Lucius Aelius Sejanus
20 BC – 31
Roman As depicting Tiberius, struck in 31, Augusta Bilbilis. Augusta Bilbilis was a City founded by the Romans in the province of Hispania Tarraconensis. The reverse reads Augusta Bilbilis Ti(berius) Caesare L(ucius) Aelio Seiano, marking the consulship of Sejanus in that year.
Place of birth	Volsinii, Etruria
Place of death	Rome
Allegiance	Roman Empire
Years of service	14 BC – 31
Rank	Praetorian prefect
Commands held	Praetorian Guard
Other work	Consul of the Roman Empire in 31

Lucius Aelius Seianus (20 BC – October 18, 31 AD), commonly known as Sejanus, was an ambitious soldier, friend and confidant of the Roman Emperor Tiberius. Volsinii or Vulsinii ( Etruscan: Velzna or Velusna; Greek:, Strabo v Etruria &mdash usually referred to in Greek and Latin source texts as Tyrrhenia &mdash was a region of Central Italy, located in an area Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial Praetorian prefect (Latin Praefectus praetorio) was the constant title of a high office in the Roman state that changed fundamentally in nature The Praetorian Guard ( Latin: PRÆTORIANI was a special force of Guards used by Roman Emperors Before being appropriated Consul (abbrev cos; Latin plural consules) was the highest elected Political office of the Roman Republic and the Empire. Events 1009 - The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a Christian church in Jerusalem, is completely destroyed by the Fatimid Year 31 was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. The Roman Emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period (starting at about 27 BC Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus (or Tiberius I) born Tiberius Claudius Nero (November 16 42 BC – March 16 AD 37) was the second Roman An equestrian by birth, Sejanus rose to power as prefect of the Roman imperial bodyguard, known as the Praetorian Guard, of which he was commander from 14 AD until his death in 31. Praetorian prefect (Latin Praefectus praetorio) was the constant title of a high office in the Roman state that changed fundamentally in nature A bodyguard (or "close protection officer" is a type of Security guard or government agent who protects a person—usually a famous wealthy or politically The Praetorian Guard ( Latin: PRÆTORIANI was a special force of Guards used by Roman Emperors Before being appropriated

While the Praetorian Guard was formally established under emperor Augustus, Sejanus introduced a number of reforms which saw the unit evolve beyond a mere bodyguard into a powerful and influential branch of the government involved in public security, civil administration, and ultimately political intercession; changes which would have a lasting impact on the course of the Principate. Augustus ( Latin: IMPERATOR·CAESAR·DIVI·FILIVS·AVGVSTVS September 23 63 BC – August 19 AD 14) born Gaius Octavius Thurinus, was The Principate is the first period of the Roman Empire, extending from the beginning of the reign of Caesar Augustus to the Crisis of the Third Century,

During the 20s, Sejanus gradually accumulated power by consolidating his influence over Tiberius and eliminating potential political opponents, including the emperor's son, Julius Caesar Drusus. Nero Claudius Drusus, later Drusus Julius Caesar (his adoptive name (13 BC- September 14 23) was the only child of Roman Emperor Tiberius When Tiberius withdrew to Capri in 26, Sejanus was left in control of the entire state mechanism as de facto ruler of the empire. Capri ( Italian pronunciation Cápri usual English pronunciation Caprí is an Italian island off the Sorrentine Peninsula, on the south side For a time the most influential and feared citizen of Rome, Sejanus suddenly fell from power the same year his career culminated with the consulship in 31. Consul (abbrev cos; Latin plural consules) was the highest elected Political office of the Roman Republic and the Empire. Amidst suspicions of conspiracy against the emperor, Sejanus was arrested and executed, along with his followers.

Family

Sejanus was born in 20 BC at Volsinii, Etruria, to the family of Cosconia Lentuli Maluginensis and Lucius Seius Strabo. Volsinii or Vulsinii ( Etruscan: Velzna or Velusna; Greek:, Strabo v Etruria &mdash usually referred to in Greek and Latin source texts as Tyrrhenia &mdash was a region of Central Italy, located in an area Lucius Seius Strabo or Lucius Aelius Strabo was a prefect of the Roman imperial Bodyguard, known as the Praetorian Guard, during ^[1][2] The Seii were Romans of the equestrian class (or knights), one of the two upper social classes of the Roman Republic and the early Roman Empire. Social class refers to the hierarchical distinctions (or stratification) between individuals or groups in Societies or Cultures. The Roman Republic was the phase of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by a Republican form of government a period which began with the overthrow of the The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial Officially the equestrians were only the second tier of the elite, behind the patrician or senatorial class. The term " patrician " originally referred to a group of elite families in Ancient Rome, including both their natural and Sejanus' grandfather however maintained relations with senatorial families through his marriage with Terentia, a sister of the wife of Gaius Maecenas, who was one of emperor Augustus' most powerful political allies. Caius Cilnius Maecenas (70 &ndash 8 BC was a confidant and political advisor to Octavian (who was to become the first Emperor of Rome as Caesar Augustus) as well Augustus ( Latin: IMPERATOR·CAESAR·DIVI·FILIVS·AVGVSTVS September 23 63 BC – August 19 AD 14) born Gaius Octavius Thurinus, was ^[3]

