Is Rome Worth One Good Man's Life?-A Roman Empire TL
Venus-Roman Goddess of Love whom the Julio-Claudians claimed decendency from
The suspicious death of Germanicus in 19 AD would leave Drusus Julius Caesar (formerly Nero Claudius Drusus and also known as Drusus The Younger) as Tiberius's new heir. As already has been mentioned[2], a strong argument exists that Tiberius had been involved in Germanicus's poisoning so as to allow Drusus to become heir.
Drusus was the son of the emperor Tiberius and Vipsania Agrippina. Born in Rome on October 7th, 13 BC, Tiberius had groomed him to become the future emperor, even before Germanicus's death according to some accounts. He had a strong temper as can be seen by his punching Sejanus in the face during a casual argument.
Sejanus was the praetorian prefect, and a close friend of Tiberius. He had no shortage of ambition himself, with nothing less than the imperial purple being his ultimate goal. Drusus never made any attempt to hide his disdain for Sejanus, and as long as he was alive, Sejanus knew he would never have a chance at fulfilling his ambitions.
Sejanus turned to Livia, the sister of Germanicus and wife of Drusus, successfully seducing here. According to Tacitus,
As it became clear to Tiberius that he had successfully deprived Sejanus of most of his suport, he promoted the prefect of the vigiles, Naevius Sutorius Macro, to replace Sejanus as praetorian prefect. Sejanus was summoned to a Senate meeting by a letter from Tiberius. 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 surrounded the building. 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.
Later that evening, the Senate condemned Sejanus to death. He was led from prison and strangled. His body was cast onto the Gemonian stairs, where the crowd tore it to pieces. Sejanus' eldest son Strabo was arrested and executed. Apicata committed suicide upon hearing of his death, first sending a letter to Tiberius confirming Livia's role in the attempted poisoning.
More executions followed, and Livia reportedly committed suicide. All of Sejanus's remaining children were executed shortly after. Their bodies were likewise thrown down the Gemonian stairs. Tiberius relentlessly persecuted all those who could in any way be tied to the schemes of Sejanus or had courted his friendship. The Senate was devastated by the executions led by Tiberius that followed. A message was sent to anyone else wishing to kill the emperor's heir. It was well received by all.
[1] A modified quote from OTL
[2] This book started with the first Julio-Claudian, Augustus.
[3] This is our POD. Drusus lives!
Excerpt From: Under The Guardianship of Venus: The Story of The Julio-Claudians
Venus-Roman Goddess of Love whom the Julio-Claudians claimed decendency from
Sejanus accordingly thought that he must be prompt, and chose a poison the gradual working of which might be mistaken for a natural disorder. It was to be given to Drusus by Lygdus, a eunuch. Lygdus however betrayed the plan to Drusus, divulging Sejanus and Livia's role in the attempt at his life
Tacitus, The Annals of Imperial Rome Book 4[1]
The suspicious death of Germanicus in 19 AD would leave Drusus Julius Caesar (formerly Nero Claudius Drusus and also known as Drusus The Younger) as Tiberius's new heir. As already has been mentioned[2], a strong argument exists that Tiberius had been involved in Germanicus's poisoning so as to allow Drusus to become heir.
Drusus was the son of the emperor Tiberius and Vipsania Agrippina. Born in Rome on October 7th, 13 BC, Tiberius had groomed him to become the future emperor, even before Germanicus's death according to some accounts. He had a strong temper as can be seen by his punching Sejanus in the face during a casual argument.
Sejanus was the praetorian prefect, and a close friend of Tiberius. He had no shortage of ambition himself, with nothing less than the imperial purple being his ultimate goal. Drusus never made any attempt to hide his disdain for Sejanus, and as long as he was alive, Sejanus knew he would never have a chance at fulfilling his ambitions.
Sejanus turned to Livia, the sister of Germanicus and wife of Drusus, successfully seducing here. According to Tacitus,
Sejanus had even went as far as divorcing his wife, Apicata. Together, they plotted the death of Drusus, agreeing on poison to be the killer of choice. Relying on the eunuch Lygdus to deliver the poisoned drink, the eunuch could not go through with it and divulged the whole plot to Drusus. [3]He lured her on to thoughts of marriage, of a share in soverignty, and of her husband's destruction.
Tacitus, The Annals of Imperial Rome Book 4
The Fall of Sejanus and Livia
Roman imperial guard, bas-relief from the Julio-Claudian period. Sejanus rose to power as prefect of the Praetorian guard.
Drusus took the news directly to his father, bringing along Lygdus to explain the conspiracy to the emperor. Lygdus for his part was absolved of any crime by Tiberius. Upon hearing this,Tiberius flew into a rage. He immediately took steps to remove the praetorian prefect from power. He recognized this would not be an easy task however, if Sejanus caught on to the plot, he could very well attempt a coup. He commanded the only army in Rome, and certainly had the political connections in the senate to pull it off. Instead, Tiberius addressed a number of contradictory letters to the Senate, some of which praised Sejanus and his friends, and some of which denounced them. He forced Gaius Asinius Pollio and Gaius Antistius Vetus to step down as consuls. 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.
As it became clear to Tiberius that he had successfully deprived Sejanus of most of his suport, he promoted the prefect of the vigiles, Naevius Sutorius Macro, to replace Sejanus as praetorian prefect. Sejanus was summoned to a Senate meeting by a letter from Tiberius. 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 surrounded the building. 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.
Later that evening, the Senate condemned Sejanus to death. He was led from prison and strangled. His body was cast onto the Gemonian stairs, where the crowd tore it to pieces. Sejanus' eldest son Strabo was arrested and executed. Apicata committed suicide upon hearing of his death, first sending a letter to Tiberius confirming Livia's role in the attempted poisoning.
More executions followed, and Livia reportedly committed suicide. All of Sejanus's remaining children were executed shortly after. Their bodies were likewise thrown down the Gemonian stairs. Tiberius relentlessly persecuted all those who could in any way be tied to the schemes of Sejanus or had courted his friendship. The Senate was devastated by the executions led by Tiberius that followed. A message was sent to anyone else wishing to kill the emperor's heir. It was well received by all.
[1] A modified quote from OTL
[2] This book started with the first Julio-Claudian, Augustus.
[3] This is our POD. Drusus lives!
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