Augustus's Death Tiberius example essay topic

o After Augustus's death Tiberius reluctantly took on the role as princeps o He started off with great promise for his dealings with mutinies among the frontiers and his contribution to foreign policy was carried out with real statesmanship (Tacitus admits to this) o However his trust of the lecherous Sejanus and his retirement to Capri (with his minor building program), prove to have left the most impacting marks on his career Tiberius' Foreign Policy (provincial and frontier): - Tiberius' government of the empire was carried out with real statesmanship. Even Tacitus admits this Provincial Policy: - Tiberius recognised Rome's responsibility for the welfare of provincials, and would tolerate no abuses by governors or the Roman business class - Maintained strict discipline of troops in the provinces - secured frontiers by diplomacy if possible - Tacitus: "Tiberius was happier to have secured peace by prudent negotiation than if he had fought a victorious war - Paid special attention to his choice of governors; retained many governors at their posts for extended periods, to increase efficiency - Sought to maintain justice not only for provincials but also for Roman citizens within the provinces - Maintained strict supervision of imperial legates to avoid oppression; prosecutions of governors and procurators charged with extortion were strict - Initiated road and bridge building, and established new settlements in Syria, Spain, Moe sia, Dalmatia and Pannonia - Generous to provincial cities during disasters e.g. earthquakes - Avoided interfering in senatorial provinces, but kept a close eye on their administration - Checked the plundering of the equestrian tax companies; protected Egypt from excessive taxation - Tacitus: "He ensured also that the provinces were not harasses by new impositions and that old impositions were not aggravated through official acquisitiveness or brutality". - Did not encourage the worship of himself in the provinces - From Tacitus: To have my statues worshipped among the gods in every province would be presumptuous and arrogant. Besides, the honour to Augustus will be meaningless if it is debased by indiscriminate flattery. As for myself, senators, I emphasise to you that I am human, performing human tasks". - Gave provincial assemblies larger degree of autonomy - Tiberius' policy of leaving governors in office for long periods in order to benefit the provincials fell down when he made a poor judgement about a governor - e.g. 10 years was too long for Pontius Pilatus (26-36) who was governor of Judaea at the time of Christ's crucifixion - Pontius Pilatus made a number of serious mistakes, provoking the inhabitants unnecessarily, and it took the governor of Syria, Vitellus, to conciliate the Jews after Pilatus was sent to Rome to stand trial - The senate resented his guidance and control in the provinces and were particularly affronted when he encroached on the senatorial sphere by refusing to permit a change of proconsuls for Asia and Africa and keeping the same men there for 6 years The Influence of Sejanus on Tiberius: Tiberius' trusted adviser: - After death of Germanicus, Tiberius planned to promote his own son Drusus to secure succession for him - In AD 21, Drusus' 2nd consulship, and in next year granted tribunician power - This embittered faction loyal to Germanicus and didn't suit the capable prefect of Praetorian Guard, L. Alius Sejanus, who had become Tiberius' trusted adviser - Sejanus had been joint commander of the Guard with his father, and had served Augustus; accompanied Drusus to Pannonia during revolts of AD 14 and from ad 17 was sole prefect of Guard Sejanus' ambition: - Tacitus: Sejanus "concealed behind a carefully modest exterior an unbounded lust for power".