Strabo himself married into equally illustrious families. His first wife was Aelia, the daughter of Quintus Aelius Tubero, a marriage by which he allied himself with the more prestigious Aelian gens. Quintus Aelius Tubero was a Roman consul in 11 BC. He was most likely the father of Sextus Aelius Catus, who was himself consul in 4 AD. Aelius was the Nomen of the ancient Roman Gens Aelia. Among its members was the Roman Emperor Hadrian In Ancient Rome, a gens (pl gentes) was a Clan, Caste, or group of Families, that shared a common name (the ^[3] By Aelia, he had one son, Lucius Seius Tubero, who became suffect consul in 18. Consul (abbrev cos; Latin plural consules) was the highest elected Political office of the Roman Republic and the Empire. Year 18 was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. ^[3] After her death, he married Cosconia Lentuli Maligunensis Gallita, sister of Servius Cornelius Lentulus Maluginensis (suffect consul in 10) and Publius Cornelius Lentulus Scipio (suffect consul in 2), and half sister of Quintus Junius Blaesus (suffect consul in 10). Quintus Junius Blaesus (? &ndash 31 AD was a Roman Proconsul who governed the Africa Province from 21 to 23 ^[3] With Cosconia, Strabo had one son, Lucius Seius, who was later adopted into the Aelian gens by Aelius Gallus, and by Roman custom became known as Lucius Aelius Seianus, or simply Sejanus. By the Republican era and throughout the Imperial era, a Name in Ancient Rome for a male citizen consisted of three parts ( tria ^[3]

The adoptive family of Sejanus counted two consuls among their family: the aforementioned Quintus Aelius Tubero (consul in 11 BC), and Sextus Aelius Catus (consul in 4), who was the father of Aelia Paetina, future wife of Claudius. Sextius Aelius Catus (consul of 4 AD was father of Aelia Paetina, second wife of the emperor Claudius from 28 AD to about 31 AD (when Aelia's adoptive brother Aelia Paetina or Paetina was a Roman woman who lived in the 1st century Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus or Claudius I ( August 1, 10 BC &ndash October 13, AD 54 ( Tiberius Claudius Drusus from birth to Sejanus' uncle Junius Blaesus distinguished himself as a military commander who became proconsul of Africa in 21, and earned triumphal honors by crushing the rebellion of Tacfarinas. Ancient Rome In the Roman Republic, a proconsul was a Promagistrate (like a Propraetor) who after serving as Consul, spent a year The Roman province of Africa was established after the Romans defeated Carthage in the Third Punic War. A Roman triumph ( la [[wikttriumphus triumphus]], Old Latin la triumpus, attested as the exclamation la TRIVMPE in the Carmen Arvale; via Tacfarinas (died 24 was a Numidian military leader who rebelled against Rome ^[4]

According to the ancient historian Tacitus, Sejanus was also a former favourite of the wealthy Apicius,^[1] whose daughter may have been Sejanus' first wife Apicata. Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (ca 56 &ndash ca 117 was a senator and a Historian of the Roman Empire. Marcus Gavius Apicius is believed to have been a Roman gourmet and lover of luxury who lived sometime in the 1st century AD during the reign of Tiberius With Apicata, he had three children,^[5] two sons and one daughter: Strabo, Capito Aelianus and Junilla. ^[2]

Rise to power

Praetorian prefect

Roman imperial guard, bas-relief from the Julio-Claudian period. A bas-relief (baʁəljɛf in French; French for "low relief" derived from the Italian basso rilievo) or low relief is a Sculpture The Julio-Claudian Dynasty refers to the first five Roman Emperors: Augustus (Octavian Tiberius, Caligula (Gaius Claudius, and Sejanus rose to power as prefect of the Praetorian guard. Praetorian prefect (Latin Praefectus praetorio) was the constant title of a high office in the Roman state that changed fundamentally in nature The Praetorian Guard ( Latin: PRÆTORIANI was a special force of Guards used by Roman Emperors Before being appropriated

It is likely that Sejanus' father Strabo came to the attention of Augustus through his father's connection with Maecenas. Sometime after 2 BC,^[6] he was appointed prefect of the Praetorian Guard, one of the two most powerful positions a Roman knight could attain in the Empire. Praetorian prefect (Latin Praefectus praetorio) was the constant title of a high office in the Roman state that changed fundamentally in nature The Praetorian Guard ( Latin: PRÆTORIANI was a special force of Guards used by Roman Emperors Before being appropriated This office he carried on dutifully and without incident until the death of the emperor in 14. Little is known about the life Sejanus led prior to this date, but according to Tacitus, he accompanied Gaius Caesar, adopted grandson of Augustus, during his campaigns in Armenia in 1 BC. See also Gaius Julius Caesar, for others of the same name Gaius Julius Caesar (20 BC - AD 4 most commonly known as Julius Caesar, was The Kingdom of Armenia (or Greater Armenia) was an independent kingdom from 190 BC to AD 387 and a client state of the Roman and Persian empires until ^[1] It was upon the accession of Tiberius in 14, that Sejanus was appointed prefect of the Praetorian Guard as the colleague of his father Strabo, and began his rise to prominence. Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus (or Tiberius I) born Tiberius Claudius Nero (November 16 42 BC – March 16 AD 37) was the second Roman

