Death of Germanicus 19CE ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ “Though the bravest of men against the foe, he showed himself most gentle with his countrymen; and though as a Caesar ​ he had the greatest power, he kept his ambitions on the same plane as weaker men. He never conducted himself oppressively toward his subjects or with jealousy toward Drusus or in any reprehensible way toward Tiberius. In a word, he was one of the few men of all time who have neither sinned against the fortune allotted to them nor been destroyed by it.” 57.18.6-8 Cassius Dio ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Intro: Germanicus Julius Caesar 15BCE - 19CE ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Born the grandnephew of Augustus and nephew of Tiberius, he was adopted by Tiberius as his son and heir by 4CE, under the instruction of Augustus. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Germanicus married Agrippina, and fathered 6 known children, including the emperor Caligula. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Germanicus gained military fame through his campaigns in the Rhine, and the first after Augustus to be granted a triumph on his return. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Germanicus was loved and praised by all, except for his adopted father and mother. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Conspiracy and uncertainty surrounding his death in 19CE ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Tacitus - 56-117CE - ‘Annals’ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Successful political career under the Flavian Emperors, and held many positions under the Roman system. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Therefore he had access to Senatorial records, which form a substantial source for his writing. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Tacitus’s Annals can be seen as a somewhat chronological history of Rome starting with the death of Caesar. The death of Germanicus occurs in book 2. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Death of Germanicus in Tacitus’ Annals ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Tiberius shown to favour biological son Drusus to Germanicus, making life more difficult for Germanicus (2.43) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Germanicus given powers over the provinces overseas by Senate, which angered Tiberius so he appointed Cneius Piso to Syria (2.43) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Germanicus improving and helping areas in the empire. In Egypt he reduced the price of corn by opening Granaries. Tacitus depicts him positively, in contrast with Tiberius who did not support Germanicus (2.59) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Germanicus was ill multiple times during this period, and the belief he had been poisoned by Piso developed. Tacitus describes human remains and spells found in the walls so the souls will be devoted the infernal deities (2.69) - Comparison to Alexander the Great due to him dying at such a young age, beauty, manner of death (2.73) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Death of Germanicus had a significant negative impact on Agrippina, however Piso was pleased by it (2.75) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Tacitus strongly attributes Germanicus’ death to fight for power over the province (Syria), Piso and Germanicus fighting for it and Piso and Sentius (Annal 2.78, 2.79, 2.80, 2.81) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Germanicus’ death deeply mourned. Rome saw his illness as suspicious, sorrow felt at his death, public courts deserted, private houses were closed (Annal 2.82). Widespread honours for him after his death (Annal 2.83). ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Ronald Syme (1958) was in favour of the works of Tacitus and believed them to be reliable. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Suetonius - 69-122 CE - ‘Lives of Twelve Caesars’ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Suetonius was both a historian and an advisor of the emperor Hadrian. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Served as a soldier under Tiberius, and was later promoted to praetorship by him - loyalty ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Author of biographies of previous emperors, focusing on their personality and morality. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Although he had access to official documents, he mostly relied on rumour and the traditional narrative established by previous historians. He did not experience their rule and so relies on the traditional view of the sources which were available to him. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Death of Germanicus in Suetonius’ Lives of Twelve Caesars ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Within Tiberius’ story Germanicus’ death is one part of a list which exemplifies Tiberius’ hard-heartedness, extreme suspicion, and his apparent tendency to kill or torture his relatives. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - In Chapter 25 of ‘Life of Tiberius’ Germanicus is praised for his services to the empire and his moral character. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - While Germanicus was in Syria, Tiberius arranged Cneius Piso to kill him. Suetonius’ suspicions are strengthened by Tiberius’ attitude towards Germanicus’ widow Agrippina and children, who were all eventually exiled and killed. - In Chapter 13 of the ‘Life of Caligula’ it is stated that Caligula was popular because he had a close connection to his father’s soldiers and because there was immense pity and respect for his late father. During his reign as emperor he honoured his family, but his personality seemed to shift. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Suetonius uses the story of Germanicus within Caligula’s narrative to demonstrate their moral differences, and to show how Germanicus’ demise affected the Roman people. His values and behaviour were demonstrative of accomplishment in all fields. Apart from being handsome and charming, he was kind, successful and accomplished in whatever he did. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Handout created by: Kerran, Rebecca, Jordan, Lauren, Tina ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Cassius Dio - 165 - 235 CE - ‘Roman History’ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Provides the fullest surviving record of history of the Augustan era ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Writing the latest of all these historians, and so this distance gives him more freedom when describing events, and ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ also access to more sources, including Greek sources ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Dio is yearning back for the prosperous time of Augustus, Germanicus seen as ideal Roman and positively ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ constructed as such. ​ ​ ​ ​

