ANTH 3030 Study Guide - Final Guide: Germanicus, Principate, Law Of Majestas
Document Summary
Tacitus seems excessively favourable to germanicus and critical of tiberius: tac. 1. 39, where germanicus" handling of the rhine mutiny is criticised. Piso"s mission: to keep an eye on germanicus, or undermine him? ann. Awkward succession (1st time); inherent contradiction: principate = monarchy, but defined in. Situation complicated by 2 competing factions (germanicus & agrippina, livia,) and emergence of sejanus, archetypal powerful lieutenant. Good relationship with senate essential to run enormous empire (ann. At first tiberius consulted senate on everything: suet. The senate resented tiberius" scrutiny and guidance re appointments in the provinces. Enigmatic personality of tiberius difficult to read, senators feared to speak their minds. Legal grey area: confusion between free speech and treason, resulted in sycophancy. Later fear of sejanus and his influence on tiberius. Overall, relations with senate difficult at best, becoming more distant (correspondence only after. Ad 26), characterised by mutual distrust & suspicion, also irritability (and decadence?) of the aging emperor.