The Praetorian Guard was an elite unit of the Roman army formed by Augustus in 27 BC, with the specific function to serve as a bodyguard to the emperor and members of the imperial family. The Roman army was a set of military forces employed by the Roman Kingdom, Roman Republic and later Roman Empire as part of the Roman military A bodyguard (or "close protection officer" is a type of Security guard or government agent who protects a person—usually a famous wealthy or politically ^[7] Much more than a guard however, the Praetorians also managed the day-to-day care of the city, such as general security and civil administration. ^[8] Furthermore, their presence served as a constant reminder to the people and the Senate of the substantial armed force which served as the basis for the imperial power. ^[9] Augustus was careful however to uphold the republican veneer of this regime, and only allowed nine cohorts to be formed (one less than in a normal Roman legion), which were inconspicuously scattered across various lodging houses in the city, and commanded by two prefects. The Roman Republic was the phase of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by a Republican form of government a period which began with the overthrow of the A cohort (from the Latin cohors, plural cohortes) is a fairly large military unit generally consisting of one type of soldier For other uses see Legion The Roman Legion (from Latin legio "military levy Conscription," ^[10]

When Strabo was assigned to the governorship of Egypt in 15, Sejanus became the sole commander of the Praetorians and instigated reforms that helped shape the guard into a powerful tool of the principate. A Roman governor was an official either elected or appointed to be the chief administrator of Roman law throughout one or more of the many provinces constituting the Ægyptus redirects here See Egypt Province for the province of the Ottoman Empire The Principate is the first period of the Roman Empire, extending from the beginning of the reign of Caesar Augustus to the Crisis of the Third Century, ^[11][12] In 20 the scattered encampments inside the city were centralized into a single garrison just outside Rome^[13][14] and the number of cohorts was increased from nine to twelve,^[15] one of which now held the daily guard at the palace. Year 20 was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Castra Praetoria are the ancient barracks ( Castra) of the Praetorian Guard of Imperial Rome. The practice of joint leadership between two prefects was abandoned, and Sejanus himself appointed the centurions and tribunes. The Centurions is a syndicated 30 minute American Science fiction Animated television series produced by Ruby-Spears and animated Tribune (from the Latin: tribunus; Byzantine Greek form τριβούνος) was a title shared by 2–3 elected magistracies in the ^[13] With these changes in effect, Sejanus now commanded the complete loyalty of a force of around 12,000 soldiers, all of which were at his immediate disposal. The facade of Augustus was no longer maintained, and Tiberius openly displayed the strength of the guard at parades. ^[16]

Feud with Drusus

Bust of Drusus the Younger, son of Tiberius. Nero Claudius Drusus, later Drusus Julius Caesar (his adoptive name (13 BC- September 14 23) was the only child of Roman Emperor Tiberius In a conspiracy that involved his own wife Livilla, Drusus was poisoned in 23 by agents of Sejanus. (Claudia Livia Julia ( Classical Latin: LIVIA•IVLIA most commonly known by her family nickname of Livilla (the "little Livia"

In his capacity of Praetorian prefect Sejanus quickly became a trusted advisor to Tiberius. By 23 he already exerted a considerable influence over the decisions of the emperor, who referred to Sejanus as "my partner in my toils". ^[13] By this time he had been raised to the rank of praetor, a position which was not normally granted to Romans of the equestrian class. Praetor was a title granted by the government of Ancient Rome to men acting in one of two official capacities the commander of an Army, either before ^[11] A statue had been erected in his honor in the Theatre of Pompey,^[17] and in the Senate his followers were advanced with public offices and governorships. The Theatre of Pompey (Latin Theatrum Pompeium, Italian Teatro di Pompeo) is an ancient building of the Roman Republic era begun in 61 BC The Roman Senate was a political institution in Ancient Rome. ^[13] However this privileged position caused resentment among the senatorial class and the imperial family, in particular earning him the enmity of Julius Caesar Drusus, Tiberius' son. Nero Claudius Drusus, later Drusus Julius Caesar (his adoptive name (13 BC- September 14 23) was the only child of Roman Emperor Tiberius

The history of Sejanus and Drusus dated back to at least 15 AD. That year a mutiny had broken out among legions posted in Pannonia and Germania. Mutiny is a conspiracy among members of a group of similarly-situated individuals (typically members of the Military; or the Crew of any ship even For other uses see Legion The Roman Legion (from Latin legio "military levy Conscription," Pannonia is an ancient province of the Roman Empire bounded north and east by the Danube, coterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, Germania was the Latin Exonym for While his adopted son Germanicus restored order in Germania, Tiberius' own son Drusus was sent to quell the uprising in Pannonia, accompanied by Sejanus and two Praetorian cohorts. Germanicus Julius Caesar ( 24 May 16 BC or 15 BC&ndash October 10, 19) A cohort (from the Latin cohors, plural cohortes) is a fairly large military unit generally consisting of one type of soldier ^[18] In part due to what the soldiers believed to be bad omens, Drusus quickly managed to restore the stability in the army and publicly put the chief instigators to death. An omen (also called portent or presage) is a phenomenon that is believed to foretell the Future, often signifying the advent of change The camp was purged of mutineers by the Praetorians and the legions returned to the winter barracks. The Latin word castra, with its singular castrum, was used by the ancient Romans to mean buildings or plots of land reserved to or constructed for use as a military ^[19] Despite this success, the following years witnessed a growing animosity between Drusus and Sejanus.

