Tiberius gave Germanicus triumph, maius imperium in east
Germanicus and Tiberius consuls in 18
Tiberius also sent Cn. Calpurnius Piso as governor of
Syria
(Lest Germanicus foment war with Parthia?)
Germanicus made Cappadocia and Commagene provinces (client kings had
died)
Put new king in Armenia
Made Cilicia part of Syria
Visited Egypt: relieved famine in Alexandria
Returned to Syria in 19, found Piso had cancelled some of his
arrangements
Germanicus told Piso to leave
Germanicus died
Piso re-entered Syria but had to leave
On return to Rome, Piso tried on both charges; cleared of murder
But guilty of re-entering province, he committed suicide
Rumors of a role in Germanicus' death fostered by Agrippina
Government at Rome: on the whole, excellent (Tacitus Ann. 4.6)
until death of Drusus (23) or later (Tiberius went to Capri in
26)
Tiberius promoted independence of Senate, but they were too worried about
his reaction
Elections given to Senate in 14
Judicial functions increased
Chief court for treason and criminal offenses by senators and
equites
Many senatus consulta
Tiberius consulted senate on many matters, especially religious
questions
e.g. 19: image of Isis thrown into Tiber, priests crucified
Jews expelled; 4000 in military sent to Sardinia
Tiberius didn't like games; Senate expelled actors in 23, limited
number of gladiators
Style moderate: refused titles Imperator, Pater Patriae
(twice)
Consul thice, to honor Germanicus (18), Drusus (21), Sejanus (31)
Treason trials and informers (who got 25%): see Tacitus
No public prosecutor; definition of maiestas hazy
For 10-12 years Tiberius dismissed most accusations with contempt
Vitellius pacified Judaea after blunders of Pontius Pilatus (26-36)
SE Europe: combined Achaea and Macedonia under governor of Moesia
= one military command for Balkans
Thrace: civil war in 19, native risings in 21 and 25
Gaul: revolt in 21 (Julius Florus and Julius Sacrovir)
Economic distress (Germanicus' campaigns cost)
Druidism outlawed for Roman citizens
Revolt quickly crushed by C. Silius (Upper Germany)
In general, provinces very well off and usually well governed
Also helped, e.g., earthquake in Asia in 17
Advised Senate to remit taxes of Sardis
Tiberius gave them 10 million sesterces
L. Aelius Seianus (Etruscan) was Praetorian Prefect (14 with his
father; 16/17 by himself)
Tiberius called him "socius laborum"; Drusus hated him
Drusus died in 23
Tiberius adopted Germanicus' sons Nero and Drusus
Sejanus' plots vs. Tiberius' family: planted suspicion
Tiberius removed to Capri in 26
Livia died in 29
Tiberius denounced Agrippina and Nero: Senate banished them
Sejanus persuaded Tiberius to send Drusus to Rome in 30: put in prison
Sejanus consul in 31, asked permission to marry Livilla (?)
The letter from Antonia
The verbosa et grandis epistula
Macro's role in removal of Sejanus, and promotion of himself
Repercussions until 33, especially when Tiberius learned all from Sejanus'
widow, who said that Sejanus and Livilla had poisoned Drusus
A more terrible personal blow
Tiberius tended to business from Capri
Loan fund of 100 million sesterces to relieve shortage of currency
established in 33
Relief on Aventine after fire of 36
Tiberius didn't like shows, kept no elaborate court, saved
money
He reduced sales tax to 0.5%
Left 2700 million sesterces in the fisc when he died
Tiberius died in March 37, Macro supported Gaius
Senate liked Gaius (Julian connection)
No experience or training, but high hopes
Gaius adopted Gemellus, made Claudius consul
Stifled delation, recalled exiles
Abolished sales tax, gave shows and money to people
Illness in October 37, and recovery as a monster
Hostile to Senate, gave election back to people
Consul every year except 38
Made Africa an imperial province
Wanted to make Incitatus consul?
