the problem of succession

Question 1

There was an inherent tension for those aspiring to become Emperor between who?

Answer 1

1. Those in the Julio-Claudian family
   AND
2. Those who sought the title by excelling in politics and warfare

Question 2

Who is ultimately chosen to be Augustus’s successor? What was this successor’s most difficult task?

Answer 2

TIBERIUS - A member of the Claudian family, selected as a final resort after all other adult males in Augustus’s family had died
MOST DIFFICULT TASK:
Following an Augustus’s wake, he was taking over a role which was still not formalized.

Question 3

In terms of administration, what did Tiberius’ reign mark the beginning of? What were two aspects of this new type of administration?

Answer 3

True Imperial Administration rising to power that answered only to the princeps.
1. The power of the Senate was gradually eroded
2. Many members were of equestrian rank

Question 4

The Imperial Administration was further expanded under who? What was a new significant feature of this expansion?

Answer 4

CLAUDIUS - A new feature was the use of freedmen and trusted enslaved people within the administration.

Question 5

During the time of the imperial administration, there was an alternative form of advancement for equestrians. What was it?

Answer 5

PRAETORIAN GUARD

Question 6

What was the praetorian guard?

Answer 6

A specially recruited force created by Augustus that was stationed near Rome.
- Supposed to protect the emperor.
- Became especially influential over the Emperor in the Imperial family during the Julio-Claudian.

Question 7

What can the history of the Julio-Claudian’s succession be understood as a product of?

Answer 7

It can be understood as a product of:
- uncertainty regarding the right of succession among the Julio-Claudian’s
combined with
- the influence of the prefect of the pretorian guard

Question 8

When Tiberius came into power, what was one of his first acts as emperor? What else happened during the beginning of his reign

Answer 8

1. Execution of Agrippa Postumus - Adopted son of Augustus and potential rival to Tiberius
2. He began to become increasingly suspicious of Germanicus - Augustus had forced Tiberius to adopt him.

Question 9

Throughout Tiberius’s rain, who did he rely on?

Answer 9

PRAETORIAN GUARD AND SEJANUS, THE PRAETORIAN PREFECT

Question 10

How did Sejanus attempt to maneuver his family into the line of succession during Tiberius’ reign?

Answer 10

1. He appears to have murdered Drusus - husband of Livilla (daughter of Germanicus) and son of Tiberius.
2. Executed numerous prominent Romans on charges of maiestas

Question 11

In terms of succession, who became the heir of Tiberius?

Answer 11

TWO HEIRS (meant to be co-heirs)
1. Tiberius Gemellus, grandson of Tiberius
2. Caligula, son of Germanicus

Question 12

Although Tiberius intended to have two heirs, what occurred after his death in 37 CE?

Answer 12

1. Caligula bribed the Pretorian Guard to force Tiberius Gemellus as well as Sutorius Macro to die by suicide.
2. Caligula then executed many other prominent men whom he suspected of stirring up a revolt.
3. 41 CE Caligula and his family were killed by the praetorian guard.

Question 13

After the death of Caligula, who became Emperor? What was notable about this new emperor? What was his concern?

Answer 13

CLAUDIUS (uncle of Caligula)
- had a disability
HIS MAIN CONCERN:
- that others would not perceive him as a legitimate heir to the principate because of his disability and his DISTANT blood relation to Augustus

Question 14

Who became the successor to Claudius?

Answer 14

CO-HEIRS (cuz that went so well last time)
1. Britannicus, son of Claudius
- he was too young so Claudius adopted another
2. Nero, grandson of Germanicus and now adopted son of Claudius

Question 15

What occurred after Claudius died in 54 CE?

Answer 15

1. Agrippina, mother of Nero, eliminated rivals to her son.
2. As Nero got older, he resisted being led by Agrippina and her friends
3. Nero had Britannicus poisoned and after Agrippina refused to condone his marriage to his mistress, he had Agrippina killed.
4. In the last years of his reign, Nero had many other potential rivals eliminated
5. Eventually the public and the armies turned against him. When the praetorian guard accepted a bribe and revolted, Nero was forced to die by suicide

Question 16

What was one of Augustus’s points of pride?

Answer 16

The establishment of the Pax Romana.

Question 17

What is the evidence of stabilization that occurred from the end of the Battle of Actium (31 BCE) till Nero’s death (69 CE)?

Answer 17

There were no serious threats of civil war during this time.

Question 18

How did Augustus stabilize the Roman army and the provinces?

Answer 18

He enacted a series of reforms that worked to fully professionalize the army.

