Tacitus’s Annals

1. Tacitus’s Annals The Story of Tiberius and Sejanus

2. Who was Tiberius? • Son of Livia, Augustus’s adopted son • Married Julia • Served 22 years with distinction in the Roman military • Adopts his nephew Germanicus and has him, along with his own son Drusus, act as his helpers

3. Who Is Sejanus? • Father was a Roman knight • Emperor’s right-hand man • “To Sejanus alone the emperor spoke freely.” • “The partner of my labors.”(4.1.1-2)

4. How does Tacitus portray Sejanus? • Tacitus immediately presents Sejanus as “a reader” of things. (4.1.3) • As if he can get inside the head of Tiberius • Then he can interpret what Tiberius wants and narrate it to others

5. Drusus as a threat to Sejanus • Drusus’s complaints against Sejanus: • laments the fact that Sejanus has a new camp of guards • Statue in Pompey’s theater • Sejanus’s daughter is promised to Claudius’s son in marriage • Drusus’s wife is Sejanus’s lover and betrays him to Sejanus

6. Sejanus’s Revenge • Picks a slow-acting poison • Kills Drusus with it • Tiberius continues to attend the Senate while his son is ill and even right after his death

7. The Threat to Sejanus’s Power (5.2) • Sejanus is threatened by Agrippina and her sons, Drusus Caesar and Nero Caesar, who are Augustus’ descendants • Has all three of them exiled • Claims they are disobedient and use insubordinate language against the emperor

8. What are the similarities between Tiberius and Sejanus? • How did Tiberius slowly creep into power? • How does Sejanus do the same? • Same qualities that land Sejanus in good favor with the emperor are also what get him in trouble later on

9. What qualities do Sejanus and Tiberius have in common? • Both are accused by historians of being secretive • Both feared conspiracies and revolts

10. What Are Sejanus’ Powers? • Consolidates Roman guard into barracks in Rome • Statues of him in theaters, public places and brigade headquarters • Requests to marry Livilla (refused by Tiberius) • Poisons his son Drusus • Arranges constant threats to Agrippina and Nero (Tiberius’s grandson)

11. Who Was Agrippina? • Wife of Germanicus • After death of Germanicus, asks Tiberius if she can remarry • Tiberius fears that new husband of the granddaughter of Augustus could be a threat to him

12. How Is She The Opposite of Sejanus? • She appears as the opposite of Sejanus, open and straightforward • He hides everything from Tiberius • She is unable to conceal anything from Tiberius and this causes her downfall • 4.54 She has dinner with Tiberius and is unable to hide her fear of poisoning

13. An Aspect of Tiberius’s Reign • Becomes obsessed with gaining access to the future • Retreats to Capri with astrologers (26 AD), never returns to Rome after this and access to him is through Sejanus • Often consults his horoscope

14. How Does Tiberius Behave as An Exile? • 6.1.1-2 scene of a sacked city • Sense of responsibility vs. desire for withdrawal • Behaves as if he is a voluntary exile

15. Tacitus’s description of this behavior 6.1 • “he regained his secluded sea-cliffs” • “Free-born children were his victims” • Victims were kidnapped by his slaves • “It was like the sack of a captured city”

16. How Does Tiberius Behave As Commander-in-chief? • Scene at 6.1.1-2 portrays him as if he is attacking the city. • City is devastated • Tiberius gives orders at a distance • Subordinates exact penalties from the defeated

17. How Does Tacitus Describe the Island of Capri (4.67.1-3)? • Tacitus characterized the island as if it were a foreign country and Tiberius as though he is inhabiting a foreign land: • Physical geography • Climate • Agricultural produce, mineral resources • Origins and features of inhabitants • Political, social and military organization

18. Capri • Place where Tiberius can behave in a decadent manner • Tiberius was rumored to have orgies • Swimming pool with young boys who swam in it and sucked on his toes

19. Sejanus at the height of his power • AD 31, becomes co-consul • Since Tiberius is at Capri, he is the sole ruler • Granted superior military powers • Finally engaged to Julia Livilla, Tiberius’s son Drusus’s widow

20. What contributes to Sejanus’ downfall? • Senators and provincial governors get fed up with having to discuss imperial matters with him instead of the emperor • Antonia, mother of Julia Livilla, does not approve of the proposed marriage • Plan to removed him is hatched

21. The Fall of Sejanus • Emperor cannot use Praetorian Guard as it is under Sejanus’s command • Summons Macro to Capri and gives him instructions to get the fire-brigade/police force behind him, so no one will try to rescue Sejanus • A letter is read in the Senate denouncing Sejanus and he is executed immediately

22. Summary of Tiberius’s reign • Good acts include: • Helps Rome out during time of oppressive grain prices (provides money and labor) • Settled disputes with private citizens in law courts • Got rid of disreputable entertainments

23. Summary of Tiberius’s reign II • Bad acts include: • Disappearing from Rome to engage in depraved acts • Behaving like a tyrant when he did return

24. Tacitus on Tiberius’s reign (6.51.5ff) • Blameless under Augustus • And had a flawless reputation • Concealed his real self • After his mother dies and Sejanus is killed, his perversions emerge • Unrestrained crime and wickedness

25. Conclusions • Tiberius’ paranoia, fear of conspiracy, and desire to remain away from Rome led historians to criticize his rule