Question 35

Did Tiberius show up to Germanicus’ funeral ceremonies?

Answer 35

• Nope

Question 36

How did Piso end up?

Answer 36

• Acquitted of murdering Germanicus but committed suicide whilst awaiting trial for misconduct in the provinces

Question 37

There was no evidence that Germanicus was poisoned, but the rumours were bound to cause problems for Tiberius. What quote from Tacitus shows Tiberius’ anticipation for consequences?

Answer 37

• “anticipated malevolence among senators and others”