Since the accession of Tiberius, Drusus had been systematically groomed as the successor of his father, successfully commanding legions in Illyricum in 18,^[20] and sharing the consulship with Tiberius in 21. The Roman province of Illyricum replaced the formerly independent kingdom of Illyria. Year 21 was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. ^[21] In practice however it was still Sejanus who was the second man in the empire, and he was ambitious to further expand his power. As early as 20, Sejanus had sought to solidify his connection with the imperial family by betrothing his daughter Junilla to the son of Claudius, Claudius Drusus. Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus or Claudius I ( August 1, 10 BC &ndash October 13, AD 54 ( Tiberius Claudius Drusus from birth to ^[22] At the time the girl was only 4 years old but the marriage was nonetheless prevented when the boy accidentally died a few days later of asphyxiation. ^[23]

When this failed it seems Sejanus turned his attention toward eliminating Drusus. By 23 the enmity between the two men had reached a critical point. During an argument Drusus had struck the prefect with his fist,^[5] and he openly lamented that "a stranger was invited to assist in the government while the emperor's son was alive". ^[24] With Tiberius already in his sixties, there was a real possibility of Drusus succeeding his father in the near future. To secure his position Sejanus secretly plotted against him and succeeded in seducing his wife Livilla. (Claudia Livia Julia ( Classical Latin: LIVIA•IVLIA most commonly known by her family nickname of Livilla (the "little Livia" ^[5] With her as an accomplice Drusus was slowly poisoned and died of seemingly natural causes on September 13, 23. Events 509 BC - The Temple of Jupiter on Rome 's Capitoline Hill is dedicated on the ides of September This article is about the year AD 23 For other uses see 23 (number, 23 (numerology, or 23 (disambiguation. ^[25]

Consolidation of power

Bust of Emperor Tiberius (Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen). Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus (or Tiberius I) born Tiberius Claudius Nero (November 16 42 BC – March 16 AD 37) was the second Roman The Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (Glypto- from the Greek root glyphein to carve and theke a storing-place is an Art museum in Copenhagen, Denmark. Copenhagen (ˌkəʊpənˈheɪgən ˌkəʊpənˈhɑːgən ˈkəʊpənˌheɪgən ˈkəʊpənˌhɑːgən kʰøb̥ənˈhɑʊ̯ˀn kʰøb̥m̩ˈhɑʊ̯ˀn is the capital and largest city During the twenties Tiberius became increasingly disillusioned with Roman politics, and eventually withdrew to the island of Capri, leaving the administration largely in the hands of Sejanus. Capri ( Italian pronunciation Cápri usual English pronunciation Caprí is an Italian island off the Sorrentine Peninsula, on the south side

The loss of his son was a major blow to Tiberius, both personally and politically. Over the years he had grown increasingly disillusioned with the position of princeps, and by sharing the tribunician powers with Drusus in 22 had prepared to relent some of his responsibilities in favour of his son. Tribune (from the Latin: tribunus; Byzantine Greek form τριβούνος) was a title shared by 2–3 elected magistracies in the ^[26] With these hopes now dashed, Tiberius left his administration more than ever in the care of Sejanus, and looked toward the sons of Germanicus as possible future heirs. Germanicus Julius Caesar ( 24 May 16 BC or 15 BC&ndash October 10, 19) ^[25]

Germanicus himself had died in 19 in somewhat suspicious circumstances in Syria. History of Bahrein, AND COMPARE THE TRUE IMPORTANCE OF THE TWO STATES ^[27] Following his death, his wife Agrippina returned to Rome with their five children and became increasingly involved with a group of senators who opposed the growing power of Sejanus. Julia Vipsania Agrippina ( Classical Latin: AGRIPPINA•GERMANICI (14 BC – 18 October 33) most commonly known as Agrippina Major Her relations with Tiberius became increasingly fraught as she made it clear that she believed that he was responsible for the death of Germanicus. ^[28] The climate was further poisoned by the hatred that Tiberius' mother Livia Augusta felt for her, since Agrippina's ambition, to be the mother of emperors and thus Rome's first woman, was an open secret. Livia Drusilla, after 14 AD called Julia Augusta ( Classical Latin: LIVIA•DRVSILLA IVLIA•AVGVSTA (58 BC-29 AD was the wife of ^[29] To Sejanus personally, Agrippina's sons Nero, Drusus and Gaius Caligula were considered a direct threat to his power. Nero Julius Caesar Germanicus (6&ndash30 was a close relative of the Roman Emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Drusus Julius Caesar, also referred to as Drusus III (7 &ndash 33 was a member of a noble family of Ancient Rome. Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (August 31 AD 12 &ndash January 24 AD 41 more commonly known by his nickname Caligula (kəˈlɪɡjʊlə was a Roman Emperor ^[29]

