Tiberius

Also known as: Tiberius Caesar · Family: Julio-Claudian · Role: Augustus's step-son · First appears: Augustus 63

Tiberius Caesar was descended through his father’s side from Tiberius Nero and through his mother’s from Appius Pulcher, both sons of Appius Caecus. Born at Rome in the Palatine quarter, he was left with his brother Drusus Nero after their father’s death. In Sicily, Pompeia, sister of Sextus Pompey, gave him a cloak, a clasp, and gold bullae; later, Marcus Gallius adopted him in his will, but Tiberius declined Gallius’s name because he had opposed Augustus. He married Vipsania Agrippina, with whom he had Drusus the Younger, then was compelled to divorce her while she was pregnant to marry Julia the Elder, whose infant son by Tiberius died at Aquileia. Their rupture became violent, and Tiberius ceased sleeping with her. He also lost his brother Drusus the Elder in Germany and brought his body to Rome on foot.

In the years that followed, Tiberius prosecuted Fannius Caepio for conspiracy against Augustus, restored Armenia to Tigranes and crowned him, and received an ovation after his military actions. When Julia the Elder was condemned for adultery and divorced in Tiberius’s name, he interceded for her through letters to Augustus and allowed her to retain his gifts. He withdrew to Rhodes, where his request to visit his friends was denied, and obtained with difficulty the title of Augustus’s lieutenant. After nearly eight years he returned to Rome, took Thrasyllus into his family, and was adopted by Augustus along with Agrippa, first adopting Germanicus, his brother’s son. He managed the war in Illyricum, settled affairs in Germany, and accepted honours while postponing his triumph because of the disaster of Varus and his army. Augustus became his colleague in provincial administration and adopted him “for the public good”; after Augustus’s death, Tiberius withheld the announcement until he had removed young Agrippa, then accepted the government “as if forced to it.”