The Failure Of Sejanus Virtue In 31 CE

Uneducated and a poor public speaker, he was known for being ambitious yet unconcerned of his own reputation. Marcus Aurelius appointed him senator at the age of 30, and a friend appointed him governor of Upper Pannonia. This friend, Laetus, was involved in the murder of Commodus and the succession of Pertinax as emperor. Then, Pertinax was killed and Julianus bought the throne. Amongst controversy over the method with which Julianus earned the throne, and by portraying himself as Pertinax’s avenger, Severus marched to Rome and seized control. After becoming emperor, Severus promoted his army, especially members of the Dubian league to higher positions of power and raised their pay, earning their gratitude and trust. Before any of the opposing politicians could invade Rome, Severus elevated Albinus’ position to Caesar, appeasing him, so that he could focus on the threat from Niger. After crushing Niger, Severus split Niger’s Syrian province to prevent further upheaval and led a punitive campaign against those he held responsible. Once Niger’s threat was eliminated, Severus focused his efforts on Albinus by giving the Caesarship to his son, stripping Albinus of the title. Albinus met Severus’ challenge, invading Italy from Gaul. Severus narrowly managed to beat Albinus at Lyons. Severus sent Albnius’ head to Rome and disposed of his body, as well as the corpses of his family members, in the Rhine. Severus divided Albinus’ land into Britannia Superior and Inferior. Severus adopted a policy of ruthless retaliation to any opposition and lavish reward for all supporters. This strategy, coupled with winning public favor by restoring buildings throughout the empire, allowed Severus to lead a fruitful and undisputed

In both readings we receive a picture of Rome that the writers paint for us. Augustus provides for us a very biased view on Rome. In “ The Deeds of the Divine Augustus”, Augustus makes a point that Rome is superior to all other places. He takes pride in Rome, so much so that he does not point out the faults in Rome, rather he praises it for all its glory. In contrast, Juvenal’s “Satires”, takes a more realistic approach and explains to us the downfalls of Rome. He explains the good and the bad of Rome and writes with sense of truth. He explains to us that Rome is not perfect by any means. Through his writings, Juvenal is hoping to help the citizens realize their faults and return to their traditional Roman values, through this we can come to an understanding of the true Rome.

Tiberius was 55 when he ruled Rome from his stepfather. Tiberius had turned his back to Rome after Augustus had died. Moved to Capri still ruling Rome and abused the people there. Tiberius died right before they crucified Jesus. Tiberius really did start to abuse his powers and his people and was totally different than Augustus. Tiberius died of natural

Gaius Octavius Thurinus is a adopted son of Julius Caesar, He is the first true emperor of the Roman Empire, he was believed to be one of the most important emperor of Roma. In 43 EBC, Octavian gathered his army to kill the senate who planned the assassinate targeting Julius Caesar, his adoptive father. Then, he defeat Mark Antony and Cleopatra who was his allies but later betrayed him. Thus , he ended the war continued for decades and brought the great peace to Rome, In 29 EBC Octavian declared the pax romana, also know as the Roman peace. In 27 BCE, he was bestowed the title of Augustus by the Roman senate which was actually reestablished by Augustus himself. In order to remind the Romans the emperor’s power, Augustus ordered sculptor to sculpt the idealized form of him and send those sculptures to every provinces (Module 5 Session 6). The Augustus of Prima Porta is a great example of them.

Tiberius, who served as emperor from 14 to 37 AD, began his rule after the death of his father-in-law, Augustus. Tiberius was a weak ruler, and he understood that ruling Rome was like “holding a wolf by the ears.” When conflict arose in Europe, Tiberius sent his nephew, Germanicus, to deal with it. Germanicus did his job, and this resulted in Tiberius fearing the newest war-hero. To avoid the issue, Germanicus was appointed governor of the remote eastern provinces by his uncle. After the sudden death of Germanicus, people believed that Tiberius had poisoned him. He denied this, but the accusations never died. When he was in need of advice, Tiberius sought the assistance of Sejanus, a cavalry officer and town cheat. Tiberius sought the

Prefect Sejanus used his relationship with Princeps Tiberius in order to achieve supremacy over Rome, succeeding in ruling over Rome in ‘partnership’ with the Emperor, thus connecting the power of the Senate with that of the Guard. Upon Sejanus’ downfall and Macro’s assumption to Prefect, the relationship between the Principate and the Praetorian Guard once again strengthened, as the societies perception of the apparent heir Gaius was moulded by his close relationship with Macro. However, this relationship became strained, as Gaius feared the power the Guard had over Rome and eventually resulted in the killing of Macro and his wife. The development of the Principate was largely changed in 51 AD when Burrus assumed the position of Prefect, and as Nero became the Princeps. Burrus, alongside Seneca, undertook many of the burdens from the Princeps, regulating imperial policies and administration duties, further cementing the Praetorian Guards judicial role and the change in the Principates responsibilities.

Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus was the son of a Roman aristocrat whose family had regularly held the highest offices of state for the past century. Tiberius achieved much in his life and was a man of high distinction in political circles. He was a man with a prominent background- coming from very powerful families. It seemed also, that many had high expectations of him, and his potential was not seen to its full extent. To a few of us here today, this is a solemn and most momentous occasion. Today I will be critically analysing and assessing the significance of three key areas which have been the crux of historical debate for centuries. Today I will be touching on Tiberius' family background, education, and early career to 134BC, the aims

In 325, the Council of Nicea set out to formally characterize the relationship of the Son to the Father, in light of the dubious lessons of Arius. Driven by Bishop Athanasius, the gathering confirmed the precept of the Trinity as conventionality and censured Arius ' showing that Christ was the first making of God. The ideology received by the committee depicted Christ as "God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance (homoousios) with the Father."

Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian hereinafter referred to “Augustus”, was given the title of imperium by age of 19, to gain this, he amassed a private army and marched on the Senate in Revenge for his adopted father’s murder. Augustus developed a peaceful and cultural Ancient Rome . In contrast, both Caesar and Sulla before him, were appointed to dictator under the Lex Valeria (Valerian law) , both had ultimate goals of monarchy, but where Caesar, used the people to ascertain if this would be accepted , Sulla ruled with an iron fist.

Brown, Peter. The World of Late Antiquity. London: Thames & Hudson, 1971 (rpt. New York: Norton, 1989).

	After nineteen years of ruling Rome, Marcus Aurelius died on March 17, 180 in Vindobona, which is currently Vienna. He died of a plague while in the middle of yet another war to defend the territory of Rome. Aurelius was succeeded by his son, Commodus, who was the polar opposite of his father. Commodus was a corrupt and evil ruler. Apparently, his father was never aware of this fact, for Commodus fooled him into believing they were of the same mind when it came to ruling. Commodus was the first of the bad emperors to Aurelius’ last of the good emperors. This lack of an able ruler cemented the descent of the Roman empire.

However, before he did, the infamous Emperor set out to kill all his political and military opposers. Generals such as Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian were forced to flee Rome. Nero’s death plunged Rome into a chaotic and historically bloody civil war, parties vying for power battled in the city streets of Rome. Servius Galba, the Imperator in charge of the Upper German Army, decided to storm Rome, not knowing that Nero was dead and no longer in power. The Praetorian Guards were not only a military powerhouse but the personal bodyguards of the Emperors and the only military legions stationed throughout mainland Italy. They had more than enough resources to wage war against other Roman legions. Galba had promised to reward the Praetorian Guard who deserted Nero and promised to serve him in order to gain their full power. Dr. Sandra Ottley writes that “it was the support that Galba received from the Praetorian Prefect...and the Praetorian Guard that helped ensure his eventual success.” It was then that the Senate named him Emperor. It is completely possible that even then, the Senate was being controlled by the Praetorian Guard. Years

Sulla was using all that powers in his repeiteur to change Rome in ways that he saw fit. He established a consul, disbanded legions, and resigned as dictator giving the power the consul, which aloud Rome to chose its leader. Sulla had 2 consulships and then went to live on privately were he died 2 years later.

His murder in AD 192 was followed by a civil war by rivals to the throne. A series of rulers under what was known as `The Severan Dynasty' ensued. Lucian Septimius Severus who became emperor in AD 193 severely weakened the imperial defenses when he disbanded the Praetorian Guard and replaced them with his own troops. While Rome remained a large empire there was a complete lack of constitution. After Septimus Severus all power derived from the army, which led to corruption in a quest for power. Between 235 and 284 there was a series of insane emperors who were frequently assassinated.

Even though he was extremely unpopular, being in possession of the wealth he was, he was able to buy his way through the senate to the height of power. Caesar had majestically rose to power, partaking in every major position there was, using his political ingenious in his attempt to gain full control of Rome. After Crassus had died in battle, and Caesars’ army defeated and killed Pompey, he was quick to mop up all his opposition from the senate and the oligarchs across the Mediterranean and throughout Rome, in his first step to his dictatorship, his dictatorship being the final step to the republics decline. After defeating all of his enemies, Julius Caesar was granted a 10-year dictatorship for purposes of restoring the republic, similar to the title that Sulla had granted himself many years previous. However he constituted himself as the Divine King or Ruler of Rome, essentially a REX, yet as said before, since the founding of the Republic, the Romans prided themselves on freedom from the Etruscan King, and just the term ‘King’ went against the republic mentality. Eventually killed in plot involving over 60 senators, the death of Caesar concluded the decline of the Republic.