Reign of Augustus 27- AD 14

(unofficial) Reign of Augustus 27- AD 14
sources: Cassius Dio 49-56;
Suet. Augustus (and early Tiberius),
Tac. Annals 1
Velleius Paterculus 1.80 ff

Stemma (Family tree) of Juli-Claudians 25 BC-AD 10

____________________________________________
| | |
Julius Caesar dictator Julia = M. Attius Balbus Julia
\ | |
\ Atia = Octavius = Ancharia Q Pedius
\ __________|________________________________________
1 \ | 2 1 | |
Scribonia = AUGUSTUS = Livia = Ti. Nero ANTONY = Octavia = CCM Octavia
| \ \ _____|___________ | | |
Agrippa = Julia* /\ TIBERIUS Drusus = Antonia Marcellus Sex. Appuleius
| / \ | __________|_______________
| / \ Drusus Yngr = Livilla | CLAUDIUS
_______|___/______\________________________ |
| | / \ | | |
Julia Gaius Lucius Postumus Agrippina Elder = Germanicus


29 New Constitution divides provinces and some imperial powers
23 Anger at his monopoly of 1 consulship leads Augustus to resign and accept tribunicia potestas instead. He dates his power on coins from 23. Turbulent elections follow. Promotion of Marcellus, Agrippa miffed, goes to Lesbos, Marcellus dies mysteriously
22-21 Aug tries to cope w/o Agrippa, MVMC but can not, recalls Agrippa, Agr = Julia
18 renewal of tp, and Agrippa receives it also (start of Agrippa’s escalation)
17 After the birth of Lucius, Augustus adopts both Gaius and Lucius and raises them
16 Domestic problems and a German invasion compel Aug to leave R for 3 years
13 Triumphal return, Aug refuses a triumph, celebrates Pax, Ara Pacis begun
12 Agrippa dies in March, provinces rebel, Drusus and Tiberius sent to suppress
9 Drusus as consul, dies in Germany, national mourning
7 Triumph and 2nd consulship of Tiberius
4 Elevation of Gaius and Lucius, Tiberius miffed, retires to Rhodes
2 Conspiracy of Iullus Antony, exile of Julia to Pandateria
1 Gaius sent out to fight in Parthia
AD 2 Lucius dies in Massilia mysteriously, Tib recalled
AD 4 Gaius dies mysteriously, Aug adopts Tiberius and Postumus, T adopts Germanicus
AD 4-6 Tiberius conquers Germany, Illyria revolts in 6,
AD 8 Julia the Yngr exiled for adultery
AD 9 Teutoberger Wald - three legions lost, but German invasion dissipates
AD 12 Postumus exiled,
AD 13 Tiberius receives TPand authority, power equal to Augustus
AD 14 Augustus dies in August, is made a god by the Senate (WHY?) Postumus executed at once, Tiberius summons Senate and is offered the same leadership Augustus held. He feigns disinterest, but then snaps when others offer to take him seriously.

Legacy of Augustus:
“I found Rome a city of brick and mud and left her a city of marble”
New unofficial imperial system of monarchy for 100 yrs
Greatly increased prosperity of empire
End of Civil wars for 75 (100) yrs
Quality of life greatly improves, including literacy
Romanization of Empire doubles pace
Considerable freedom for a secret police state
Drawbacks –
Return to Mos Maiorum was a return to archaic religion, step back in time
Secret police state with escalated censorship in last decade
Wealth acquired on backs of untold 100,000s of new slaves
Set in path a monarchy that corrupted absolutely under Caligula, Nero




