TIBERUIS

ABOUT HIM

• Tiberius was Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD. Born Tiberius Claudius Nero, a Claudian, Tiberius was the son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla. His mother divorced Nero and married Augustus in 39 BC, making him a step-son of Octavian.g

WHAT HE DID FOR ROME

• When we think of Tiberius today, it's easy to see him as an old, reclusive tyrant. But it's not the complete story. Our knowledge of his later years comes from Suetonius (who thrived on gossip and loved a good story) and Tacitus who was a die-hard Republican and had been through a tough time with emperor Domitian, who he felt was like Tiberius in temperament. Tacitus needed some closure and vented his anger in his history of Tiberius. The good If you dig into the background of Tiberius, what you see is an enigmatic personality: shy, a bit awkward in public places, happier with a close circle of friends and with no time for intrigue and politics. Tiberius was in his day one of Rome's greatest generals. His soldiers were very fond of him and as well as respecting his capability, liked the fact that he endured the same hardships as they did. On campaigns, he would sleep in the open on the bare ground with a blanket thrown over him. He made it clear to his officers that they were to come to him if they had any concerns or questions about his orders and he issued orders in writing so there was no confusion. The warmth his soldiers felt for him is shown in the nickname they gave him: Biberius Caldius Mero (drinker of hot wine), a pun on his name Tiberius Claudius Nero. Before he became emperor, he was Augustus' fixer, campaigning on the Rhine, then far into Germany. In AD6 he was planning to conquer Bohemia and Moravia when he was called to suppress a serious Balkan revolt. After this job was done, in AD9 he had to clear up the mess left by Quinctilius Varus in the Teutoburg Forest, where three of Rome's best legions were annihilated by the Germans. At the time, this was so serious that there were fears the empire could topple. Tiberius was a war winner and was happiest with his soldiers on campaign. The not so good When he became emperor, and therefore Rome's foremost celebrity, his personality couldn't really cope. He came across as aloof, arrogant, lacking the diplomacy of Augustus and with no time for social gatherings or games. He began to surround himself with writers, mystics and astrologers and in escaping reality this way, was glad to hand over the day to day issues to someone else, as it turned out, Sejanus. While Tiberius was debating obscure literary and mythological issues in his retreat on the island of Capri, Sejanus was engaging in murder and intrigue with an eye on the imperial purple himself. Romans were a very social society and could not understand Tiberius' withdrawal from public life. It gave rise to many rumors about what was going on in his Capri palace; we will never know the truth of these, but the fact that they were spread around highlights his unpopularity. Eventually his reign descended into terror. After Sejanus was found out and removed, Tiberius' fears and suspicions led to a surge in treason trials, with many undoubtedly innocent people executed.