4/25/12 Official Portraits Julio-Claudian Dynasty Last one: Prima Porta type • Augustus (ruled 31-14) d. 77 years old • Tiberius (ruled 14-37) – son of Livia; step-son and later adopted son of Augustus • Gaius “Caligula” (ruled 37-41) – Augustus’ great-grandson; assassinated at 28 years old • Claudius (ruled 41-54) – grandson of Livia on dad’s side and of M. Antony & Octavia on mom’s side – nephew of Tiberius and uncle of Caligula • Nero (ruled 54-68) Last of the Julio-Claudians – emperor at 16; dead at 31 by forced suicide – direct descendant of Antony, Agrippa, & Augustus!! Trouble with Succession Next step… Early 20’s BC: • 17 BC: first two prospects for Aug.’s heir • Aug. adopts grandsons Gaius & Lucius 1) Marcellus = well-liked son of Aug.’s sister, Octavia - Arranged marriage with Aug.’s daughter Julia • But they are s^ll too young when Agrippa dies - But dies of illness at 19 years old in 23 BC • Tiberius (step-son) made to divorce wife & marry 2) Agrippa = Aug.’s trusted friend & general Julia - Julia next married to Agrippa in 21 BC • Tiberius leaves Rome in anger (“re^res” in Rhodes) - Agrippa becomes colleague with tribunician powers – Why? Hates Julia; lovesick for ex-wife; ignored in favor of -Julia & Agrippa have 5 children: Lucius Caesar, Gaius Gaius and Lucius Caesar, Julia, Agrippina, Agrippa Postumus – Tiberius is successful general, but sullen, reclusive, and not -Agrippa dies 12 BC well-liked (and he knows it) – When Tib. asks to return, Aug. bars him from public life 1 4/25/12 And Julia (Augustus’ daughter)? Gaius & Lucius • Has now been married 3 ^mes for her father’s poli^cs (first ^me when she was 14) • • But even with Agrippa, Julia well known to be an Gaius and Lucius now coming of age adulteress – Allowed to sit in Senate at 14 – “He forgets that he is Caesar, but I remember that I – Consulship reserved for them when they hit 20 am Caesar's daughter.” – "I never take on a passenger unless the ship is full." – Statues, coins, monuments for them everywhere • Finally Augustus (so keen on moral revival) exiles – 2 AD: Lucius dies (only 19) & 4 AD: Gaius dies (24) her to barren island for adultery – No men – No wine – No burial in Julian Mausoleum Tiberius again 14 AD • So Augustus makes up with Tiberius (esp. since • Augustus dies; Tiberius calls senate mee^ng Tib.’s brother also dead) – refuses to become princeps • Augustus adopts Tiberius & Agrippa Postumus – Senate confused & distressed– starts to get angry • But Agrippa Postumus soon exiled and Tiberius – “I feel like I’m holding a wolf by the ears!” ends up the last possible heir – Tiberius forced to adopt his nephew, Germanicus • Tiberius finally forced to accept responsibility – Why? Because Germanicus is married to Aug.’s but refuses many honors, including ^tle of granddaughter Agrippina pater patriae – Tiberius gets shared tribunician power & • uncontested heir at Augustus’ death (though Very meek; increases senate’s responsibility Agrippa Postumus is sll killed) 2 4/25/12 • Rumors fly of Tiberius’ debauched lifestyle on The suspicions begin… Capri and of his cruelty and paranoia • Wildly popular adopted son Germanicus dies under odd circumstances • Has Tiberius poisoned him to pave way for his natural son? • But in 23 AD natural son Drusus also dies • In 26, Tiberius grows paranoid and runs off to island of Capri • Leaves Rome in hands of Sejanus, the head of the Praetorian Guard (Imperial bodyguard) jealousy, intrigue, paranoia • Sejanus plots to be princeps & weeds out enemies by trials for “treason” before finally put to death himself – delatores = informers • Paradox: Tiberius gives more power to senate, but they are terrified to do or say anything. Tiberius’ withdrawal actually causes final ship in power from senate to praetorian guard & emperor • Tiberius dies in 37AD & is succeeded by Germanicus’ son Gaius “Caligula”… 3 .