Tiberius Flashcards
Reliability of Sources
- Tacitus’ accoun was based on documents he had access to as a senator.
- He claims to be writing to teach moral lessons which is why he highlights failings so as to not be repeted.
- Dio’s accpunt of Tiberius is similar as his main source is Annals.
- Suetonius says Tiberius was respectful at first.
- Suetonius does tend to exaggeate as he likes gossip.
- Paterculus portays Tiberius positivly because he is writing before the downfall of Sejanus.
Challenges to his reign
- Tacitus presents mutinies of AD14 as a serious threat, when thee is little evidence to suppot this.
- Soldies wee protesting about the conditions and pay experienced during Augustus’ reign.
- Other parts of the army were used to subdue this, like the Preatorian guards, so not a big threat.
- Tiberius was a highly experienced military commander.
- Tiberius in response sent his son Drusus to deal with the Pannonian mutiny.
- He then sent Germanicus to deal with the German mutiny.
Relationship with Germanicas.
•Paterculus - Germanicus was a successful and charismatic military leader, and was encouraged to become emperor by his loyal troops.
• When unrest brike out in Syria, Tiberius sent Germanicus to deal with it, which seperated him from his main source of support, the legions in Germany.
• Tacitus - Tiberius saw him as a threta and sent his friend Piso to become governor of Syria in order to curb Germanicus.
• In AD19 Germanicus visited Egypt without Tuberius’ permission, which he saw as a direct threat.
•While Germanicus was away Piso stepped in to undermine his authority.
• When Germanicus returned Piso left but Germanicus fell ill, convince that Piso had poisoned him.
•Tiberius refused to greet his mourning wife Agrippina.
Relationship with Sejanus
• Sejanus became commander of the Praetorian Gurads in Ad14 when Augustus dies.
• Tiberius was very fond of Sejanus, calling him “my partner in toils”.
•Sejanus had an affair with Drusus’ wife Livilla and through heranaged to poison Drusus.
•Dio - Sejanus appealed as a kind of offshore monarch. This was when Tiberius retired to Capri and gave Sejanus reigning power.
•Dio - cat and mouse, coukd see he was helf in contempt so bevame unpopular. This encouraged him to launch his attack on Sejanus.
• Dio - He forst circulated rumours that he was to be given tribunician powers, when in reality he had written a letter to the senate denouncing Sejanus, with help from Macro.
•In fromt of the Senate, the letter was read out, and it was asked whether he should be imprisoned, he was then sentenced to death, along with his children.
Treason trials
- Suetonius - Informes would receive a quarter of the property if found guilty.
- Tacitus - Informing became a profession and was a way to gain favour with Tiberius.
- Tacitus - Tiberius used the charge of maiestas to gain wealth
- Suetonius - It was used to censor critics and writers such as historians and poets
- Tacitus - Tiberius was try to prevent them from suicide so they didnt escape trial.
- Seneca - As many as 20 were killed in a day, more than in a civil war.
- Suetonius/Tacitus - Trials continued after downfall of Sejanus, to attack his supporters, which showed that Tiberius wasnt being manipulated.
Tacfarinas’ rebellion
- He was a Numidian auxillary deserter who led a rebel group that threatened grain supply
- Despite outnumbering the Romans, they were defeated by Camillus but Tacfarinas escaped
- He continued to ransack villages, after winning against the third legion, who were decimated.
- His brother was captured and Blaesus claimed victory.
- Tiberius treated the war as if it was over
- In AD24 Tacfarinus was caught and executed.
Religion and the imperial cult
- He inherited the psitions such as Pontifex maximus and the imperial cult.
- Suotonius - Of the many honours offered to him, he took none but a few important ones
- Suetonius - He vetoed all bills for the dedication of temples to his divinity.
- Inscription to the genius of Tiberius - shows that the imperial cult continued under his rule
- Suetonius - He refused to use the title of Imperator or Augustus.
- Sestertius of Tiberius - To the divine Augustus, reminding people of the power being passed down to him
Relationship with Plebs, Equestrians and Senators
- Suetonius - He gave no public shows at all
- Suetonius - To the tiber with Tiberius
- Suetonius - Tiberius neve gave them anything beyong their pay
- Not mentioned, suggests a lack of effort from Tibeius
- Tacitus - Primed for slavery
- He was very frugal, lacked generosity and allowed Senators to lose money and therefore their position.