Tiberius (42 – AD 37), r. AD 14-37

Son of Livia and Ti.Claudius Nero (pr.42). Survived a perilous infancy and perhaps unhappy childhood. Parents divorced right before his brother Drusus was born and as per Roman law he was raised in his father’s house until the death of Ti. Nero. After this he was raised by his mother (not common R practice). Augustus apparently tolerated his step-sons. At a very young age Tiberius was the leader of the gens Claudia.
Tiberius married Vipsania Minor, daughter of Agrippa, ca. 24 at about the same time PQVarus married Vipsania Maior. He served under Agrippa and received several prestigious honors under Augustus including the right to hold office under legal age. In political terms he tied his wagon to Agrippa’s star.
In 13 he served as consul with PQV to celebrate the return of Augustus and Agrippa in a lavish ceremony that included the constitutio of the Ara Pacis and probably the closing of the Gates of Janus. Tiberius could look ahead at age 29 to a long career of gvt service at the side of his father-in-law incl. multiple governorships, vast wealth, and the consulship for his son(s).
Suddenly Agrippa died in 12 and his fortune became both brighter and more risky. Livia and Augustus forced him to divorce the beloved Vipsania (who miscarried over it) in order to marry Julia. It turned out this new marriage was not so that Tiberius could assume Agrippa’s position as second princeps, but just to keep the seat warm for Agrippa’s (biological) sons, whom Augustus had adopted in 17. Tiberius was miserable, and after his son by Julia died he ceased to cohabitate with Julia.
Happier on the battlefield, he and Drusus invaded Austria in 11 and conquered new territory for Rome. But in 10 Drusus was injured when his horse fell upon him and died of gangrene. Tiberius rushed 200 miles in 24 hours (Val Max) to reach Drusus before he died. He brought the body back to Italy where Drusus was laid in the Mausoleum of the Iulii after 30 funerals in every major town from Milan to Rome.
Tiberius returned to the field and waged war in Germany on and off until 6. Then he saw Gaius Caesar coming of age and insisted on leaving for Rhodes. Augustus was put out at his departure and late refused to allow him to return.
In Tiberius’ absence Augustus probably relied upon Iullus Antonius for administrative work. Perhaps Iullus got mad at being used (?) because he conspired against Augustus in 2, and his adulterous affair with Julia was exposed. Iullus committed suicide. Augustus divorced Julia from Tiberius and despite Tiberius’ protests, she was exiled to a small island. Tiberius was now allowed to return in AD 2 as a private citizen.
After Lucius and Gaius died (AD 2, 4) Tiberius was reinstated and adopted with Agrippa Postumus by Augustus. But Augustus forced Tiberius to adopt Germanicus, the older nephew, thus Tiberius had to relinquish his position as leading Claudius – to his younger nephew CLAUDIUS. Tiberius again was sent to war in Germany and Illyria, and back to Germany after his appointee, PQV lost 3 legions at Teutoberger Wald.
Tiberius becomes the second princeps and has a hand in most important policy decisions (thanks to his mother), especially after the exile of Postumus (AD 10 or so).
Tiberius takes over as in AD 14, but in a show of Republican modesty, pretends to refuse the opportunity. This provokes a challenge and he has to take a stern hand to prevent a show of weakness (Asinius Gallus gets it in the end). At first tries to be Republican, not autocratic, but relations with the Senate strain.
Germanicus sent to Germany to avenge Teutoberger Wald, but he tries to reconquer Germany. See Tacitus Annals 2. Tiberius recalls him in 17 because of the $$, but in fact the reconquest of Germany would be far less expensive than facing future hordes of Germans. Germanicus given a second consulship and sent East, where he dies mysteriously, provoking charges that Tiberius had Cn. Calpurnius Piso poison G.
Tiberius makes no display of emotion at G’s death, but allows his son Drusus the Younger to become junior emperor – until Drusus dies (poisoned by his wife) in AD 23. Tiberius forced to turn to his chief minister, L. Aelius Sejanus to run the Empire.
Sejanus runs the Guard and other functions. He plots to marry Livilla and take over the Empire, so he discredits and imprisons Germanicus’ sons and widow. But he is discovered by Antonia Minor and exposed, AD 29. A purge follows in which all Sejanus’ allies are executed.
Tiberius turns savage. He retires to Capri and runs the Empire despotically. He chooses to leave the Empire to both Gaius “Caligula” and Tiberius Julius “Gemellus,” but Gemellus is too young. Tiberius succumbs (possibly murdered by Caligula) in March 37 to the relief of the people who want to throw him in the Tiber River. Senate grants him no honors.