Death of Germanicus in Cassius Dio’s Roman History ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Dio describes how Tiberius and Livia were very pleased by his death, while everyone else was saddened. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Dio’s idealised description of Germanicus emphasises his physical beauty and noble spirit, his culture and his ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ strength. He was brave in battle and kind with his friends, and also was not overtly ambitious. (Book 57.18.6-7) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - The death occurred at Antioch and was through a plot by Piso and Plancina (Book 57.18.9) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Piso was brought before the senate in Rome for the murder by Tiberius himself (wanting to ensure there was no suspicion of his role in the plot). However Piso’s trial was postponed and he committed suicide before he could be found guilty, adding to the controversy surrounding Germanicus’ death (Book 57.18.9) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Death was significant as Tiberius used it as a pretext for more murders, on the grounds that people were pleased with his death (Book 57.18.10) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Tiberius is shown to have had a fatal influence on those in power around him. (Book 57. 20.1-2) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Velleius Paterculus 19 BCE - 31 CE - ‘Roman History’ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Velleius Paterculus was born in 19 BC and died sometime after 30 AD. He served in the army under Tiberius for ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 8 years, was rewarded with the quaestorship in AD 8 and the praetorship in AD 15. Paterculus had a familiarity ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ with literature and military leadership, as well as 20 years experience in the senate. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - His Compendium of Roman History skims over the early centuries, then concentrates on the reigns of his heroes: ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Augustus and Tiberius. ​ ​ ​ ​ - Germanicus is highly regarded, his achievements in the Dalmatian war are described as valorous, because of his ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ‘repeated services and careful vigilance’(2.116). Also highlights relationship with Augustus - how well he trained ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Germanicus, and how beloved Germanicus was to him (2.129). ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Tiberius is presented in a similarly positive way, but often to a greater extent. Chapter 122 in book 2 for example ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ is entirely dedicated to Tiberius, telling of his many achievements, triumphs and honours (2.122). ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Unlike the work of later historians, including Tacitus, Paterculus had great respect for both Germanicus and ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Tiberius, often mentioning their valor and courage, contrasting the typical negative image of Tiberius. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - His work is a perspective of someone who truly admires the entire Julio-Claudian family, including Tiberius, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ often following official lines in a complete contrast to other historians like Tacitus. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Summary - Germanicus was loved in life and in death according to the sources. Idealisation by sources? ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - The circumstances of his death are suspicious and unclear but it is generally accepted that Tiberius was behind it. The story of Germanicus’ death fits within a larger narrative about Tiberius’ life, as he was notoriously emotionless towards death within his family as frequently mentioned by the historians. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - The image of Germanicus, the beloved, perfect example of Roman values, is juxtaposed against his adopted father, Tiberius and his son, Caligula. He was a sliver of hope in between these two emperors who were hardened and cruel. ​ ​ - Although he was never emperor, he was a significant man and a model of Roman values. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Bibliography Primary Sources ​ ​ - C. Suetonius Tranquillus. (1889). Tiberius, trans. A. Thomson. Perseus Digital Library. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - C. Suetonius Tranquillus. (1889). Caligula, trans. A. Thomson. Perseus Digital Library. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Dio, C. (1924). Roman History Vol. VII. trans. Earnest Cary. Loeb Classical Library. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - P. Cornelius Tacitus. (1942). Annals, trans. W. J. Brodribb & A. J. Church. The Modern Library. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Paterculus, Velleius. (1924). The Roman History. trans. F.W Shipley. Loeb Classical Library. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Secondary Sources ​ ​ - Connal, R. (2013) ‘Velleius Paterculus: The Soldier and the Senator’, Classical World, 107 (1), 49-62. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Lindsay, H. (1995). Tiberius. London: Bristol Classical Press. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Mellor, R. (2013). The Historians of Ancient Rome: An Anthology of the Major Writings. London: Routledge. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Swan, P. M. (2004). The Augustan Succession: An Historical Commentary on Cassius Dio’s Roman History, ​ Books 55-56 (9 B.C.-A.D. 14). New York: Oxford University Press. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Syme, R. (1958). Tacitus. 2 vols. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Wallace-Hadrill, A. (1983). Suetonius: The Scholar and His Caesars. London: Duckworth. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Handout created by: Kerran, Rebecca, Jordan, Lauren, Tina ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​