Life Of Caesar

The death of Agrippina came soon after that of her son. There are more majestas trials, trouble with the Parthians, and, despite the assurance from his favourite astrologer that he had many years left, Tiberius addresses his own mortality. With Drusus dead, the only remaining heirs to the throne were Gemellus, son of Drusus, and Gaius, son of Germanicus – aka Caligula.

Tiberius runs amok. Usury runs rampant. Drusus chews the stuffing.

We go into more detail about Tiberius’ sex palace than you ever wanted or needed to know. Honestly, you’ll probably regret listening to this episode. Maybe skip this one if you have a sensitive disposition. Who am I kidding? We weeded out the pussies a long time ago. With Sejanus gone, and his betrayal having cut Tiberius to the core, he goes on a massive purge that terrifies Rome for several years.

When Ray’s away, the Cam doth play.

Sejanus decided to remove the next in line of Germanicus’ heirs, Drusus, and finally married Livia Julia, the widow of the other Drusus, son of Tiberius. He also became Tiberius’ official partner in power – in 31CE Tiberius took his fifth consulship, with Seianus as his colleague. But before the year 31 would come to a close, Sejanus and all his […]

Shortly after Livia’s death, Tibbo wrote a letter to the senate attacking both Agrippina and Nero. They were prosecuted by Aulus Avillius Flaccus – the future prefect of Egypt, which leads Cam into a sidenote about Flaccus’ treatment of the Jews in Alexandria – and were both sent into exile. Then in 30, Tibbo finally […]

With Tiberius safely ensconced in his sex dungeon on Capri, Sejanus goes after more friends of Agrippina, starting with one of Germanicus’ generals, Titius Sabinus. About the same time, Julia The Younger, Augustus’ grand-daughter, finally died, after being in exile for 20 years. And Livia finally died in 29 CE, aged 86.

In the year 26, Sejanus went after Agrippina again, this time by attacking her close friend and cousin, Claudia Pulchra, who was accused of adultery and treason. Agrippina loses her shit and gets all up in Tiberius’ face in public. In the same year, Tibbo finally decided to leave Rome and finally retired to his […]

Even as late as 24 CE, Tiberius seems to be mostly rational, although his view on majestas was hardening. He refused to allow Further Spain to erect a temple to himself and his mother. And when Sejanus asked for permission to marry Livia Julia, Drusus’ widow, Tibbo turned him down. Here’s a short clip from […]

It’s the year 24 CE. Sejanus is trying to convince Tiberius that the sky is falling. His advice: sweep the leg.

Sejanus and Livilla conspire to murder her husband, Drusus, son of Tiberius. At least that’s the story according to Sejanus’ ex-wife Apicata. With Drusus out of the way, Sejanus next plots the demise of Germanicus’ kiddies and widow, Agrippina.   

Tacitus seems to think Sejanus was the manipulator of Tiberius and that Sejanus wanted the power for himself. But of course he has things in his way. Drusus, the adult son of Tiberius, who is about 37. And Drusus also had sons of his own. Tiberius Gemellus and his twin brother, Tiberius Germanicus II Gemellus, are […]

According to Tacitus, 23 CE is the turning point in Tiberius’s reign. He blames it on Lucius Aelius Sejanus. Suetonius, on the other hand, blames Sejanus on Tiberius. On this episode, we tell the story of the rise of Sejanus – the man who ruined Rome. 

Tiberius, unlike Augustus, was only generous with financial help on rare occasions. And he stopped the urban development in the provinces. Because these are things you do if you want to make people like you. Tiberius didn’t seem to care. The hard work had been done by Augustus. Tiberius is in caretaker mode. He left good […]

In 21 there was a revolt by a number of Gallic tribes under the leadership of Julius Florus and Julius Sacrovir.  And in 28, there was another revolt. This time by the Germanic Frisii tribe – all because their cows weren’t large enough.