CALIGULA AND CLAUDIUS

__________|_______________________
1 | 2 1 Octavia = CCM and Antony
Scribonia = AUGUSTUS = Livia = Ti. Nero _____________|_____
| \ _____|______ | | |
Agrippa = Julia* TIBERIUS Drusus = Antonia Marcella Antonia Major
| | __________|_ | m.
| Drusus Yngr = Livilla | | MVMB L. Domitius
_______|_________ | | | | Ahenobarbus
| | Gemellus | CLAUDIUS = Messallina |
others Agrippina | ___|_______ |
the Elder = Germanicus Brittanicus Octavia |
_____________________|___________________ Cn. Domitius
Nero Caesar Drusus Caesar Julia CALIGULA Agrippina Yngr = Ahenobarbus
m. Claud |
NERO
AD 37-41 CALIGULA
everyone so happy to be rid of Tiberius they welcome Gaius Caesar Germanicus and heap honors upon him. If he was sane before, it goes to his head and in a year he goes raving mad. He really or pretends to suffer a medical illness and awakens “a god on earth.” While rumors of his incest with his sister Drusilla might be slander, he was plenty bad in every other way.
• Phony invasion of Britain called back at the North Sea
• Execution of Germany legionary commanders including Lentulus Gaetulicus
• Execution of his heir Paullus Aemilius Lepidus
• Exile of his sisters Agrippina and Julia the Yngr
• Purge of the Senate
• Unlawfully took all the priesthoods
• Forces senatorial wives to work in a brothel to raise funds
• Condemns rich people to death just to get their $$
Finally Caligula was assassinated in Jan AD 41 by Cassius Chaerea, who tried to eliminate the imperial family and said he would restore the republic. The Senate meets and agrees to restore the Republic, but the Praetorian Guard chooses to elevate …

CLAUDIUS AD 41-54
Probably had cerebral palsy and was kept in background w/o hope of a political career Hope to be a professional historian (like Scipio Africanus’ son) and wrote (lost) accounts of Etruscans, R history - 43 BC. Claudius may have been part of the plot to assassinate Caligula, but circulated the story that he was discovered behind a curtain and made emperor against his will. Guards wanted an emperor, not a Republic. Claudius ascended and like Tiberius made a big effort to be Republican, but soon became tyrannical and capricious.
Half a year in, he accused his new father-in-law of treason and executed him. After that no one felt safe. Claudius formed a kitchen cabinet of his ex-slaves, Pallas, Narcissus, and Callistus. These ex-slaves ran the bureaucracy and had more power than most senators. Claudius’ attempts to include the Senate in every decision started out looking Republican, but now it looked like a trap he was setting each time.
In 42 L. Arruntius Camillus Scribonianus rebelled and a civil war broke out, but his troops deserted him. Later everyone regretted this.
In 44 Claudius ordered the invasion of Britain. His generals won and defeated Caractacus. Claudius came to personally watch, brought several major senators with him (lest they rebel in his absence), then went home.
Claudius’ wife Messallina acted up. She had several affairs, then plotted to overthrow him in 48, after she tired waiting for him to die. Her insurrection failed and the freedmen united forces to persuade Claudius to kill her. He may have been drunk, since he forgot that he had signed her execution warrant. When he realized what happened, he was genuinely heartbroken. Although at first determined to remain bachelor, he soon fished about for a new wife. He almost remarried Lollia Paulina, but instead married his niece Agrippin the Yngr after passing a law legalizing uncle-niece marriage. Agrippina at once moved to consolidate her power and the succession of Nero. Octavia’s fiancé was jilted, and Octavia was betrothed to Nero. Nero was adopted and Octavia was adopted out so she could marry her “brother.”
The decline:
Agrippina soon took over and boxed out Narcissus. Politically isolated, he had to tread gently because he had no allies. Callistus was dead, and Pallas was Agrippina’s favorite. Brittanicus and Octavia resented his role in Messallina’s execution. He failed to turn to Claudius’ oldest daughter, Antonia (maybe this was not possible), who had married first Pompey Magnus – and later Cornelius Sulla (maybe she had little influence). Finally he tried to win over Nero w/o Agrippina.
Claudius was totally left without family or allies. Too late he threatened to demote Nero for Brittanicus, so Agrippina struck and poisoned him with mushrooms (October 54). She locked Brittanicus in a closet and had visitors view Claudius’ corpse - “He is tired today” until an auspicious moment when she sent forth news that Nero had succeeded. Nero gave a speech written by Seneca and asked the Senate to declare Claudius a god (Pseudo-Seneca satire Pumkinification of Claudius). Later he called mushrooms the “food of the gods.”