Meanwhile, Sejanus again attempted to marry into the Julio-Claudian family. The Julio-Claudian Dynasty refers to the first five Roman Emperors: Augustus (Octavian Tiberius, Caligula (Gaius Claudius, and Having divorced Apicata two years earlier he requested marriage with Livilla in 25, possibly with an eye towards placing himself, as an adopted Julian, in the position of a potential successor. Julius (fem Julia) is the Nomen of the gens Julia, an important Patrician family of Ancient Rome supposed to have descended from ^[30] The Emperor denied this request, warning Sejanus that he was in danger of overstepping his rank. ^[31] Alarmed by this sudden denigration, Sejanus changed his plans and began to isolate Tiberius from Rome. By fueling his paranoia towards Agrippina and the Senate he induced the emperor to withdraw to the countryside of Campania, which he did in 26, and finally to the island of Capri, where he would spend the remainder of his life until his death in 37. Paranoia is a disturbed thought process characterized by excessive Anxiety or Fear, often to the point of Irrationality and Delusion. Campania is a region of Southern Italy in Europe. The region has a population of around 5 Capri ( Italian pronunciation Cápri usual English pronunciation Caprí is an Italian island off the Sorrentine Peninsula, on the south side Year 37 was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. ^[32] Guarded by the Praetorians, Sejanus easily controlled all information that passed between Tiberius and the capital. ^[33]

Despite the withdrawal of Tiberius from Rome's political scene, the presence of Livia seems to have checked Sejanus' overt power for a time. According to Tacitus, her death in 29 changed all that. ^[34] Sejanus began a series of purge trials of senators and wealthy equestrians in the city, removing those capable of opposing his power as well as extending the imperial (and his own) treasury. The Senate of the Roman Republic was a political institution in the ancient Roman Republic. Networks of spies and informers brought the victims to trial with false accusations of treason, and many chose suicide over the disgrace of being condemned and executed. In Law, treason is the Crime that covers some of the more serious acts of disloyalty to one's sovereign or Nation. ^[35] Among those who perished were Asinius Gallus, a prominent senator and opponent of Tiberius who was linked to Agrippina's faction. Gaius Asinius Gallus Saloninus was an ambitious Roman Senator with family connections to the Julio-Claudian house ^[36] Agrippina herself and two of her sons, Nero and Drusus were arrested and exiled in 30, and later starved to death in suspicious circumstances. Exile means to be away from one's home (ie city state or country while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened by prison or death upon return Starvation (also called inanition) is a severe reduction in Vitamin, Nutrient, and Energy intake and is the most extreme form of ^[37] Only Gaius (aka Caligula), as the last remaining son of Germanicus, managed to survive the purges of Sejanus by moving to Capri with Tiberius in 31. ^[38]

Downfall

Denunciation

In 31, despite his equestrian rank, Sejanus shared the consulship with Tiberius in absentia,^[39] and finally became betrothed to Livilla. Consul (abbrev cos; Latin plural consules) was the highest elected Political office of the Roman Republic and the Empire. In absentia is Latin for "in the absence" In legal use it usually pertains to a defendant's right to be present in court proceedings (Claudia Livia Julia ( Classical Latin: LIVIA•IVLIA most commonly known by her family nickname of Livilla (the "little Livia" The emperor had not been seen in Rome since 26. Sejanus was de facto ruler of the Roman Empire, and senators and equestrians openly courted his favour as if he were such. ^[40] His birthday was publicly observed and statues were being erected in his honour. Birthday is the name given to the date of the anniversary of a person's birth ^[40] With most of the political opposition crushed, Sejanus felt his position was unassailable. As the ancient historian Cassius Dio describes:

Sejanus was so great a person by reason both of his excessive haughtiness and of his vast power, that, to put it briefly, he himself seemed to be the emperor and Tiberius a kind of island potentate, inasmuch as the latter spent his time on the island of Capreae. Lucius Cassius Dio Cocceianus ( Greek:) (c 155 or 163/164 to after 229 known in English as Cassius Dio, Dio Cassius, or Dio was ^[41]

