Tiberius's reign

Question 1

Why does Tacitus want to highlight the dangers of succession and dynasty?
How does he do this?

Answer 1

he lived and wrote under the tyrannical Domitian an saw the tumult caused by the flavians and julio claudians. he was a senator ho wanter the restoration of republic so he gives a ‘what if account’ if succession took a different course to Germanicus - who he believed a better successor and advocate for republic. this is executed by using Germanicus as a foil for Tiberius, highlighting all his flaws and raising germanicus to a pedastal.

Question 2

significance of how Tiberius, Germanicus and Drusus quell revolt?

Answer 2

Tiberius hides and sends people in place; cowardly, removed, arrogant
Germanicus uses wife and kids to guilt soldiers; shows significance of women, understanding of soldiers, empathy and planning
Drusus is babysat by sejanus, chances using a lunar eclipse - unpredictably pays off

Question 3

who is Germanicus’ father, wife and mother

Answer 3

father: drusus, tiberius’ brother
mother: Antonia (younger), M. Antony’s daughter
wife: Agrippina (elder) Aug. Granddaughter

Question 4

timeline of Germanicus’ life?

Answer 4

15BC - born
9BC - named Germanicus after father’s victories
AD4 - adopted by tiberius
AD7 - 11 - quaestor 5 yrs before legal age
AD12 - consul
AD13 - proconsul of germania inferior, superior + gaul - 8 legions (1/3 of roman army)
AD14 - 16 - campaigns in germany
AD17 - recieves eastern maius imperium, awarded a triumph
AD18 - reorganised provinces of asia minor
AD19 - died in Antioch; poison?

Question 5

What does Tacitus annals 1.61-2 tell us of Germainicus and rememberance of the varrus disaster?

Answer 5

he wanted to pay respects to the dead soldiers, provoking the emotions of his men. it shows how empathetic, virtuous and respectful he was - opposite of tiberius (cold, callous removed)

Question 6

what did Germanicus do in the varrus camp according to Tac. 1.61?
why does tac. emphasise these actions?

Answer 6

visited camp with men + marched through - shows atrocities caused by barbaric german tribes (human sacrifice) lead by survivors of the massacre.
reinforces Germanicus’ bravery and confrontation on the front line (opposing tiberius portrayal) and stresses the dangers of german campaigns. This amplifies the victories of Germanicus and advocated for expansion into germany in his own time - tac. was govenor of germany and wanted more resources; germany was full of dangerous tribes but didn’t have the promised riches that incited eastern campaigns.
he buried the victims alongside the men, showing compassionate leadership, 6 years on

Question 7

What quote from tac. 1.61 sums up tacs portrayal of tiberius and germanicus?
what does this portray about tiberius?

Answer 7

thereby he earned tiberius’ dissaproval. perhaps this was because the emperor interpreted every action of germanicus unfavourably
shows tiberius’ cruelness and germanicus’ greatness; indicates tiberius haspersonal animosity towards germanicus and that he is miserable, jealous and cowardly

Question 8

What position was piso sent to the east with germanicus as?
Why did Tiberius keep this vague?

Answer 8

Germanicus was sent as commander in cheif for the east, piso was sent as his advisor and governor of Syria .
Tiberius didn’t state whether or not germanicus was his superior but insinuated that piso answered primarily to him, and possibly didn’t see himself as an inferior.

Question 9

What did piso think of germanicus and why was he sent?

Answer 9

Piso as a mature senator, staple of republic was sent to babysit the prince of Rome. He saw germanicus as a petulant child; where germanicus was warlike and rash, he was systematic and diplomatic.

Question 10

What did piso do that angered germanicus?
Was this a good decision?

Answer 10

He withheld legions from germanicus when he was tasked to talk with the parthians and Armenians, forcing the Caesar to deal with things without starting a war - and ultimately good decision. Germanicus tried to justify that had things gone south he would be left in the lurch and tried to force an apology out of piso for denying his orders and suggesting Tiberius adopted him unwillingly.
Piso responded that he was an advisor - not to be ordered around and that he was telling the truth.

Question 11

How did germanicus die?

