Lucius 05Aelius Sejanus (51; fl.14-31)
In AD 14 Sejanus joined his father Seius Strabo (62; fl.15-16) as joint prefects of the Praetorian Guard. On his father’s appointment as prefect of Egypt the following year, Sejanus became the sole commander. By AD 23 Sejanus had concentrated the guard, which Augustus had quartered in various different parts of the city, in a barracks northeast of Rome near the Viminal Gate in Rome’s circuit wall.
With the death of Germanicus in AD 19 Sejanus saw the chance to rid himself of the legitimate heirs to the throne, i.e. Tiberius’ son Drusus, and the children of Germanicus. In AD 23 Drusus was murdered, probably by poison; Germanicus’ wife 02Agrippina the Elder (47; fl.11-00-33), daughter of Vipsanius Agrippa, and her two sons, Nero 16Julius Caesar (c.25; fl.20-31) and Drusus 15Julius Caesar (26; fl.30-33), were removed in AD 29, and their friends and allies faced condemnation, exile or death.
The death of Tiberius’ son had removed the last competent leader from the emperor’s family and he was forced to rely on Sejanus, who proceeded to exploit Tiberius’ isolation. In AD 26 Tiberius (he had a fear of assassination) retired to Capri (he never returned to Rome), encouraged by Sejanus who then proceeded to further increase his influence.
When Sejanus got himself elected consul for AD 31 it seems that Tiberius, perhaps because of his own sense of intrigue, finally awoke to the threat of Sejanus. In October Tiberius sent a letter to the Senate denouncing him (certainly for plotting against Caligula (28; fl.16-41), Germanicus’ youngest son). Sejanus was arrested, tried in the Senate and executed; his three children were also slain. Apicata, Sejanus ex-wife, was spared but committed suicide.
Tiberius summoned his grandson Tiberius 17Julius Caesar Nero Gemellus, known as Tiberius Gemellus (18/9; fl.12-37/8), and his grand-nephew and adopted grandson Caligula to Capri, where he made them joint-heirs but it was clear that he favoured Caligula. Tiberius died on 16 March AD 37.
Leave a Reply