Sejanus

[rose-amidlilies.livejournal.com]

I thought you would all appreciate this bit of Roman history from my class.


For those of you who don't know, Tiberius was the second Roman Emperor, Augustus' step-son. 

"Sejanus

• Praetorian praefect
• Worms way into Tiberius' good graces
• Plays on Tiberius' anxieties
  • Tiberius moves to Capri in Bay of Naples
  • Out of touch with Rome
  • Knows about events only through Sejanus
• Attemtps to undermine family of Germanicus
• Wants to be a new Agrippa?
  • Has affair with wife of Drusus?
  • Poisons Drusus through the wife?
• Becomes all-powerful in Rome
• Agrippina, Nero and Drusus Caesar (sons of Germanicus) arrested
• Spectacular fall in AD 31"

copied from Christopher Mackay's Tiberius class lecture powerpoint, U of A  


here's a wikipedia link if you want more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sejanus

Comments

[ricardienne.livejournal.com]

Oh Sejanus...

Born at Vulsinii, his father Seius Strabo (a Roman knight); in early youth a follower of C. Caesar (grandson of Divine Augustus); not without rumors of having put up sodomy for sale to the rich and prodigal Apicius; then, by various tricks, he shackled Tiberius so much that he made him, impenetrable as he was towards others, incautious and unguarded to himself alone, not so much by craft (indeed he was overcome by the same tricks) as by the wrath of the gods against the Roman state, for whose equal disaster he waxed and he fell. He had a body enduring of hardship, a dauntless spirit; concealing himself, an accuser against others; mixed fulsomeness and arrogance; outwardly, practiced diffidence; inwardly, utter passion of advancing; and for its sake sometimes largesse and luxury, more often diligence and care -- hardly less harmful whenever they are crafted for gaining kingship.
--Tacitus, Annals 4.1

[booksrgood4u.livejournal.com]

I like the 'Spectacular Fall' part....Yup, it was spctacular, all right!

[theorangethief.livejournal.com]

What I never get is why Sejanus could ever think that the king *needed* him and would keep him around!

[ballerina-222.livejournal.com]

Yep, loved learning about Sejanus in my Roman class too. Never fails to amuse me.

[rose-amidlilies.livejournal.com]

Oh Tacitus, I quite enjoy his views on the goings on of Imperial Rome

[filkferengi]

Thanks for the historical context!

Here's a fun one: compare and contrast Sejanus in mwt's books with Sejanus in Lackey's _Storm Warning_, _Storm Rising_, _Storm Breaking_. Same name, very different takes!