Emperor Tiberius, born on November 16, 42 BC, was the second emperor of the Roman Empire. The adopted son of Augustus, Tiberius, was noted for his military prowess. Shortly after the death of his adoptive father, he can succeed in the leading position.
According to history, when Jesus was crucified, Tiberius was emperor of Rome at that moment. Being on the rule in years 14 and 37 AC. The event is a local one. It’s possible that the emperor did not know.
Therefore, a theology student in a Vatican library found a letter to Emperor Tiberius from Pilate. So in this letter, Pilate tells Tiberius about Jesus of Nazareth. And the guilt she felt for condemning an innocent man to death.
Biography of Tiberius
Full name: Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus
Date of birth: 0042 BC
Death day: 37 AD
The thread of life: 79 years old
Place of birth: Capri, Roman Empire
Father's name: Tiberius Claudius Nero
Mother's name: Livia Drusilla
Spouse: Vipsania Agrippina
Children: Germanicus, Julius Cezar Drusus, Tiberillus
Physical appearance: average height, visible belly features
Nationality: Roman
Summary of life: Tiberius Claudius Nero was born in Rome on 16 November 42 BC, in the midst of a struggle for the political inheritance of Julius Caesar. When he was just three years old, his mother, Livia Drusilla, divorced him to marry Caesar's adopted son Octavian, who was still a long way from becoming emperor.
Life lessons: Tiberius knew that kingship is not for everyone. After the death of Emperor Augustus, his successor, Tiberius, faced the difficult task of living up to his predecessor. Although he was a cautious military strategist, he never felt comfortable as ruler.
Facts: His grumpy and unstable character left a terrible memory in the Roman chronicles and an unpleasant nickname, remembered by Pliny the Elder: tristissimus hominum, "the saddest of men".
Death cause: Normal Causes.
What is emperor Tiberius best known for?
Following the death of Emperor Augustus, Tiberius received the problematic task of rising above the leadership level of his predecessor. With all his knowledge of military strategy, Tiberius never settled for leadership.
Tiberius is best known for his tragic and emotionally unstable character, recorded in the Roman chronicles, where he was described as the saddest of men. This state of affairs was understandable to a man who has always despised political life, although he mastered the military strategy.
Based on the above characteristics, Tiberius was portrayed as a left-handed leader. But he managed to consolidate the legacy he received from his adoptive father, Augustus.
Was Tiberius a good emperor?
Observing Tiberius’ abilities, Augustus confidently offered him tasks of enormous responsibility, such as supervising and spreading the grain on which the vast majority of the population of the Roman Empire depended.
Although he did not feel comfortable, Tiberius managed to carry out all his responsibilities, thus succeeding in conquering the vassal kingdom of Armenia and placing it under the rule of the Roman Empire, thus proving that he was a good ruler and emperor.
With a restrained and energetic nature, Tiberius continued Augustus’ policy of consolidating the authorities, developing the administration of the territories, and strengthening the state’s financial status.
Key Verse related to Emperor Tiberius
„I shall always be consistent and never change my ways so long as I am in my senses, but for the sake of precedent, the Senate should beware of binding itself to support the acts of any man since he might, through some mischance, suffer a change.”
What happened to Tiberius after Jesus died?
After 23 years, Emperor Tiberius began to feel more and more the need to be alone, and pessimism and insecurity grew daily. Before his second reign, he decided to go into exile on the island of Rhodes because of his first failed marriage and Augustus’ leadership policy. In 31, however, Tiberius finds out the true face of Seianus, withdraws his political support shortly after he offers it, and then sends a letter ordering his death.
After the death of Jesus Christ in 0034 AD, Emperor Tiberius became increasingly gloomy and grumpy. Thus, he chooses to retire to the island of Capri, where Tiberius decides to a chaotic lifestyle full of sexual perversions. At the helm, the emperor offered Seianus, then commander of the Praetorian Guard, the position of consul, thus giving him all the political initiative.
On March 16, the year 37, although he was 80 years old, the emperor Tiberius decided to participate in a game show, where he dislocated his shoulder. So after being taken to the palace, doctors said he had little to live on. Eventually, the Praetorian Guard appointed Caligula to lead.
Who was the cruelest Roman Emperor?
According to history, the Roman Empire had a lot of emperors with more or fewer capacities to rule that were presented in different sources about their leadership methods.
If we make an analysis, we can say that the cruelest Roman emperor was Caligula, and not Tiberius, who was thinking of fulfilling his sadistic pleasures and showed in every moment only selfishness and disrespect for the women beside him. Through sexual abuse of the wives and daughters of the senators.
He was disrespectful to his entire empire, which is a thirst for revenge. They stabbed him in front of the general of the Praetorian Guard. Caligula remained in history known for a lot of unfortunate facts that drove the empire to collapse.
Primary Takeaways
- Tiberius was the Roman Empire’s second emperor and was Augustus’s adoptive son, which continued his father’s leadership policy.
- Emperor Tiberius went into exile twice, once on the island of Rhodes and once on the island of Capri, because of his controversial feelings of melancholy and loneliness.
- After Tiberius’ death, Caligula took the lead of the Roman Empire and proved to be the most selfish emperor or perhaps even the worst.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Tiberius was an excellent emperor who tried to lead a policy related to Augustus; he was temperate and didn’t like throwing money at parties or meaningless games.
From the point of view of the years, the emergence of the Christian religion was during the reign of Tiberius. The crucifixion of Jesus also took place during his reign but was a local event. The emperor did not agree with the prophets or astrologers, who did not distinguish them from each other. So he banned such practices from both categories.
Although the Christian religion had its origins in the time of Emperor Tiberius, it would become a permitted religion only in 313, after the Edict of Milan promulgated by Constantine the Great.
Biography
- Seager, R. (2008). Tiberius. John Wiley & Sons.
- Levick, B. (2003). Tiberius the politician. Routledge.
- Krappe, A. H. (1927). Tiberius and Thrasyllus. The American Journal of Philology, 48(4), 359-366.
- Shotter, D. (1992). Tiberius Caesar. Routledge.
- Champlin, E. (2014). The Odyssey of Tiberius Caesar. Classica et Mediaevalia, 64, 199-246.