Through years of crafty intrigues and indispensable service to the emperor, Sejanus had worked himself up to become the most powerful man in the empire. By the end of 31, he would be arrested, summarily executed and his body unceremoniously cast down the Gemonian stairs. Capital punishment, the death penalty or execution, is the Killing of a person by judicial process as Punishment. The Gemonian Stairs ( Scalae Gemoniae in Latin) were a flight of steps located in the ancient city of Rome. Exactly what caused his sudden downfall is unclear:^[42] ancient historians disagree about the nature of his conspiracy, whether it was Tiberius or Sejanus who struck first, and in which order subsequent events transpired. ^[43] Modern historians consider it unlikely that Sejanus plotted to seize the imperial power for himself and, if he had planned so at all, rather might have aimed at overthrowing Tiberius to serve as a regent to Tiberius Gemellus, son of Drusus, or possibly even Gaius Caligula. A regent, from the Latin regens "who reigns" is a person selected to act as Head of state (ruling or not because the ruler is a minor Tiberius Julius Caesar Nero Gemellus, known as Tiberius Gemellus, ( 10 October AD 19 &ndash AD 37 or 38 was the son of Drusus and Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (August 31 AD 12 &ndash January 24 AD 41 more commonly known by his nickname Caligula (kəˈlɪɡjʊlə was a Roman Emperor ^[43] Unfortunately the relevant section pertaining to this period in the Annals of Tacitus has been lost. According to Josephus however, it was Antonia, the mother of Livilla, who finally alerted Tiberius to the growing threat Sejanus posed, in a letter she dispatched to Capri in the care of her freedman Pallas. Josephus (AD 37 – c 100 also known as Yosef Ben Matityahu (Joseph son of Matthias and after he became a Roman citizen, as Titus Flavius Josephus Antonia Minor ( PIR2 A 885 also known as Antonia the Younger or simply Antonia ( 31 January 36 BC-September/October 37 was a A freedman is a former slave who has been manumitted or emancipated. Marcus Antonius Pallas ( c 1 &ndash 63) was a prominent Greek freedman and secretary during the reigns of the Roman Emperors Claudius ^[44]

Further details concerning Sejanus' fall are provided by Cassius Dio, writing nearly 200 years after the facts in his Roman History. It appears that, when Tiberius heard to which extent Sejanus had already usurped his authority in Rome, he immediately took steps to remove him from power, but realised that an outright condemnation could provoke Sejanus in attempting a coup against him. "Usurp" redirects here You might be also looking for WikipediaChanging username/Usurpations. ^[35] Instead he addressed a number of contradictory letters to the Senate, some of which praised Sejanus and his friends, others which suddenly denounced them. Alternatingly, Tiberius announced he would arrive in Rome the very next day, or claimed he was at the point of death. ^[45] He stepped down as consul, thereby forcing Sejanus to do the same,^[46] and conferred an honorary priesthood upon Caligula, which rekindled popular support for the house of Germanicus. ^[47] The ensuing confusion was successful in alienating Sejanus from many of his followers. With the intentions of the emperor no longer clear, it was now deemed a safer course of action at Rome to withdraw from overt support to Sejanus until the matter was clearly settled. ^[47]

When it became clear to Tiberius that support for Sejanus was not as strong as he had feared, his next step was to choose Naevius Sutorius Macro, who had previously been prefect of the vigiles (Roman police and fire department),^[48] to replace Sejanus and accomplish his downfall. Quintus Naevius Cordus Sutorius Macro (21 BC - 38 AD often abbreviated Naevius Sutorius Macro, or simply Macro, was a prefect of the Roman The Vigiles or more properly the Vigiles Urbani ("watchmen of the City " or Cohortes Vigilum ^[49] On October 18, 31, Sejanus was summoned to a Senate meeting by a letter from Tiberius, ostensibly to bestow the tribunician powers upon him. Events 1009 - The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a Christian church in Jerusalem, is completely destroyed by the Fatimid Year 31 was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. At dawn he entered the Senate, but while the letter was being read Macro assumed control of the Praetorian Guard, and members of the vigiles led by Graecinius Laco surrounded the building. ^[49] The senators at first congratulated Sejanus, but when the letter, which first digressed into completely unrelated matters, suddenly denounced him and ordered his arrest, he was immediately surrounded and escorted to prison. The Mamertine Prison (also referred to as the Tullianum) was a prison ( carcer) located in the Forum Romanum in Ancient Rome. ^[50]

Execution and aftermath

In 31, Sejanus was arrested and condemned to death. The Senate issued damnatio memoriae on him; his statues were destroyed and his name obliterated from all public records. Damnatio memoriae is the Latin phrase literally meaning "damnation of memory" in the sense of removed from the remembrance. Public records refers to information that has been filed or recorded by local state federal or other government agencies such as corporate and property records The above coin from Augusta Bilbilis has the words L. Aelio Seiano erased.

The same evening, the Senate convened at the Temple of Concord and summarily condemned Sejanus to death. For other temples to her see Concordia (Roman goddess#Temples. He was led from prison, strangled and his body cast onto the Gemonian stairs, where the crowd tore it to pieces. A garrote or garrote vil (a Spanish word alternative spellings include garotte and garrotte) is a handheld Weapon, most often referring The Gemonian Stairs ( Scalae Gemoniae in Latin) were a flight of steps located in the ancient city of Rome. ^[51] Riots ensued in which mobs hunted down and killed anyone they could link to the terror regime of Sejanus. The Praetorians in turn resorted to looting when they were accused of having conspired with their former prefect. Looting ( Hindi lūṭ akin to Sanskrit luṭhati steals also Latin latro, latronis ^[52] Following an issue of damnatio memoriae by the Senate, his statues were torn down and his name obliterated from all public records. Damnatio memoriae is the Latin phrase literally meaning "damnation of memory" in the sense of removed from the remembrance. Public records refers to information that has been filed or recorded by local state federal or other government agencies such as corporate and property records On October 24, Sejanus' eldest son Strabo was arrested and executed. Events 69 - Second Battle of Bedriacum, forces under Antonius Primus the commander of the Danube armies loyal to Vespasian, defeat ^[43] Upon learning of his death, Apicata committed suicide on October 26, after addressing a letter to Tiberius claiming that Drusus had been poisoned, with the complicity of Livilla. ^[53][51] The accusations were further corroborated by confessions from Livilla's slaves, who admitted to having administered the poison to Drusus. ^[54]

