Uncertainty in Tiberius
The revolts had beeen subdued, and what could have been a major crisis that boiled into civil war was over. However, there was a degree of uncertainty felt by Tiberius:
"The news was a source of joy and also of anxiety to Tiberius. He rejoiced that the mutiny was crushed, but the fact that Germanicus had won the soldiers' favour by lavishing money, and promptly granting the discharge, as well as his fame as a soldier, annoyed him" - Tacitus
To appear pleased, Tiberius:
"brought his achievements under the notice of the Senate, and spoke much of his greatness in language elaborated for effect, more so than could be believed to come from his inmost heart. He bestowed a briefer praise on Drusus, and on the termination of the disturbance in Illycrium, but he was more earnest, and his speech more hearty. And he confirmed, too, in the armies of Pannonia all the concessions of Germanicus - Tacitus
Germanicus in Germany
To help keep the troops in Germany occupied and their minds away from mutiny, Germanicus led the legions across the border into Germany, where they were instructed to recover the standards lost during the Varus Disaster in Augustus's reign (9AD)
"They visited the mournful scenes, with their horrible sights and associations...In the centre of the field were the whitening bones of men, as they had fled, or stood their ground, strewn everywhere or piled in heaps. Near, lay fragments of weapons and limbs of horses, and also human heads, prominently nailed to trunks of trees. In the adjacent groves were the barbarous altars, on which they had immolated tribunes and first-rank centurions...And so the Roman army now on the spot, six years after the disaster, in grief and anger, began to bury the bones of the three legions, not a soldier knowing whether he was interring the relics of a relative or a stranger, but looking on all as kinsfolk and of their own blood, while their wrath rise higher than ever against the foe"
Campaigns Against the Germans
- Germanicus led three expeditions into Germany between 15-17 AD, with the hopes of recovering Roman military prestige
- Though Germany was never conquered, Germanicus was able to defeat the traitorous Arminius (who had betrayed Varus in 9AD) and recover two of the three lost Roman standards
- This helped heal the psychological traumas the Romans felt about the disaster, and Germanicus was greatly praised for these victories
Further Tiberius' Jealousy. Germanicus as Heir Apparent
- Tiberius however seemed unimpressed by Germanicus' achievements:
"This Tiberius did not approve, either interpreting unfavourably every act of Germanicus, or because he thought that the spectacle of the slain and unburied made the army slow to fight and more afraid of the enemy, and that a general invested with the augarate and its very ancient ceremonies ought not to have polluted himself with funeral rites" - Tacitus
- However, Germanicus was honoured on his return to Rome in AD 17 with a triumph, and was quickly dispatched to the Eastern empire in AD 18 to help deal with provincial problems in the region
- Both Agrippa and Tiberius had been sent to these regions during Augustus' reign when they were considered the heir apparent
"Caesar Germanicus, look kindly on my labour and receive
This dedication, playing the helmsman to my timid craft.
Though slight my compliment, turn not away; it is a gift
Of obligation vowed to yourself; approach and bless it with divinity" [Ovid, Fasti]
Piso vs Germanicus
- Although Tiberius wished to use Germanicus' diplomatic skills, he was aware that his adopted son was anxious to seek personal glory
- Tiberius therefore despatched the senator Calpurnius Piso to take over the province of Syria in order to assist and keep an eye on Germanicus even though the emperor's son had been given maius imperium which therefore gave him greater authority over Piso
- Germanicus dutifully carried out his assigned task - which was to safeguard Armenia and negotiate further border settlements with the Parthians, but during his tour he breached protocol by leaving his assigned provinces and visiting Egypt
- Augustus had expressly forbidden any senator from entering the province of Egypt without the express permission of the princeps
Activity:
Tacitus 2.53-73 "The Death of Germanicus"
Suetonius, Tiberius 52-3
List the ways Piso attempted to undermine Germanicus during their tenure together in the East
Tacitus:
Tacitus:
- Piso gave a scathing speech to Athens about Germanicus, and even taunted the Athenians, saying that they weren't true Athenians, but a collection of other Greeks
- His slanderous speeches could have caused dissent
- He hurried to Syria before Germanicus and bribed the legions there to revolt, replacing the centurions with his own men
- His wife, Plancina, even went to military events and parades to hurl insults at Germanicus and Agrippina
- After meeting to discuss their differences, Piso stopped coming to Germanicus' councils often, and carried a frown when he did
- At a banquet, when Germanicus was presented with a bigger gold crown than him, Piso threw his to the ground and insulted Germanicus
- After a trip to Egypt, Germanicus returned to find that all orders he had given to his legions had been reversed or undermined by Piso
What further characteristics does Tacitus identify about Germanicus here?
- Tacitus highlights Germanicus' good nature; he knew about Piso's slandering of him, but when Piso became stuck on some rocks during a storm, Germanicus sent triremes to help - Germanicus was also aware of Piso's tampering in Syria, but chose to rise above it and focus on his objective. Even when the two met to discuss their differences, Germanicus acted civilly. Even when Piso threw a tantrum, Germanicus held his tongue
- Germanicus took an unauthorised trip to Egypt, which shows that he viewed himself as an emperor in waiting - this annoyed Tiberius
What evidence is there to suggest that Germanicus was poisoned? Does it seem likely based on the evidence that Tiberius was implicated in Germanicus' death? Justify your thoughts
- Tacitus suggests that after Germanicus' death, a search was made of Piso and Plancina's house - they found skeletal remains, curse tablets and other items that pointed towards witchcraft
- Agrippina left Germanicus' body out for public display - no outward signs of poisoning but this proves nothing
- Germanicus supposedly said "I die surrounded by my enemies" - did he believe himself that he was poisoned?
- Suetonius - Tiberius showed no remorse at Germanicus' death and cut short the mourning period - not out of character though
- The people yelled "give us back Germanicus" in the streets - suggests that the popular opinion was that Tiberius was involved in Germanicus' death
- At a later banquet, Agrippina refused an apple offered by Tiberius - she thought that it was poisoned
- Agrippina's insistence that Tiberius was involved led to harsh reprisals
- she was exiled to a prison island
- Tiberius had her flogged so badly she lost an eye
- he ordered the Senate to decree her birthday as a day of ill omen
Aftermath
- On the death of Germanicus, Piso had been superseded in his province, and so attempted to re-establish control in Syria by force
- When he failed he sailed to Italy, but was superseded by Agrippina, who accused Piso and Plancina of murdering her husband
- Evidence of Germanicus' popularity is shown in the posthumous honours he received: triumphal arches, statues and inscriptions were all set up for him in Rome
- Tiberius however incurred the hostility of many by his failure to appear at the funeral ceremonies in Rome, and by his calls for moderation in mourning
- Piso was acquitted of murdering Germanicus, but whilst awaiting trial for his other acts, such as misconduct in the provinces, committed suicide
- There is no evidence that Germanicus was poisoned, or of course that Tiberius was implicated. However, the rumours alone were bound to cause problems for Tiberius, who "anticipated malevolence among senators and others"
