Y12 Ancient History Roman/Julio-Claudian Points Test 6 - Tiberius Accession Flashcards
1
Q
Why was Tiberius made the successor to Augustus? (any relevant point for 1 mark).
A
- Augustus’ hopes for a successor amongst his direct descendants had been frustrated by the early deaths of his grandsons Lucius and Gaius Caesar.
- The favourite of his two stepsons, Drusus, had also died and so Tiberius Claudius Nero, the surviving stepson, had been adopted as Augustus’ son in AD4.
- He took the name Tiberius Caesar Augustus, was granted civil and military authority and the powers of a tribune, and was ‘displayed to all the armies.’
- He has been a loyal and efficient deputy to Augustus before and after his adoption and had achieved great military and diplomatic successes along the northern frontiers and in the east.
- Since Tiberius was Augustus’ designated successor, it was expected that on the death of his ‘father’ he would have his powers conferred on him by the senate, although they were entitled to choose someone else.
2
Q
Describe Tiberius’ accession when he attended the Senate (any relevant points for 3 marks).
A
- The consuls, followed by the commander of the praetorian guard, the senate, the equestrians/knights and the people, swore allegiance to Tiberius, and the senate conferred the Principate upon him.
- Despite the fact that he had the necessary experience and training to become princeps, Tiberius appeared to be genuinely reluctant to assume the position and ‘showed signs of hesitation when addressing the senate.’(Tacitus, Annals, P.33).
- Tacitus maintains he was being hypocritical and was testing the attitude of the leading men. At no time does Tacitus consider that Tiberius’ motives were sincere.
- Tiberius eventually accepted the powers of a princeps, ‘exhausted by the general outcry and individual entreaties’ of the senators.
- According to Suetonius, even when he finally accepted the position he hinted that he might resign at a later date, ‘until I grow old that you may be good enough to grant me a respite.’ (Suetonius, Tiberius, 24.).
3
Q
Why might Tiberius have been reluctant to become Princeps? (any relevant points for 3 marks).
A
• There are a number of possible reasons for Tiberius’’ hesitation in accepting the powers of the princeps…
- As ‘There was no fixed or even general recognised rule of succession within the imperial family’ (Tacitus, Annals, P.36), Tiberius may have wanted to give the senate the freedom to set a precedent for transferring power in the future. As Tacitus says, Tiberius wanted to appear to have been chosen and called by the state, not to have ‘wormed his way in by an old man’s adoption, and the intrigues of the old man’s wife.”
- ET Salmon says: ‘It may be that in this as in so much else, he was simply following Augustus’ example; the scene in AD14 is strikingly reminiscent of the scene in 27BC.’
- Tiberius was 55 when Augustus died, and he already knew ‘what hard hazardous work it was to rule the empire.’ (Tacitus, Annals, P.39). Not only was he not a Julian, but he was reserved by nature and may have doubted his ability to handle the Senate with the same tact as Augustus. Once before he had retired from public life (to Rhodes for seven years) as a protest.
4
Q
Describe the murder of Agrippa Posthumous (any relevant points for 3 marks).
A
- Tacitus maintained that ‘the new regime’s first crime was the assassination of Agrippa Posthumous.’(Tacitus, Annals, P.34), the grandson of Augustus and the son of Marcus Agrippa and Julia.
- He had been adopted by Augustus as his son at the same time that Tiberius was adopted (AD4) because the princeps still hoped a Julia would succeed him.
- However, in AD7 Augustus had been forced by his vulgar and brutal behaviour to banish him to a prison island, where he remained until Augustus died.
- He was murdered by the staff officer who guarded him, supposedly on written instructions by Tiberius, or Livia, or Augustus himself prior to his death (the primary sources disagree on this, see Tacitus and Suetonius).
- According to Suetonius, ‘Tiberius revealed Augustus’ death only after getting rid of young Agrippa Posthumous.’(Syme, Tacitus, vol 1., p.427).
5
Q
Why did Tiberius face mutinies in the armies of Pannonia and Germania upon his accession? (any relevant points for 3 marks).
A
- Immediately after accession, 2 mutinies occurred- among troops in Pannonia and in Lower Germany
- These protests not against Tiberius necessarily but a change of emperor gave troops the opportunity to show dissatisfaction, although, Tacitus writes that there were those who hoped that their commander, Germanicus, would ‘put himself at the disposal of the forces’ and allow himself to become emperor (Annals, P.50).
- Reasons for grievances: length of service (20 years) often prolonged; pay of 2.5 sesterces a day was not considered enough by soldiers since 2/3 deducted for clothes, weapons, and equipment; savagery of company commanders, the floggings, drudgery of service, severe winters, being ‘dragged off to some remote country and “settled” in some waterlogged swamp or untilled mountainside’
6
Q
Why was the mutiny in Germania more serious? (any relevant points for 3 marks).
