Tiberius
Revision Worksheet
Tacitus
× He was born after this period, during the reign of Nero.
Tacitus lived, and wrote, during the Flavian dynasty. This
could have led to reflection of the contemporary
corruption and leadership.
× Tacitus claimed to provide moral teaching in his work;
thus, he could have been emphasising the negativity of
each emperor, to prevent repetition.
× He was a Roman Senator. He would have been able to
access existing literary accounts, but he also would have
been opposed to the absolute power of the emperors.
Opinion on Tiberius:
× He presented Tiberius as guileful, secretive, reticent and
pathetic.
× Tacitus could have been projecting the reign of Domitian,
from AD 81 to 96, onto Tiberius. Domitian was a typical
tyrant: paranoid, cruel, and violent toward the senatorial
class, of which Tiberius was a part. This was arguably
inevitable.
Suetonius
× He was also born after this period, during the Flavian
dynasty. However, his position as a secretary, under both
Trajan and Hadrian, would have granted him access to
existing literary accounts.
× Suetonius enjoyed scandal, often making his work more
salacious than the truth.
Opinion on Tiberius:
× Suetonius presented a judgemental perspective on
Tiberius, suggesting that he was incompetent, overly
servile to the Senate, and insecure in his own judgement.
Velleius Paterculus
× He was a contemporary source, having been employed by Tiberius. He published his account during his reign,
prior to the downfall of Sejanus in 31.
Opinion on Tiberius:
× Velleius Paterculus is overly sycophantic and praising, of both Tiberius and Sejanus.
, His accession
Author Source Quotation Evaluation
Reference
Tacitus Annals, 1.11-15. “With the senate now reduced to the most Unreliable: Tacitus disliked Tiberius,
grovelling entreaties, Tiberius happened to thus wanting to present him as
remark that, though he did not feel equal to weak, deceptive and suspicious. He
the task of ruling the whole republic, he wrote that Tiberius “affected this
would accept the guardianship of whichever hesitant manner as a way of testing.
part was entrusted to him.” . . the leading men.”
“For Tiberius initiated all business through Reliable: Tiberius is supported by
the consuls, as though the old republic still the emperor’s refusal to grant Livia,
existed and he himself had doubts about his mother, the title ‘mother of the
ruling.” country,’ emphasising instead his
sole power.
“He wished to appear to have been
summoned and elected by the republic,
rather than to have infiltrated his way to
power through a wife’s scheming and a
senile old man’s adoption.”
Tacitus: “[Augustus] had not even appointed
Tiberius as his successor from affection or
from concern for the republic, but because
when he looked at his arrogance and cruelty,
he hoped that the odious comparison would
redound to his own greater glory.”
Suetonius Tiberius, 23-24. “Tiberius did not hesitate to exercise power Unreliable: Suetonius enjoyed
immediately, by calling on the praetorians to scandal and sensation; he could
provide him with a bodyguard, which was to have been hyperbolising the event,
rule in fact and in appearance.” to make it more theatrical and
entertaining.
Reliable: Suetonius has a similar
perspective to Tacitus. He also has
the benefit of hindsight, allowing him
to suggest that the relationship
between Tiberius and the senate
wasn’t as grovelling as otherwise
proposed.
Revision Worksheet
Tacitus
× He was born after this period, during the reign of Nero.
Tacitus lived, and wrote, during the Flavian dynasty. This
could have led to reflection of the contemporary
corruption and leadership.
× Tacitus claimed to provide moral teaching in his work;
thus, he could have been emphasising the negativity of
each emperor, to prevent repetition.
× He was a Roman Senator. He would have been able to
access existing literary accounts, but he also would have
been opposed to the absolute power of the emperors.
Opinion on Tiberius:
× He presented Tiberius as guileful, secretive, reticent and
pathetic.
× Tacitus could have been projecting the reign of Domitian,
from AD 81 to 96, onto Tiberius. Domitian was a typical
tyrant: paranoid, cruel, and violent toward the senatorial
class, of which Tiberius was a part. This was arguably
inevitable.
Suetonius
× He was also born after this period, during the Flavian
dynasty. However, his position as a secretary, under both
Trajan and Hadrian, would have granted him access to
existing literary accounts.
× Suetonius enjoyed scandal, often making his work more
salacious than the truth.
Opinion on Tiberius:
× Suetonius presented a judgemental perspective on
Tiberius, suggesting that he was incompetent, overly
servile to the Senate, and insecure in his own judgement.
Velleius Paterculus
× He was a contemporary source, having been employed by Tiberius. He published his account during his reign,
prior to the downfall of Sejanus in 31.
Opinion on Tiberius:
× Velleius Paterculus is overly sycophantic and praising, of both Tiberius and Sejanus.
, His accession
Author Source Quotation Evaluation
Reference
Tacitus Annals, 1.11-15. “With the senate now reduced to the most Unreliable: Tacitus disliked Tiberius,
grovelling entreaties, Tiberius happened to thus wanting to present him as
remark that, though he did not feel equal to weak, deceptive and suspicious. He
the task of ruling the whole republic, he wrote that Tiberius “affected this
would accept the guardianship of whichever hesitant manner as a way of testing.
part was entrusted to him.” . . the leading men.”
“For Tiberius initiated all business through Reliable: Tiberius is supported by
the consuls, as though the old republic still the emperor’s refusal to grant Livia,
existed and he himself had doubts about his mother, the title ‘mother of the
ruling.” country,’ emphasising instead his
sole power.
“He wished to appear to have been
summoned and elected by the republic,
rather than to have infiltrated his way to
power through a wife’s scheming and a
senile old man’s adoption.”
Tacitus: “[Augustus] had not even appointed
Tiberius as his successor from affection or
from concern for the republic, but because
when he looked at his arrogance and cruelty,
he hoped that the odious comparison would
redound to his own greater glory.”
Suetonius Tiberius, 23-24. “Tiberius did not hesitate to exercise power Unreliable: Suetonius enjoyed
immediately, by calling on the praetorians to scandal and sensation; he could
provide him with a bodyguard, which was to have been hyperbolising the event,
rule in fact and in appearance.” to make it more theatrical and
entertaining.
Reliable: Suetonius has a similar
perspective to Tacitus. He also has
the benefit of hindsight, allowing him
to suggest that the relationship
between Tiberius and the senate
wasn’t as grovelling as otherwise
proposed.
