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The Julio-Claudian Dynasty - Coggle Diagram
The Julio-Claudian Dynasty
who would follow?
Augustus had first favoured his nephew Marcellus as his heir, then his associate Agrippa, to whom he married Julia
When Agrippa died in 12BC, Tiberius was brought in to marry Julia, despite the fact he was already happily married
Tiberius disliked Julia and her sons, and so retired to Rhodes in 6BC, where he embraced Greek culture
but when Julia's sons Gaius and Lucius died, and Tiberius had returned to Rome, he was adopted by Augustus and in turn made to adopt Germanicus
tiberius disliked how Augustus had treated him, and he was known not to be the first choice for succession. He was also known as aloof and proud
Tiberius' Principate
the aspect for which he was most criticised was his conduct of the so-called law of maiestas
the republican idea of lex maiestatis roughly corresponds to modern treason
covered anything that might 'diminish the majesty of the Roman people'
this applied to rebellion and conspiracy but also disrespect to the emperor - functioned as a curb on freedom of speech
tiberius initially attempted to restrain the use of maiestas, but after the fall of his minister Sejanus in 31 AD, a reign of terror ensues
Reign of Terror
rome lacked a system of state prosecution, so it was left to the initiative of the private citizen to bring an accusation
a successful accuser received a share of the convicted man's estate and might hope to receive imperial favour
there was a high frequency of maiestas accusations under Tiberius
Tiberius' death
he died in 37AD, and the news was received with jubilation by the senate and the people of Rome, amongst whom he was unpopular
for the last 10 years of his life, he lived in seclusion on Capri
Gaius (Caligula)
his reign began well, but then he had an illness affecting the balance of his mind, and he had a very violent tyranny
he was assassinated in 41
Claudius
a serious and busy emperor, devoted himself to administrative improvements and public works
the most impressive was the harbor at Ostia
his principate was criticised for the excessive power wielded by his personal freedmen, and his encroachment on senatorial activity
at the moment of his proclamation as emperor, the senate was actually debating a restoration of the Republic
he was allegedly poisoned by a mushroom in 54
Nero
Nero's succession was accompanied by promises to restore the Augustan principle of division of powers between emperor and senate
however his reign later developed into a tyranny