October 18, 31 CE: Sejanus (Lucius Aelius Sejanus) is executed for treason. He had worked his way up in the Praetorian Guard under Tiberius and became the sole Prefect as he gained the emperors trust. As he managed to forge an extremely close working relationship with Tiberius (who called him partner of my labors), his goals changed and he set his sights ever higher - onto the throne itself. Tiberius had two sons, Germanicus (actually nephew adopted as son) and Tiberius. Germanicus, amazingly popular and militarily gifted, was proclaimed the rightful heir, but as we learned in a recent daily history post died in Antioch on a return trip to Rome. This left Drusus as the heir, with whom Sejanus had a heavily strained relationship. Shortly after the death of Germanicus, Drusus fell into a sudden and violent illness that ended his life as well. Tiberius was spending more time away from Rome on the island of Capri and wanted to stay there, which he actually did starting in 26 CE - only occasionally emerging along the walls so that the merchant ships could see his continued existence and rule. In fact, he would not see Rome again. Sejanus, acting as the regent of Tiberius, took complete control. Any in the Senate who dared challenge him found themselves in treason courts and strangled upon conviction. Agrippina the Elder had been the wife of Germanicus and she was the granddaughter of Augustus. She was the mother of Nero, Drusus, and Gaius (Caligula), and Sejanus managed to have her and Nero exiled while Caligula (who stayed with Tiberius on the island) was positioned as the next heir. Sejanus also greatly restricted access to the emperor on Capri. Sometime in 30 or 31 CE, Antonio (the widowed sister-in-law of Tiberius who had perhaps more or his trust than anyone, including Sejaus), managed to get a letter to the emperor on Capri warning him that Sejanus was engaged in a plot to usurp him. Tiberius, aware that Sejanus had lost popularity among the people with his cruel treatment of them as well as the Senate given him sole control over the Praetorians in the city, knew that he would either take action now or see the dream of Augustus end with him. He ordered that Q. Sutorius Macro be raised as the new commander of the Praetorians and that Sejanus actually be promoted himself to receive Tribunician power. Macro received a letter from the emperor containing the orders as well as demanding that it be read aloud in the Senate. Preparations were made for the promotions in official custom, and Sejanus was summoned to the Senate to receive his honor as well as Macro. Macro read the letter, which began with praises or the work Sejanus had performed in the emperors stead. But it took a turn - nearing the end, the letter launched did not give Sejanus the honorum he expected but instead ordered his immediate arrest on charges of treason. He was surrounded by his own former Praetorian Guards and taken into custody. The Senate moved swiftly to convict him. As was custom for a Roman citizen of nobility, he was strangled to death. But his body was thrown on the Gemonian stairs and torn to pieces by a rioting mob. More executions followed in the purge of Tiberius as his suspicions grew of others. Upon the death of Tiberius (left), Caligula (right) became emperor and Agrippina was returned from exile with Nero.
Posted on: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 06:44:24 +0000
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