Answer 11

Supposedly in Antioch via poisoning, Tiberius believes that Livia was to blame, germanicus thought it was piso but no one is sure…

Question 12

when did tiberius accend? how old was he?

Answer 12

AD 14 age 56

Question 13

when did tiberius die, how old was he?

Answer 13

AD37, age 76

Question 13

who kills agrippa post. and why?

Answer 13

probably augustus due to his poor behaviour, however, its likely that tiberius didnt put up a fight as it legitimised him by getting rid of augustus’ male bloodline

Question 14

how did julia die?

Answer 14

it is speculated that tiberius witheld her rations while in exile and she died of starvation - previously, her life was quite pleasnt despite the lack of freedom

Question 15

what did the mutinies show about agrippina major?

Answer 15

she was to lead the opposition to tiberius by badgering germanicus to overthrow him until he died in AD 19

Question 16

when did germanicus die?
when did drusus die?

Answer 16

germanicus - AD 19
Drusus - AD 23

Question 17

what does tiberius do in AD 26

Answer 17

he retires from rome to his villa on capri - livia remains at rome and sejanus becomes his only form of contact.

Question 18

who is really running the empire after tiberius leaves rome?

Answer 18

arguably, its between sejanus and the senate - the senate start squabbling as soon as he leaves and sejanus is hungry for power

this indicates tiberius’ poor relationship with the senate.

Question 19

what does collin wells say about the senate under tiberius?

Answer 19

if had not existed before his reign, it would not have existed at all - ie. it didnt do anything or serve a real purpose; it was just there as an obsolete institution that has always traditionally been there

Question 20

what was sejanus known as to tiberius?
when was his rise and fall?

Answer 20

‘socius laborum’ the partner of my labour; they had a similar relationship to augustus and agrippa.
he rose up and was wiped out in the period AD15 - 31

Question 21

when does livia die?
what does her remaining in rome tell us?

Answer 21

dies in AD 30, after not seeing her son for c. 4 years. this suggests a breakdown in their relationship - i speculate either tiberius just got sick of her or she poisoned someone she shouldn’t have

Question 22

what were Maiestas trials?

Answer 22

treason trials - anyone who even made a joke about tiberius’ incapabilities opened them up to be trialled for treason upon penalty of death.
they were used for senators to dissapear each other subtly and are also an indicator of tiberius’ parranoia

Question 23

who does tiberius keep linking himself to?

Answer 23

Augustus, through family, action, celebration etc and especially coins. it suggests how insecure he was about hip position and how parranoid he was that it would be revoked

Question 23

who were delatores?

Answer 23

informants or sycophants - they would report people for treason trial regardless of severity or truthfulness, sometimes using the trialls as a weapon

Question 24

what was the incentive to report someone for treason trial?

Answer 24

50% of the accuseds’ estate would go to the informer and the other half to the emperor - this was why seneca said that all the treason trial threats ended in death - they were almost certain to be found guilty, so onyone called up would kill themselves beforeso their family would still posess the estate.

Question 25

who had their names damned after they died?
what does this mean?

Answer 25

caligula, nero, sejanus and interestingly domitian. memoiare damnatio meant to condem the memory of or to us, attempt to eradicate them from history - hence so little about sejanus is known

Question 26

What does vell pat commend about tibs reign? (2:126.1)

Answer 26

Made Augustus a god through religious devotion, not just name, eliminated corruption from political life ( no more scheming in elections, conspiracies, factions etc.)
Average stuff where not lies - got rid of elections all together, sheeting not possible; factions worse than ever in maiestas trials

Question 27

Vell pat 2:126.1 on restoration of republican institutions?