- Since Drusus suspected Sejanus' designs and resented his influence over his father, he had to be removed - To do this would not ensure Sejanus' rise to power, due to the abundance of members of the imperial house (Sejanus planned to remove these individuals at intervals) Seduction of Livilla and death of Drusus: - Sejanus seduced Livilla (wife of Drusus) and together they poisoned Drusus - Tiberius never got over Drusus' death in 23, became more morose, and came to depend on Sejanus to an even greater extent Tiberius' retirement to Capri: - Tiberius now made serious mistake - Retired to island of Capri, tired of plotting factions and hostility at court - Tacitus says Sejanus urged him to do so as he would control access to Emperor and most of correspondence [no evidence of truth in Tacitus's uggestions e.g. Tacitus went to satisfy his perversions, to escape his bullying mother Livia] - Tiberius' government from Capri as efficient as ever, although his removal allowed Sejanus free rein with his intrigues Sejanus saves Tiberius' life: - Tiberius, Sejanus and servants dining in natural cavern when a rock-fall threatened the emperor's life - Sejanus protected Tiberius from falling boulders - This further increased Sejanus' power over Tiberius - From that time "Tiberius believed him disinterested and listened trustingly to his advice, however disastrous". Tacitus Downfall of Sejanus: - With the death of Livia, Sejanus appeared to be moving closer to the throne: 1. He had control of the Praetorian Guard as sole prefect 2. He had control of the senate as he controlled communications to and from Tiberius at Capri 3. He was engaged to the granddaughter of Tiberius 4. He was granted proconsular imperium 5.

He was honoured with statues and games - When it appeared that Tiberius was looking to Agrippina's youngest son (and his grandson through the adoption of Germanicus) Gaius - the last son who had not been persecuted as yet by Sejanus (2 eldest sons were exiled), Sejanus supposedly plotted to kill Tiberius (some say he plotted to kill Gaius) - Tiberius was alerted to the plot, and to the fact that Sejanus and Livilla had poisoned his son Drusus 8 years previously, by Antonia (mother of Germanicus and Claudius and Livilla; grandmother of Gaius) - Tiberius had to be very careful as Sejanus was in a very powerful position - Tiberius used Macro, the prefect of the Vigils, to facilitate the destruction of Sejanus by giving him a letter to be read in the senate denouncing Sejanus as a traitor to Rome - Sejanus was arrested, taken to prison and executed immediately - From the death of Sejanus to the death of Tiberius, the period is referred to by Tacitus as the 'Reign of Terror' - Tacitus calls this a time of sheer crushing tyranny as many people were executed - Friends and family of Sejanus were executed - Sejanus himself had caused the deaths of many people through treason trials - Agrippina, Nero Caesar and Drusus Caesar had all been imprisoned or exiled and then they died through suicide and starvation See Tiberius' Administration in folder Building Program: - Tiberius did not conduct an extensive building program nor did he use buildings to increase his popularity and personal glory as Augustus had done - He completed many of the buildings begun by Augustus, restored buildings but did not put his own name on them - He did erect a temple to Augustus and a barracks for the Praetorian Guard - In the provinces he supervised the construction of utilitarian projects such as roads, bridges and aqueducts The Death of Tiberius AD 37: - Tiberius did not return to Rome but continued to rule from Capri until he died at the age of 78 Strengths Weaknesses Continuance of Augustus' arrangements as much as possible Excellent civil administration: Alleviated food shortages Maintained law and order in the city through the city prefect Gave substantial relief to help victims of an amphitheatre tragedy and a fire on the Aventine Cut down public expenses - erected few public buildings and reduced gladiatorial shows Strengths Servility of senators - little co-rule, dependence on Tiberius Treason trials and growing numbers of delatores Crisis as a result of Germanicus' death Influence of Sejanus and elimination of members of imperial family Retirement of Tiberius to Capri - alienation of senate Weaknesses Took measures to safeguard the countryside from brigandage Reduced sales tax Chose officials carefully Attempt to work with the senate: Took no exceptional honours Upheld traditional rights Treated it with respect Consulted it Extended its administrative and legal functions Provincial and frontier policies: Maintained peace and prosperity Settled disputes in provinces fairly Gave extensive tax relief after earthquake damage Built roads and bridges Built public buildings in provinces Chose best men wherever possible Maintained thorough discipline, loyalty and efficiency in armies Vengeance taken on Sejanus's up porters Gaius given no training for public life - contributed to difficulties of his reign Praetorian Guard conscious of increased power - repercussions for future influence on succession.