Killed/persecuted many, including Gemellus and Macro
Encouraged delation because he needed money
Incest with sister Drusilla, who died in 38 and was deified
Wanted himself deified: dressed up as gods, had a temple for himself
Acted as charioteer, gladiator, singer
Plots multiplied; discontent spread to army
Gaius was killed by praetorian tribune Cassius Chaerea in 41
with connivance of both praetorian prefects
Meddling with client kingdoms:
Made Commagene a kingdom
Dethroned king of Armenia (Parthian problem)
Gave Agrippa his uncles' realms
Ordered Ptolemy king of Mauretania to kill himself
Disastrous Jewish policy
Alexandria: problems between Jews and Greeks, and with Rome
Deputations sent out: Philo of Alexandria preserves an
account
Gaius wanted statue of himself in temple at Jerusalem
P. Petronius, governor of Syria, dragged his heels
[Herod] Agrippa persuaded Gaius to change his mind
But he changed it back, and ordered Petronius'
suicide
Petronius saved by news of Gaius' death
At Gaius' death, Judaea tense and Mauretania in revolt
The Senate was nervous too, but began to discuss what to do
Able administrator but bad press concentrates on palace intrigues
Adopted name Caesar
Liked by armies
Liked by everyone but Senate
Claudius behaved decently to Senate
Restored election, Achaea and Macedonia
Shared new provinces
Respectful, attended meetings
But he was tired of yes men, and liked efficiency
Therefore took over various administrative functions
e.g. fleet, port of Ostia, roads in Rome
Power of jurisdiction on finance in senatorial province given in 53 to
imperial procurators
Censor in 47-48: added some provincials to Senate
Even equites felt change from independent administrators to imperial
officials: unhappiness led to plots
Centralized administration
Various departments under freedmen (usually Greek): Praepositi
Secretary (Narcissus): ab epistulis
Finance (Pallas): a rationibus
Petitions (Callistus): a libellis
Librarian/literary adviser (Polybius): a studiis
Increased independence and power of Princeps at expense
of Senate
Praepositi profited too
Claudius interested in all aspects of administration, especially finance
and the
courts
New harbor at Ostia
Completed two aqueducts started by Gaius
Religion: old-fashioned but tolerant except where he saw threat
(e.g., Druids)
Claudius was more like Caesar than Augustus
Less involved with Rome and Italy and more with provinces
Wanted to extend citizenship and train less civilized peoples to
exercise political responsibility
Argued on the lessons of Roman history
Claudius married Agrippina the younger (Pallas' candidate) in 48
Claudius adopted Nero in 50
Delation revived
Seneca Nero's tutor
Afranius Burrus became praetorian prefect in 51
Nero adopted toga virilis (at age 13)
Nero married Octavia in 53
Claudius suddenly died in 54, was deified
Seneca and Burrus had Pallas deposed from office in 55
Britannicus poisoned when Agrippina became too nice to him
Agrippina fastened upon Octavia and Nero told her to back off
Finally Nero had Agrippina murdered in 59
he accused her of trying to kill him
Seneca and Burrus were interested in decent government
Especially economic prosperity (Seneca's interests)
Established veteran colonies in Italy to stop depopulation
Introduced idea (only) of abolishing indirect taxes
Increase in trade would lead to more direct taxes
Nero interested in the arts, liked Greek culture
Decreed in 57 that there were to be no fights to the death for
gladiators
Ludi Iuvenales (gymnastic and artistic) instituted in 59
Augustiani was name given to young men who participated
Neronia (like Olympic games) begun in 60
Nero's role: singer, harpist, charioteer
Augustiani: his claque
Built gymnasium and baths in 61
Appeared on stage at Naples in 64
Big fire and the aftermath in 64; persecution of Christians
Nero needed money to rebuilt Rome, and support himself
Forced contributions from Italy and provinces
Killed six landowners who owned half of estates in Africa
Debased coinage
Senate hostile especially because he employed freedmen in high office,
e.g., as governors
"Stoic opposition"
Stoic philosophers, including ex-consul Thrasea Paetus
Too independent: he had not attended Senate since 63, and voted
against deification of Poppaea in 65
He didn't applaud Nero's singing
Senate condemned Paetus for setting a bad example
Son-in-law Helvidius Priscus exiled (Stoic)
Barea Soranus executed (Stoic)
Stoics used to celebrate birthdays of Brutus and Cassius
Opposed to tyranny but not plotters
Emperor and army
Nero also worried about army commanders
Several, including Domitius Corbulo, ordered to commit suicide
Autocracy and ideas of divinity (Hercules, Apollo, Helios)
April renamed Neroneus
Rome renamed Neropolis
Artistic tour of Greece in 66
"Liberation" of Greece, to enthusiastic acclaim
He gave Sardinia to the senate to make up revenue
Vindex defeated by L. Verginius Rufus, legate of Upper Germany
Verginius Rufus declined to become emperor
Tigellinus fled
Nero hesitated
Other praetorian prefect Nymphidius Sabinus bribed soldiers to support
Senate and make Galba emperor
On 9 June 68 Nero killed himself; he was 30 years old