Tacitus’s Annals
The Story of Tiberius and Sejanus
Who was Tiberius?
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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
Who Is Sejanus?
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Father was a Roman knight
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Emperor’s right-hand man
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“To Sejanus alone the emperor spoke
freely.”
“The partner of my labors.”(4.1.1-2)
How does Tacitus portray
Sejanus?
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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
Drusus as a threat to Sejanus
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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
Sejanus’s Revenge
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Picks a slow-acting poison
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Kills Drusus with it
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Tiberius continues to attend the Senate
while his son is ill and even right after
his death
The Threat to Sejanus’s Power
(5.2)
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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
What are the similarities
between Tiberius and
Sejanus?
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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
What qualities do Sejanus and
Tiberius have in common?
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Both are accused by historians of being
secretive
Both feared conspiracies and revolts
What Are Sejanus’ Powers?
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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)
Who Was Agrippina?
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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
How Is She The Opposite of
Sejanus?
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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
An Aspect of Tiberius’s Reign
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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
How Does Tiberius Behave as
An Exile?
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6.1.1-2 scene of a sacked city
Sense of responsibility vs. desire for
withdrawal
Behaves as if he is a voluntary exile
Tacitus’s description of this
behavior 6.1
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“he regained his secluded sea-cliffs”
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“Free-born children were his victims”
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Victims were kidnapped by his slaves
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“It was like the sack of a captured city”
How Does Tiberius Behave As
Commander-in-chief?
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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
How Does Tacitus Describe
the Island of Capri (4.67.1-3)?
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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
Capri
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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
Sejanus at the height of his
power
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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
What contributes to Sejanus’
downfall?
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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
The Fall of Sejanus
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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
Summary of Tiberius’s reign
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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
Summary of Tiberius’s reign II
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Bad acts include:
Disappearing from Rome to engage in
depraved acts
Behaving like a tyrant when he did
return
Tacitus on Tiberius’s reign
(6.51.5ff)
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Blameless under Augustus
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And had a flawless reputation
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Concealed his real self
After his mother dies and Sejanus is killed, his
perversions emerge
Unrestrained crime and wickedness
Conclusions
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Tiberius’ paranoia, fear of conspiracy,
and desire to remain away from Rome
led historians to criticize his rule