Tiberius accession

• As the principate was not a formal monarch, and both Augustus and Tiberius wanted to keep up the facade of the republic succession was difficult.
• Tiberius was prepared well with his experience both political and military, and the powers he was given.
• Agrippa Posthumous was the grandson of Augustus and the youngest child of Julia and Marcus Agrippa.
• Agrippa Posthumous had been adopted by Augustus at the same time as Tiberius because at that time Augustus still hoped that a member of the Julian Clan would succeed him.
• In 7 CE Augustus had been forced by his vulgar and brutal behaviour to banish Agrippa P to a prison island, where he remained until Augustus death.
• He had to be seen exercising power, but also appearing to the senate unwilling to do this.
• He had to keep up the facade of the republic, and the importance of the senate.
• As the powers gained in 23BC were given and not magistracies, it enabled the senate to transfer these powers onto another individual after Augustus' death and this is exactly what happened to Tiberius in 14BC.
• Augustus had a number of titles: princeps, imperator, pater patriae (father of the fatherland).
• Tiberius accepted the title of princeps but refused the other two thinking the nobility may find these offensive.
• He had to deal with two rebellions
• Although these were not personal protests, a change of emperor gave the troops the opportunity to show their dissatisfaction with existing conditions in the army and future terms of service.
• Tacitus however maintains that some troops in Germany hoped Germanicus would allow himself to become emperor.
• Tiberius sent Germanicus to suppress the mutiny in lower Germany and his own son, Drusus the Younger to suppress the mutinies in Pannonia.
• Tiberius rivals for power:

  • Agrippa Postumus - kills him
  • Germanicus
• Dealing with senate and transferring power:

  • had to keep up the facade of the republic
  • refused Augustus' power
  • senators aware he is fully incharge
• Mutinies in Pannonia and The Rhine:

  • 2 rebellions
  • troops dissatisfied with army conditions
  • change of emporers