A
- Germanicus has supreme command of legions of Upper and Lower Germany and was making property assessments in Gaul.
- Mutiny in Lower Germany, A.Caecina Severus, general of mutinous troops, unable to handle situation as frenzied men attacked and killed company commanders
- Mutiny here far more serious than that of Pannonia as numbers involved were greater and there was possibility of revolt spreading to troops of Upper Germany and Rhine frontier being abandoned, leaving Roman territory open to invasion
7
Q
How, and how well, did Germanicus handle the mutiny in Germania? (any relevant points for 3 marks).
A
- Germanicus arrives at camp, mutinous troops ‘assailed him with all manner of complaints’ (acc. Tacitus) and demand that he end ‘this crushing service’ and pay them legacies left by Augustus whilst also giving their support to him if he wanted to take the throne; Germanicus pulls a sword from his belt and lifting it as if to stab himself in the chest, ‘shouting that death was better than disloyalty’
- Tacitus attempts to depict Germanicus’ handling of the mutiny in a very favourable light by playing down the negative aspects and devoting more space to him than Drusus, he cannot hide the fact that Germanicus did not show any evidence of great leadership in this situation.
8
Q
How, and how well, did Germanicus handle the mutiny in Germania? (any relevant points for 3 marks).
A
- Tiberius sends son, Drusus, to Pannonia with 2 battalions of the Praetorian Guard and pick of his own German bodyguard; L. Aelius Sejanus accompanied and acted as adviser; Tiberius directs him to act as the circumstances required
- Drusus reads letter from Tiberius to mutineers who referred to them as his comrades and promised them that as soon as he was over the shock of Augustus’ death he would put their claims to the senate; Drusus was to award them any concession that could be granted without senatorial debate
- Spokesmen put forward their demands but Drusus reminds them that ‘the senate and the Emperor must have their say’; men become very hostile which could have resulted in more rioting had it not been for unexpected eclipse of moon and Drusus’ clever handling of situation; he played on their superstitions that waning moon was omen indicating that their crimes would bring endless hardships
- Next day, Drusus criticizes their behaviour but promises fair and merciful hearing from his father if discipline was restored
- They plead for pardon and delegation sent to Tiberius; Drusus thought it necessary though to execute leaders of mutiny.
9
Q
Who was Germanicus, what was he like, and why might Tacitus have portrayed him in such a positive light? (any relevant points for 3 marks).
A
- Germanicus was the son of Tiberius’ popular brother, Drusus (who had died in 9BC).
- He was adopted by Tiberius on the instigation of Augustus, even though Tiberius had a natural son Drusus.
- The sources paint a glowing, but not altogether accurate picture of Germanicus and his wife, Agrippina the Elder.
- According to Suetonius, ‘Germanicus is everywhere described as having been of outstanding physical and moral excellence.’ (Suetonius, Gaius, 3).
- Tacitus maintains that, had he lived, ‘he would have equalled Alexander [the Great] in military renown as easily as he outdid him in clemency, self-control and every other good quality.’ (Tacitus, Annals, P.113). Also in Tacitus’ Annals, Agrippina the Elder emerges as the most admirable and striking of the imperial women.
- There is no doubt that Germanicus was immensely popular with the Roman people and the army, was a loyal and competent commander and was a good diplomat. His popularity was probably due to his family lineage – he was partly Julian, and his wife was the grand-daughter of Augustus.
- However, Tacitus’ excessive praise of Germanicus is not substantiated by a careful reading of the Annals. There is no evidence he was a brilliant military commander of the calibre of Alexander, and his actions while in the east show a certain amount of irresponsibility and arrogance.
- Tacitus’ motive is describing him in such a favourable light was to blacken the character of Tiberius by contrast (at least, according to Bradley).
10
Q
How successful was Germanicus’s military campaigns in Germany? (any relevant points for 3 marks).
A
- Once Germanicus had quelled the mutiny amongst the troops of Lower Germany, he embarked on a number of campaigns across the Rhine without the authority of Tiberius.
- His aim was probably twofold: to restore discipline in the army, as Tacitus write ‘there was still a savage feeling amongst the troops – and a desire to make up for their lunacy by attacking the enemy.’ (Tacitus, Annals, P.113), and secondly the desire to emulate his own father Drusus by conquering and extending the border to the Elbe river, even though this was against the policy of Augustus and followed closely by Tiberius.
- Germanicus’ three successive campaigns in Germany from the years 14-16 AD were not major successes, and were costly in terms of manpower and supplies.
- His first foray across the Rhine were against the Marsi, who had been celebrating at a festival and were in a state of ‘uncontrolled drunken prostration’ (Annals, P.113). The helpless and unsuspecting Germans were slaughtered, and no compassion was shown by reason of age or sex.
