Tiberius Claudius Nero Caesar was born in Rome on November 16, 42 BC. Four years after
his birth his mother divorced his father and married Octavian. Tiberius was a descendant
of the Claudian family who moved to Rome shortly after the foundation of the city. The
Claudians did not respect others who were not of noble ancestry.
After Tiberius was four he was raised to be a loyal servant of Augustus. Tiberius is
associated with Augustus for 22 years. Augustus had Tiberius carefully educated.
Augustus later forced Tiberius to dissolve his happy marriage to Vipsania Agrippina and
marry Augustus' daughter Julia. This was arranged to better the chance of succession of
a descendant of Augustus to take power. The plan did not work because they did not get
along and soon lived separately. For this reason Tiberius retired to the island of
Rhodes where he devoted himself to study for seven years. When Tiberius returned to Rome
in AD 26, Julia had been banished for adultery. The death of both of Augustus' grandsons
within two years led him to adopt Tiberius as his son and heir.
Tiberius then went into active service in northern Germany against the Marcomanni.
Tiberius succeeded in securing the northern border with the dangerous German tribes.
Tiberius made two more marches into the heart of Germany. On his return to Rome he was
awarded a triumph, the highest official tribute that was given to honor a victorious
warrior.
Augustus died in AD 14 and Tuberius assumed sole power of the whole Roman empire.
Tiberius was a large, strong man, and very tall. He had a fair skin complexion that was
sometimes subjected to outbreaks of skin disease. According to Suetonius, he wore his
hair long in the back. This was an old fashioned style for the time. Perhaps it was
adopted in memory of his distinguished ancestry. Tiberius remained in excellent health
most of his life. He was formal in manner but it was reported that he indulged in heavy
drinking and sexual activity. He was also well educated in Latin and Greek literature.
He also had a strong devotion to astrology.
Tiberius took the throne at the age of fifty-six. This was during the life of Jesus
Christ. Although he assumed actual power, he did so unwillingly and refused most of the
titles that the senate offered him. Many people believe that Tiberius was reluctant to
become an autocrat. Tiberius began to take firm steps against foreign beliefs because he
thought they were a threat to traditional Roman values. He expelled followers of the
Egyptian and Jewish religions from Rome and banished astrologers. Tiberius believed in
astrology himself but probably feared a possible conspiracy inspired by horoscopes.
Tiberius established a central camp for the Praetorian guard in Rome so the military
could be quickly called to put down civilian violence. Civilian riots were common
because of the large population of unemployed that were provided for by the public dole.
Lucius Aelius Sejanus was in charge of these troops and that gave him an enormous amount
of potential power. He aspired to marry Livia Julia, Tiberius daughter, and worked to
increase the emperor's fear and distrust of other members of his Tiberius family. In AD
26 Tiberius left Rome and withdrew to Campania, and the following year went to the island
of Capri. Tiberius left Rome under the power of Sejanus. Finally realizing that Sejanus
was trying to seize the imperial power he sent a carefully worded letter to the senate.
The senate read the letter while the unsuspecting Sejanus sat in the senate chamber.
Tiberius bitterly condemned Sejanus. Quick action was then taken to execute Sejanus and
his family. Incidents such as this one gave Tiberius a bad name with the people of Rome
and the senate. Tiberius continued to rule Rome and the empire from the isolation of
Capri. Tiberius often confused and baffled the senate with his letters. The senate was
frequently unable to interpret his mysterious messages.
Tiberius continued to live at Capri. His character was weakened by years of hard work,
worry and intense pressure. According to Suetonius he engaged in a series of
perversions. Tiberius grew into a very paranoid and suspicious man. Since he had
outlived his son he decided that his nephew Gaius would succeed him. Tiberius died on
March 16, AD 37 near Naples. Some believe he was smothered by the prefect of the
Praetorian Guard. Instead of mourning there was celebration. His body was not cremated
until April 3. Tiberius was not deified during his lifetime or after his death.
People take different sides when reflecting on Tiberius rule. Some believe that on the
whole he was a fairly good emperor. He was able to maintain peace at home and security
along the borders. Tiberius seems to have been an able soldier and administrator who
retained the republican form of government as much as possible. He did improve civil
service, the economy and kept the army highly disciplined. Few doubt the fact that after
Sejanus death Tiberius became suspicious and vengeful.
Others feel that Tiberius was cruel and a tyrant. Tacitus was one of Tiberius greatest
critics. His writings portrayed a completely evil ruler who used unlimited power to
destroy his enemies. However Tacitus was a believer in the republic style of rule and
hated the empire that replaced it. Tacitus version of history is what most people
remember because of his brilliant writings.
Some maintain more of a middle ground when reflecting on his reign. They feel Tiberius
had great military and political abilities. He often used these to benefit Rome and
provided effective rule for the empire for many years. However the series of plots
against him, the hostility of the upper classes, and overwork caused drastic changes in
his personality. The job of ruling the entire Roman Empire was too great a job for any
one man to handle.
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