Question 19

In 27 BCE, Augustus divided the empire into two types of provinces. What were these types of provinces? Who administered them?

Answer 19

1. Senatorial provinces - administered by ex-magistrates
2. Imperial provinces - administered by equestrian legates

Question 20

Augustus chose the Imperial provinces as they were the most unsettled areas. Why did he make this decision?

Answer 20

These unsettled areas required a larger military presence. By Augustus controlling these provinces, he also controlled the whole of the Roman army.

Question 21

Describe aspects of the Roman army that furthered the control that Augustus had over them.

Answer 21

1. Men were paid from the imperial treasury and given a discharge bonus when they retired
2. Led by a military hierarchy
   - at the base was equestrians, then provincial legates, then the emperor at the top
3. Soldiers were recruited primarily among Roman citizens as well as heavily Romanized areas

Question 22

Why was joining the Roman army a good option?

Answer 22

1. steady income
2. bonus upon retirement
3. while active, could expect to live in the same fort
4. prospect of auxiliaries - light army fighting units of locals that would receive a bonus and a citizenship upon discharge

Question 23

What were two important campaigns that occurred during the Julio-Claudian era? What was notable about each campaign?

Answer 23

1. EAST - Rome faced Parthians
   - one of Augustus’s greatest moments was returning surviving Roman prisoners as well as the legionary standards they had lost during the battle of Carrhae to the Parthians
2. WEST - Rome faced a disunited collection of various peoples that were relatively poor and were not united politically
   - Augustus experienced his greatest military setback when three Roman legions were ambushed in massacred by Germanic tribes in the Teutoburg forest

Question 24

Which two scenes does the Gemma Augustea depict? What does it represent?

Answer 24

1. Upper Scene - Augustus as Jupiter sitting next to Livia, who represents the goddess Roma.
2. Lower Scene - Roman soldiers are setting up a trophy and on their right are captive German soldiers being taken away and sold into slavery

IT REPRESENTS The Pax Romana

Question 25

Which emperor needed a military victory the most? Why?

Answer 25

CLAUDIUS - To overcome the issues with his appearance and popularity.

Question 26

Who are the Julio Claudian emperors?

Answer 26

1. Augustus (31BCE-14CE)
2. Tiberius (14-37 CE)
3. Caligula (37-41 CE)
4. Claudius (41-54 CE)
5. Nero (54-68 CE)
6. Germanicus

Question 27

What was notable about (14-37 CE) Tiberius’ career?

Answer 27

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: Was able to navigate the role of Augustus’s successor.
- However, his suspicions of his own family members (Germanicus) and his desire to retire from public life towards the end of his life, led to discontent in the army as well as to the proscriptions under Sejanus.

Question 28

What was notable about (37- 41 CE) Caligula’s career?

Answer 28

ACHIEVEMENT: Very popular with the people and the army.
- Terrible relationship with the Senate; he spent lavishly and depleted the Treasury, he also did not have any military successes to his name.

Question 29

What was notable about (41-54 CE) Claudius’ career?

Answer 29

ACHIEVEMENT: He worked hard to restore the balance in the Treasury and is responsible for the conquest of Britain.
- Not well liked by the Senate and sources do not give him credit for being a good emperor.

Question 30

What was notable about (54-68 CE) Nero’s career?

Answer 30

A BAD RULE (like Caligula)
- Spent lavishly, had a bad relationship with the Senate, and acted in a very selfish manner.
- his excesses and building of the Domus Aurea in the middle of Rome made him disliked by the people as well
- Had no supporters by the end of his life

Question 31

What was notable about Germanicus’ career?

Answer 31

NOT AN EMPEROR, ACHIEVEMENT: Important to the military expansion and stabilization of the Julio-Claudian dynasty
- Beloved by the army and the people (caused Tiberius to be suspicious of him)

Question 32

What does the Senate rule seem to be in the Julio-Claudian principate?

Answer 32

They maintained a lot of authority throughout this period, despite their role being gradually eroded.
1. Their role was to work together with the emperor to govern Rome and its empire.
2. Day to day life in the city was still a concern of the Senate and senators also served as governors as well as other functionaries in the provinces
3. The Senate was in control over an emperor’s legacy (divine status was granted by the senate after the emperors death)

Question 33

How important was the role of the army to the success of the Julio-Claudians?

Answer 33

THE MILITARY WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ANY EMPEROR.
- The emperors who had close eyes to the military or had military success could obtain popular support for their rule.
i.e. Caligula, Claudius
- Having a bad relationship with the army could become disastrous
i.e. Nero and his final failure coming at the hands of a mutiny in the legions