Answer 27

Magistrates recovered authority; senate, majesty and law courts solemnity. Everyone now compelled to do what’s right if not they are punished accordingly - shows Rome working as it should, however this was not the case. Magistrates were just show positions, likewise the senate had no real purpose and hence they could not be majestic or authoritative. Law courts also corrupt evidenced by treason trials

Question 28

vell. pats digressions on social coherency under tib?
2:126.1

Answer 28

“good deeds admired, evil deeds punishesd”, upper + lower classes getting on, stable price of corn, no foreign threat - genersl peace and order.
These are all average conditions established under augustus rule - beginning quote suggests tiberius had some kind of god like qualities. clearly links him with augustus but really clutching at straws to praise him

also, there was disruption to the grain supply although he brought in more than augustus

Question 29

what does vell list in praise of tib.?
2:126.1

Answer 29

restored cities of asia, showed generosity, lessened provincial extortion, punished criminals, meritocratic system.
everything was working as it should in a stable and monotonous way. highlights vell.s obligation to portray tib well as he aggrandised the most inane of achievements

bar his response to the fire and earthquake, tib was known for being frugal and ungenerous and provincial govenors now exercised more control, so most of this is just a lie.

Question 30

howdoes vell. show tib.s diplomacy and intelligence in 2:129.1

Answer 30

summones Rhascupolis to rome to prevent war with thrace after he murders his co ruler nephew. he is tried for murder and condemed.
shows strategy, diplomacy and might of roman legal system portraying republican image.
again, minor achievement. - was a good emperor, just not impressive

Question 31

Importance of pomponius flaccus in vell. 2:129.1?

Answer 31

shown to be working and helping tib as a consul - republican system working as it should, emphsising senates importance.

clearly senate was not important and flaccus made minor contributions. he was also a family friend of vell whom this white up may have protected from maiestas trials

Question 32

what does vell. say about drusus libo trial in 2:129.1?

Answer 32

tib dealt with it effciently as member of senatorial jury (republican image) not empreor - disposing of “ungrateful revolutionary”
shows tib to be doing the bare minimum but portrayed as an act of wonder

also first instance of major maiestas trial - vell conveniently omits this fearing that tib was acting out of private interest

Question 33

vell. 2:129.1 views of germanicus/tib. relationship?

Answer 33

tib taught ger. everything he knew, heaped on honour and triumphs, recalled him out of love after he conquored germany, tib was reason for his victories.
tacitus suggests that tib onl grudgingly adopted ger, recalled him from germany while having a year left to complete the siege out of jealousy and parranoia and was completely opposite in character to ger.

Question 34

vell 2:129.1 on tib granting largesse to plebs and bail outs to senators?

Answer 34

claimed he was extremely generous to the people and maintained status quo and noble families by granting bails that was sufficient for them to remain senators over the threshold but not encourage excess.
plebs said to resent the senatorial grants and tib was notorious for being tight with money

Question 35

vell. pat 2:129.1 on tibs handling of foreign threats?

Answer 35

dealt with swiftly - got rid of marboduus, sacrovir + florus julius, along with tacfarinas.

contradicts earlier suggestion rome was free from external threat, tacitus also attacks him for not keeping senate informed on theses campaigns and yt another example for tib being praised for other generals’ work or just doing the minimum expected.

Question 36

vell. 2:130.1 on tibeius building work?

Answer 36

cites examples of building work done prior to tibs reign or completed in the first year or so that he didnt implament - reinforces his austere policy. vell. lies outright again here.

Question 37

how does tac begin ann. 4.1?

Answer 37

sarcastically. “ninth year of national stability and domestic prosperity” and accuses him of becoming tyrannical or employing tyrannical men to power - emplying his proximity to sejanus

Question 38

how does tac. ann. 4 portray sejanus in early life?

Answer 38

prostituded himself out to men to join Augustus’ grandsons’ suite, manipulating tibs friendship and making himself the only one he felt he could trust and freely speak to,

essentially wholeheartedly evil and manipulative

Question 39

how is sejanus portrayed as an adult in tac. ann. 4?

Answer 39

“audacious character and untiring physique”, scecretive, both arrogant and servile. hiding a lust for powere beneath an unnassuming exterior, relentlessly working or engaging in self destruction.

this is the character description sallust gives of cataline, a relentless, cunning and personable and charismatic figure who would endanger rome. essentially, he’s the antihero

Question 40

how does tac emphasise sejanus’ threat to rome in ann. 4?

Answer 40

“this was rather heavens anger against rome - to which the triumph of sejanus and his downfall too were catastrophic”

echoes plutarch’s portrayal of the marius sulla rivalry and presents him as a divine threat to the whole of rome