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y t.EE#Ei: ¥¥Ä " . ÄETÄÄI Füll.im#4IH ÄEEEEEE iii. iii.ifeng.es;ä ' ¥ ÄÄÄiiiti i. EÄEEEÄI# .ie?e:Ee.ie?ai älter iiiäi:t⇐÷ üÄÄ¥Ä.jo#YIE. ÄÄÄÄFÄ1- , KÖSTNER, ELENA Genesis and Collapse of a Net- work: The Rise and Fall of Lucius Aelius Seianus Journal of Historical Network Research 4 (2020) 225-251 Keywords friendship, patronage, family, maiestas, early Principate Abstract For Roman emperors, loyal advisors in their immediate vicinity were an absolute necessity to ensure good governance. This was the role played by L. Aelius Seianus for emperor Tiberius. Seianus’ exemplary career and climb on the social ladder hit its peak in A.D. 31, when he held the consulship together with Tiberius. A few short months later, he was executed following allegations of plotting against the emperor’s life. With his fall, the networks he had created also disintegrated. This concerned notable figures such as C. Annius Pollio, C. Appius, Iunius Silanus, Mam. Aemilius Scaurus, C. Calvisius Sabinus and L. Annius Vinicianus. This chap- ter examines Seianus’ networks of support and power, highlighting their dynamics and adaptability. The Rise and Fall of L. Aelius Seianus 226 1 Introduction* Our sources, as well as current research, present L. Aelius Seianus as one of the most glamorous and power-hungry figures of the early Roman Empire. As prefect of the praetorian guard and ultimately Tiberius’ fellow consul, Seianus achieved an almost meteoric rise to power. This was an incredible performance, which he apparently achieved on his own. However, after his execution in the autumn of 31 AD, his extensive social network became known as several of his supporters were charged in maiestas-trials, which aroused the interest of historiographers like Tacitus.
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