- In the following year, after preliminary successes against the Chatti, Germanicus aimed to avenge the disaster suffered by Varus six years earlier.
- In AD16 Germanicus assembled a huge fleet to transport his troops by sea and river into Arminius’ territory. However, in 2 battles he had only minor successes, and he suffered serious losses of men, ships and supplies in stormy seas.
- Germanicus believed that one more campaigning season would end the war with the Germans.
- However, Tiberius (who had already given him leeway, since he was Tiberius’ heir and popular with the army), instructed him to return to Rome.
11
Q
What were Tiberius’s possible motives in ending Germanicus’ military campaigns in Germany? (any relevant points for 3 marks).
A
- Tacitus attributes the motives of Tiberius to jealousy, but the Germanic wars had been costly and unproductive.
- More importantly, Germanicus’ actions contravened Augustus’ policy of maintaining a strong frontier at the Rhine.
- Tiberius also preferred diplomacy to force, and he pointed out to Germanicus in a letter that in the 9 times Augustus had sent Tiberius to Germany, he had ‘achieved less by force than by diplomacy.’ (Annnals, P.89).
12
Q
What evidence is there about the relationship between Tiberius and Germanicus in terms of his appointment to the east? (any relevant points for 3 marks).
A
- On his return to Rome, Germanicus was offered a second consulship – with Tiberius as his colleague – and a diplomatic mission to the east to install a pro-Roman on the Armenian Throne.
- Tacitus maintains that Tiberius was trying to find an honourable way to eliminate Germanicus, but Tiberius would have been aware of the need for the heir apparent to familiarise himself with the eastern situation, particularly with regard to Parthia. After all, Tiberius had been sent there himself by Augustus.
- Although Tiberius wished to use Germanicus’ diplomatic skills, he was aware that his adopted son was anxious to seek personal glory.
- He therefore arranged for Calpurnius Piso, a senator and loyal friend to Tiberius, to assist and keep an eye on Germanicus by becoming governor of the province of Syria, even though the emperor’s son had maius imperium (control over all governors and commanders) in the east.
13
Q
How well did Germanicus do, in terms of his appointment to the east? (any relevant points for 3 marks).
A
• Germanicus successfully negotiated with the Parthians and installed the Pro-Roman Armenian monarch, but he breached protocol on a number of occasions that made it appear justified that Piso had been sent to keep an eye on him. Germanicus’ most serious mistake was in flouting an imperial edict regarding Egypt: no senator was permitted to enter without the Emperor’s personal approval. Germanicus went there to look at antiquities, ‘about without guards, in sandaled feet and Greek clothes imitating Scipio Africanus’ (Tacitus, P.110).
• He also committed another breach by releasing grain from the public granaries without Tiberius’ assent, and he had his image cast on silver coins. Whether his behaviour was simply impulsive or the result of arrogance was uncertain, but he does appear to have been seeking personal advancement.
‘Tiberius criticised Germanicus mildly for his clothes and deportment, but reprimanded him severely for infringing a ruling of Augustus by entering Alexandria without the Emperor’s permission’ (Tacitus, Annals, P.110).
14
Q
How did the relationship between Germanicus and Piso in the east deteriorate, and how did this lead to Germanicus’ death? (any relevant points for 3 marks).
A
- Unfortunately, Tiberius had shown a lack of judgement in his selection of Piso as a watchdog to Germanicus, who chose to interpret his task/role to check on Germanicus and report to Tiberius as the right to cancel or reverse Germanicus’ instructions.
- He also refused to provide Germanicus with troops. The relationship between the two men deteriorated and was not helped by the animosity between their respective wives, Agrippina and Plancina.
- When Germanicus ordered Piso out of his province of Syria, Piso retaliated by stirring up the Syrian troops against Germanicus.
- Not long after Piso left his province, Germanicus fell ill, and died.
- Tacitus records that on his deathbed Germanicus accused Piso of poisoning him, and warned Agrippina to ‘forget her pride, submit to cruel fortune and, back in Rome, to avoid provoking those stronger than herself by competing for their power.’ (Annals, P.113).
- Privately, according to Tacitus, Germanicus also warned her about the danger from Tiberius.
15
Q
What was the reaction to Germanicus’ death generally? (any relevant points for 3 marks).
A
- After hearing of Germanicus’ death Piso attempted to re-establish control of Syria by force. When he failed he set sail for Italy, preceded by Agrippina, who accused him and Plancina of murdering her husband on the instructions of Tiberius.
- Tacitus says that she had returned to Rome quickly with Germanicus’ ashes, ‘impatient of anything that postponed revenge.’ (Annals, P.114).
- Germanicus’ great popularity throughout the empire was obvious from the honours bestowed upon him posthumously, and the triumphal arches, statues and flattering inscriptions set up in Rome, Syria and along the Rhine.