NERO AD 54-68
Last Julio-Claudian emperor, had only one daughter who died in infancy. Several cousins were considered heirs but one by one Nero had them exiled and executed. He divorced Octavia for his lover Acte, but the crowd demanded her recall and he backed down, but later had Octavia accused of adultery to get rid of her.
• 5 golden years
• Escalation of tyranny
• Dabbling in the Arts
• Revolution AD 68
Nero succeeded allowed Seneca and Burrhus to run the Empire for 5 years. They found Agrippina a major hassle so they had her clipped. When she struck back they realized she had to be eliminated. Nero ignored Octavia and loved a slave, Acte. Drama between N, A, and Agrippina. When Agr threatened to restore Claudius’ children, Nero had Brittanicus poisoned and moved to remove Agr, but she survived 3 assassination attempts. Finally someone killed her with a sword.
Burrhus died and Seneca pleaded to retire, fearing Nero’s tyranny. He had once dreamed Nero was Caligula. Soon after Nero took over and appointed Tigellinus. Nero divorced Octavia for Poppeia Sabina (Pseudo-Seneca play Octavia).
Nero turned to art, especially singing. He got trainers and entered many contests, esp. in Naples and always was thrilled when he “won.” Later he created an Olympics festival called the Neronia in AD 66 and won lots of awards. He refused to return to Rome during the crisis and had to be dragged back by courtiers.
One thing he did right – the Great Fire in AD 64. Nero opened emergency relief to all from gvt coffers, and hunted down the culprits. Fire probably set by a cult of monotheist Branch Dividian types “flood last time, fire the next time.”
Nero and most Romans could not distinguish one monotheist from another, so many innocent Christians were punished for the crime of a few. Nasty persecution followed.
The rebellion – Vindex in Gaul rebelled in Spr 68 and denounced Nero. He asked Galba to chair the rebellion. They brought Fr, Spain, and Portugal (under Otho) into rebellion when the German legions under Verginius Rufus moved on Vindex. They met at Besançon (Vesontio) where Vindex wanted to confer with Verginius, but the legions massacred Vindex’s rebels. Vindex committed suicide. Galba fulfilled several prophecies that made Nero scared. Galba and Nero simultaneously panicked, but news came from Rome that the Senate had already declared Nero a public enemy and he fled. Then Nero lost heart and killed himself. Galba lost the battle and won the war.

GALBA emperor AD 68-69 - too strict and miserly. Judged capax imperii nisi regerit. Killed in a coup by Otho when he failed to adopt him on 15 Jan.
OTHO 69 - emperor for only 3 months. Poppea’s second husband, offered to marry Nero’s last wife, but lost the civil war and committed suicide after 90 days of rule.
VITELLIUS 69 – rebelled against Galba on 1 Jan and then learned Otho was in charge. His army invaded Italy and won Bedriacum after which he marched on Rome. His reputation was destroyed by his enemies who won the war in winter for Vespasian.

VESPASIAN 69-79
TITUS 79-81
DOMITIAN 81-96

5 good Emperors
Nerva
Trajan
Hadrian
Antoninus Pius
Marcus Aurelius