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Assess the contribution and impact of Tiberius as princeps
•After Augustus's death Tiberius reluctantly took on the role as princeps
•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)
•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
Custom writing offers papers on Assess the contribution and impact of Tiberius as princeps
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, Moesia, Dalmatia and Pannonia
Generous to provincial cities during disasters eg 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
Eg 10 years was too long for Pontius Pilatus (6-6) 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, Vitellius, 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 1, Drusus' nd 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. Aelius 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 , 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' suggestions eg. 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
.He had control of the senate as he controlled communications to and from Tiberius at Capri
.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 ( 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 Vigiles, 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 7
Tiberius did not return to Rome but continued to rule from Capri until he died at the age of 78
StrengthsWeaknesses
Continuance of Augustus' arrangements as much as possible
Excellent civil administration
ɧAlleviated food shortages
ɧMaintained law and order in the city through the city prefect
ɧGave substantial relief to help victims of an amphitheatre tragedy and a fire on the Aventine
ɧCut down public expenses erected few public buildings and reduced gladiatorial shows
StrengthsServility 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
ɧTook measures to safeguard the countryside from brigandage
ɧReduced sales tax
ɧChose officials carefully
Attempt to work with the senate
ɧTook no exceptional honours
ɧUpheld traditional rights
ɧTreated it with respect
ɧConsulted it
ɧExtended its administrative and legal functions
Provincial and frontier policies
ɧMaintained peace and prosperity
ɧSettled disputes in provinces fairly
ɧGave extensive tax relief after earthquake damage
ɧBuilt roads and bridges
ɧBuilt public buildings in provinces
ɧChose best men wherever possible
ɧMaintained thorough discipline, loyalty and efficiency in armiesVengeance taken on Sejanus' supporters
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
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