Enraged upon learning the truth, Tiberius soon ordered more executions. Livilla herself committed suicide or, as legend would have it, was forcibly starved to death by her own mother Antonia. ^[51] The remaining children of Sejanus, Capito Aelianus and Junilla were executed in December of that year. ^[2][55] According to ancient historians, because there was no precedent for the capital punishment of a virgin, Junilla was violated before her execution, with the rope around her neck. ^[55][51] Their bodies were likewise thrown down the Gemonian stairs. At the beginning of the following year, damnatio memoriae was passed on Livilla. ^[56]

Although Rome at first rejoiced at the demise of Sejanus, the city quickly plunged into more extensive trials, as Tiberius relentlessly persecuted all those who could in any way be tied to the schemes of Sejanus or had courted his friendship. ^[57] The Senatorial ranks were decimated; the hardest hit were those families with political ties to the Julians. ^[43] Even the imperial magistracy was not exempted from Tiberius' wrath. ^[58] Arrests and executions were now supervised by Naevius Sutorius Macro. ^[59] The political turmoil would continue until the death of Tiberius in 37, after which he was succeeded by Gaius Caligula. Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (August 31 AD 12 &ndash January 24 AD 41 more commonly known by his nickname Caligula (kəˈlɪɡjʊlə was a Roman Emperor

Legacy

Praetorian Guard

Augustus's death on August 19, 14 marked the end of Praetorian calm, the only time the Praetorian Guard did not use its military strength to play a part in the politics of Rome to force its own agenda. Events 43 BC - Octavian, later known as Augustus compels the Roman Senate to elect him Consul. Augustus would be the sole emperor to command their complete loyalty. The reforms of Sejanus, most significantly the founding of the Castra Praetoria, essentially established the Praetorian Guard as the powerful political force for which it is primarily known today. ^[60] Henceforth the entire Guard was at the disposal of the emperors, but the rulers were now equally at the mercy of the Praetorians. ^[61] The reality of this was seen in 31 when Tiberius was forced to rely upon the vigiles against the soldiers of his own guard. ^[49] Although the Praetorian Guard proved faithful to the aging Tiberius, their potential political power had been made clear. ^[62]

The power Sejanus attained in his capacity as prefect proved Maecenas right in his prediction to Augustus that it was dangerous to allow one man to command the guard. Caius Cilnius Maecenas (70 &ndash 8 BC was a confidant and political advisor to Octavian (who was to become the first Emperor of Rome as Caesar Augustus) as well ^[63] Cassius Dio notes that after Sejanus, no other prefect except Gaius Fulvius Plautianus would rise to such influence. Gaius or Lucius Fulvius Plautianus (? - 22 January 205) was a Roman who lived in the 2nd century and 3rd century ^[64] Nevertheless, following his death the guard began to play an increasingly ambitious and bloody role in the Empire. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial With the right amount of money, or at will, they assassinated emperors, bullied their own prefects, or turned on the people of Rome. In 41 Caligula was killed by conspirators from the senatorial class and from the Guard. Year 41 was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. The Praetorians placed Claudius on the throne, daring the Senate to oppose their decision. Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus or Claudius I ( August 1, 10 BC &ndash October 13, AD 54 ( Tiberius Claudius Drusus from birth to ^[65]

Historiography

With the exception of Velleius Paterculus, ancient historians have been universally condemning of Sejanus,^[66][1][67] although accounts differ to which extent Sejanus was manipulated by Tiberius or the other way around. This article is about the Roman Historian; for the Rove beetle genus see Velleius Marcus Velleius Paterculus See also History An historian is an individual who studies and writes about History, and is regarded as an Authority on it ^[43] Suetonius Tranquilius asserts that Sejanus was merely an instrument of Tiberius to hasten the downfall of Germanicus and his family, and that he was quickly disposed of once he ceased to be useful. Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, commonly known as Suetonius (ca 69/75 &ndash after 130 was an equestrian and a historian during the Roman Empire. ^[68] Tacitus, on the other hand, attributes much of the decline of Tiberius' rule after 23 to the corrupting influence of Sejanus, although he is generally also harsh on Tiberius himself. Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (ca 56 &ndash ca 117 was a senator and a Historian of the Roman Empire. ^[69]

