Chapter 9: The Julio-Claudians
Reading 5A: Tacitus: The Trial of Piso
• Sources for "Julio-Claudians" o4en come later and are inherently biased
against the Emperors
◦ They make poli@cal views seem personal
• Excerpt is taken from the Annales of Tacitus
◦ Describes events surrounding death of Germanicus in Syria and
treason trial of Piso
◦ During early reign of Tiberius
• Germanicus- Nephew of Tiberius, son of Drusus (who merely fell off a
horse) BUT, adopted as son of Tiberius in late reign of Augustus; Married
Agrippina (grand-daughter of Augustus); Led Rome's armies in
successful campaigns in Germany
◦ A.D. 18- Sent to Rome's eastern fron@er to deal with diploma@c
affairs; Faced difficul@es with Piso (Syria's governor as appointed
by Tiberius)
• Germanicus expelled Piso and, shortly a4er, died
▪ Upon Germanicus' death, Piso tried to get back into
the province BUT, was tried for murder and treason
• Tacitus- Reliable for historical events; Unreliable for understanding
personal behaviours of leaders
◦ Point of influence under Flavian dynasty
• Experiences with Domi@an made Tacitus long for the old,
Republican government (which he never actually
experienced)
◦ Note: Use of "acc. to some…" and "it was believed…"; Suggests
more fabrica@on than fact at these points
Tacitus, Annals, Book II
• A.D. 17- Consulship of Caelius and Pomponius; Germanicus celebrated
triumph over Cherusci, Cha^, Angrivarii and other German tribes
, • Germanicus' father was Drusus and his uncle was Marcellus (who the
people loved and lost too soon)
• Tiberius divided the spoils of war among the people (in the name of
Germanicus) and requested Germanicus join him as consul
◦ (Tacitus says) Germanicus didn't believe in Tiberius' sincerity
• King Archelaus- Ruler of Cappadocia; Tiberius disliked him as he
wouldn't show Tiberius respect
◦ Died of unknown causes; Shortly a4er An@ochus and Philopator
(kings of Commageni and Cilicians) died
▪ Tiberius reduced taxes for Cappadocia and declared it a
province
▪ Syria and Judaea also wanted to receive a decrease in
tribute
▪ Some wanted full Roman rule while others wanted another
king
• To deal with these affairs, Tiberius requested Germanicus (rather than
himself, who was very old, or his son, Drusus who was too young) seble
the problems of the East
◦ May have been an innocent request on Tiberius' part or, as Tacitus
says, a means of ge^ng Germanicus out of the way
• Tiberius reassigned governor of Syria, Silanus (who was connected to
Germanicus through Germanicus' eldest son) with Piso (a man of
temper and arrogance)
◦ Piso assumed he had been named governor to thwart
Germanicus' aspira@ons
▪ Perhaps Tiberius told him to do so
▪ BUT, Plancina (Piso's wife) was being advised by Livia
Augusta who had a personal mo@ve for persecu@ng
Agrippina
• Recall: Tiberius was in favour of Drusus (who
was his son by blood) and (acc. Tacitus) disliked
Germanicus (which made the people like him
more)
• Germanicus also had lineage on his side
(i.e. Mother's family; Grandfather Marcus
Antonius; Great-Uncle Augustus)
Reading 5A: Tacitus: The Trial of Piso
• Sources for "Julio-Claudians" o4en come later and are inherently biased
against the Emperors
◦ They make poli@cal views seem personal
• Excerpt is taken from the Annales of Tacitus
◦ Describes events surrounding death of Germanicus in Syria and
treason trial of Piso
◦ During early reign of Tiberius
• Germanicus- Nephew of Tiberius, son of Drusus (who merely fell off a
horse) BUT, adopted as son of Tiberius in late reign of Augustus; Married
Agrippina (grand-daughter of Augustus); Led Rome's armies in
successful campaigns in Germany
◦ A.D. 18- Sent to Rome's eastern fron@er to deal with diploma@c
affairs; Faced difficul@es with Piso (Syria's governor as appointed
by Tiberius)
• Germanicus expelled Piso and, shortly a4er, died
▪ Upon Germanicus' death, Piso tried to get back into
the province BUT, was tried for murder and treason
• Tacitus- Reliable for historical events; Unreliable for understanding
personal behaviours of leaders
◦ Point of influence under Flavian dynasty
• Experiences with Domi@an made Tacitus long for the old,
Republican government (which he never actually
experienced)
◦ Note: Use of "acc. to some…" and "it was believed…"; Suggests
more fabrica@on than fact at these points
Tacitus, Annals, Book II
• A.D. 17- Consulship of Caelius and Pomponius; Germanicus celebrated
triumph over Cherusci, Cha^, Angrivarii and other German tribes
, • Germanicus' father was Drusus and his uncle was Marcellus (who the
people loved and lost too soon)
• Tiberius divided the spoils of war among the people (in the name of
Germanicus) and requested Germanicus join him as consul
◦ (Tacitus says) Germanicus didn't believe in Tiberius' sincerity
• King Archelaus- Ruler of Cappadocia; Tiberius disliked him as he
wouldn't show Tiberius respect
◦ Died of unknown causes; Shortly a4er An@ochus and Philopator
(kings of Commageni and Cilicians) died
▪ Tiberius reduced taxes for Cappadocia and declared it a
province
▪ Syria and Judaea also wanted to receive a decrease in
tribute
▪ Some wanted full Roman rule while others wanted another
king
• To deal with these affairs, Tiberius requested Germanicus (rather than
himself, who was very old, or his son, Drusus who was too young) seble
the problems of the East
◦ May have been an innocent request on Tiberius' part or, as Tacitus
says, a means of ge^ng Germanicus out of the way
• Tiberius reassigned governor of Syria, Silanus (who was connected to
Germanicus through Germanicus' eldest son) with Piso (a man of
temper and arrogance)
◦ Piso assumed he had been named governor to thwart
Germanicus' aspira@ons
▪ Perhaps Tiberius told him to do so
▪ BUT, Plancina (Piso's wife) was being advised by Livia
Augusta who had a personal mo@ve for persecu@ng
Agrippina
• Recall: Tiberius was in favour of Drusus (who
was his son by blood) and (acc. Tacitus) disliked
Germanicus (which made the people like him
more)
• Germanicus also had lineage on his side
(i.e. Mother's family; Grandfather Marcus
Antonius; Great-Uncle Augustus)