Among the writers of the time which fell victim to the regime of Sejanus and its aftermath were the historians Aulus Cremutius Cordus, Velleius Paterculus and the poet Phaedrus. Aulus Cremutius Cordus (d 25 AD was a Roman historian. There are very few remaining fragments of his work that covered the civil war and the reign of Augustus This article is about the Roman Historian; for the Rove beetle genus see Velleius Marcus Velleius Paterculus Phaedrus (c 15 BC – c AD 50) Roman Fabulist, was probably a Thracian slave born in Pydna of Macedonia (Roman province Cordus was brought to trial in 25 by Sejanus under accusations of treason. He was charged for having eulogized Brutus and spoken of Cassius as the last of the true Romans,^[70] which was considered an offence under the Lex Maiestas, and the Senate ordered the burning of his writings. Marcus Junius Brutus (85&ndash42 BC or Quintus Servilius Caepio Brutus was a Roman senator of the late Roman Republic. For the Roman consul see Gaius Cassius Longinus (consul 171 BC. The Law of Majestas, or lex maiestas, refers to any one of several ancient Roman laws ( leges maiestatis) throughout the republican and Imperial periods dealing with ^[71] His fall is elaborated upon by Seneca the Younger, in his letter to Cordus' daughter Marcia To Marcia, On Consolation. Lucius Annaeus Seneca (often known simply as Seneca, or Seneca the Younger; Σένεκας in Ancient Greek literature (c Ad Marciam de Consolatione ("To Marcia for Consolation" is a work by Seneca the Younger written around 50CE Seneca however tells us that her father most likely incurred Sejanus' displeasure for critizising him, because he had commissioned a statue of himself. ^[17] We also know from this source that Cordus starved himself to death. ^[17] Marcia was instrumental in saving her father's work, so that it could be published again under Caligula. ^[71]

Phaedrus was suspected of having alluded to Sejanus in his Fables, and received some unknown punishment short of death (Cf. Phaedrus (c 15 BC – c AD 50) Roman Fabulist, was probably a Thracian slave born in Pydna of Macedonia (Roman province Fables I. 1, I. 2. 24, and I. 17). ^[72] Velleius Paterculus was a historian and contemporary of Sejanus whose two-volume The Roman History details a history of Rome from the fall of Troy until the death of Livia Augusta in 29. Troy ( Greek: grc Τροία Troia, also, Ilion; Latin: Trōia, Īlium, Hittite: Wilusa or In his work he praises both Tiberius and Sejanus, even defending the latter's high position in the government despite his equestrian rank. ^[73] How much of Paterculus' writing is due to genuine admiration, prudence or fear remains an open question, but it has been conjectured that he was put to death as a friend of Sejanus. ^[74]

Sejanus in later literature

The rise and fall of Sejanus have been the subject, or partial subject, of several noted works in literature, including two 17th century plays and 20th century novels:

• Sejanus: His Fall (1603), a play by Ben Jonson. Sejanus His Fall, a 1603 play by Ben Jonson, is a Tragedy about Lucius Aelius Seianus, the favorite of the Roman emperor Tiberius. Benjamin Jonson ( c 11 June 1572 &ndash 6 August 1637) was an English Renaissance Dramatist
• The Tragedy of Claudius Tiberius Nero (1607), a play by an anonymous contemporary of Jonson.
• I, Claudius (1934), novel by Robert Graves, as well as the subsequent 1976 television adaptation. I Claudius is a Novel by English writer Robert Graves, first published in 1934, that deals sympathetically with the life of Robert Graves (24 July 1895 &ndash 7 December 1985 was an English Poet, Translator and Novelist. I Claudius is a 1976 BBC Television adaptation of Robert Graves 's ''I Claudius'' and ''Claudius the God''. In television series, he is played by Patrick Stewart. Patrick Hewes Stewart, OBE (born 13 July 1940 is an English Film, Television and stage Actor. The book had earlier been adapted as The Caesars for Granada TV in 1968 with Barrie Ingham as Sejanus. The Caesars is a British Television series produced by Granada Television for the ITV network in 1968. Granada Television is the United Kingdom ITV contractor for North West England. Barrie Ingham ( February 10, 1934) is an English Actor in stage TV and film
• Sejanus (1998), the third novel in the Marcus Corvinus series by David Wishart. Marcus Valerius Messala Corvinus, the main protagonist in David Wishart 's series of detective novels set in Imperial Rome, is thinly based on a real historical character David Wishart is a Scottish author Wishart was born in Arbroath, Scotland.

Notes

References

• Adams, Freeman (1955). Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) "The Consular Brothers of Sejanus. ". The American Journal of Philology 76: 70–76.  
• Boddington, Ann (January 1963). Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. "Sejanus. Whose Conspiracy?". The American Journal of Philology 84 (1): 1–16.  
• Bingham, Sandra J. [1997] (1999). The praetorian guard in the political and social life of Julio-Claudian Rome (PDF), Ottawa: National Library of Canada. ISBN 0-612-27106-4. Retrieved on 2007-05-23. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1430 - Siege of Compiègne: Joan of Arc is captured by the Burgundians while leading an army to relieve Compiègne  

External links

Primary sources

• Tacitus, Annals Books 4-6, English translation
• Cassius Dio, Roman History Book 57.19 and 58, English translation
• Suetonius, The Lives of Twelve Caesars, Life of Tiberius, Latin text with English translation
• Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews Book XVIII, Chapter 6 English translation
• Seneca the Elder, Essays To Marcia On Consolation English translation
• Juvenal Satires, 10th Satire Latin text

Biographical sketches

• Sejanus, biography at xenos.org