Tiberius Army Influence
* Intro of the army and their overall influence. * Tiberius and the army * Gaius and the army * Claudius and the army * Nero and the army * Conclude with an overall summary of the armies’ influence. * Intro of the army and their overall influence. * Tiberius and the army * Gaius and the army * Claudius and the army * Nero and the army * Conclude with an overall summary of the armies’ influence.
ANCIENT HISTORY ESSAY: JULIO CLAUDIANS; The Army held an increasing amount of influential power over each of the Julio-Claudian Emperors’; the army was the base of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. The Principate was founded on the practice of maius imperium, supreme military potestas (power). Soldiers swore an …show more content…
oath of personal allegiance to the Princeps, and the military term imperator became a permanent title of the Princeps throughout this era.
Tiberius was the only Julio-Claudian that became Princeps with any real military experience. In his distinguished career he led his troops to victory and numerous campaigns in Germany and was hailed imperator many times. Throughout Tiberius’ reign was marked by the continued cooperation between the Princeps and the Senate, his careful oversight of the administration, a firm control over of the army and a restraint in the exercise of potestas. However, Tiberius’ control over particular cohorts in the army wavered with mutinies in certain parts of the empire; the remaining cohorts remained loyal to Princeps throughout his Principate. Raaflaub justifies this by stating that Tiberius‘ “long career as a commanding general provided him with such a bonus of loyalty within the armies that, after the mutinies, there were only minor difficulties.”
The influential power of the army can be seen manly in the Praetorian Guard, particularly in the role of the Prefect that has been heightened in potestas throughout the reign of Tiberius.
This is conveyed when Tiberius reduced his role when he retired to Capri – therefore determining that the princeps did not have to be based in Rome to rule-, assigning much of his power over to the Praetorian Guard Prefect Sejanus, who, Tacitus records Tiberius could speak “freely and unguardedly” with Sejanus regarding him as “the partner in my labours.” Ibid justifies what Tacitus is saying by “Tiberius believed him disinterested and listened trustingly to his advice, however disastrous”. Tiberius’ role is severely reduced during his time in Capri, as Sejanus was responsible for all communication between the Senate and the Princeps, much of which he intercepted as a means of corrupting the emperor so he could become Princeps, this is identified by Tacitus who suggests that “the ambitious Sejanus had his eyes on the Principate.” However Sejanus’ plans were discovered, the Praetorian Guard had grown more powerful in the absence of Tiberius from Rome, comprehends how influentially powerful the army has become in such a short amount of
time.
Gaius’ accession to become Principate was decided by the Praetorian Guard at Capri. The Praetorian Guard Prefect Marco took Gaius to Rome where the Senate voted him into the powers of Princeps. This conveys just how powerful the army has become throughout this period of time. However, the conspiracy that had been raised about Gaetulicau who had been plotting against Gaius was short lived as he was executed by the Praetorian Guard, who remained loyal to Gaius before plotting against him and eventually murdering him. This is vindicated by Suetonius who states that “two guards put their heads together and succeeded in killing him…” Demonstrating how much power the Army held over Rome throughout the Julio-Claudian era.
The Praetorian Guard chose Claudius as the next princeps after they disposed of Gaius. Claudius was grateful that the Praetorians chose him for his intellect and had ignored the fact that he had no military experience; he acknowledged their role throughout his reign by featuring them on coins, with donatives and by holding games in their camp. Claudius paid attention to the morale of legions stationed at the frontiers, taking care to move them every so often, as well as large stone camps built in places where troops were normally stationed. Salmon interprets that “Claudius always carefully cultivated the troops. The praetorians received annual donations, the other soldiers were given opportunity for booty and various honours were showered upon different army cohorts.” Suggesting that the army still had influential power of Claudius and the senate. The highlight of his military career was the conquest of Britain; this expansion of the empire strengthened his position as princeps and gave more honour to the armies which gained Claudius more loyalty from the army throughout his reign. Momigliano justifies this by stating “with the conquests of Mauretania and Britain, the greatest imperial success since Augustus, Claudius could claim to have solidly established his prestige with the army.” Further demonstrating the successful powers held by the army.
On the death of Claudius, Agrippina and Burrus arranged for the Praetorians to swear loyalty to Nero, the third successive emperor who owed his position as Princeps to the Praetorian Guard. Unlike Claudius, Nero showed little interest in the army. He did not visit the camps and did not undertake any campaigns himself. His main contact with the army was in parades and spectacles. Salmon identifies this by stating that “in general Nero was careless about troops… unlike Gaius, Nero did not exhibit himself into the armies. He avoided military camps and he was even discreet enough to appoint freedmen as army officers.” After Nero’s trip to Greece, he returned more egocentric and despotic than ever before, claiming that he could no longer speak to his troops and had to communicate solely through written correspondence, according to ancient sources. It was Nero’s disregard towards the Praetorian Guard and the armies that led to his eventual suicide. Griffin states that Nero was unable to “shoulder the burden of expected military glory.” Salmon justifies this through his interpretation about “Nero now paid the penalty for neglecting to cultivate the soldiers.” Nero’s personal and political persecutions of the Senate and the neglect of the armies meant that Nero lost the support on which the Principate rested.
The Army held an increasing amount of influential power over each of the Julio-Claudian Emperors’; the army was the base of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. The Principate was founded on the practice of maius imperium, supreme military potestas (power). Soldiers swore an oath of personal allegiance to the Princeps, and the military term imperator became a permanent title of the Princeps throughout this era. This is conveyed through the way all the princeps have ruled alongside the Praetorian Guard and the army. Giving them power over Rome, the Senate and the rule of the Princeps.
ANCIENT HISTORY ESSAY: JULIO CLAUDIANS; The Army held an increasing amount of influential power over each of the Julio-Claudian Emperors’; the army was the base of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. The Principate was founded on the practice of maius imperium, supreme military potestas (power). Soldiers swore an …show more content…
oath of personal allegiance to the Princeps, and the military term imperator became a permanent title of the Princeps throughout this era.
Tiberius was the only Julio-Claudian that became Princeps with any real military experience. In his distinguished career he led his troops to victory and numerous campaigns in Germany and was hailed imperator many times. Throughout Tiberius’ reign was marked by the continued cooperation between the Princeps and the Senate, his careful oversight of the administration, a firm control over of the army and a restraint in the exercise of potestas. However, Tiberius’ control over particular cohorts in the army wavered with mutinies in certain parts of the empire; the remaining cohorts remained loyal to Princeps throughout his Principate. Raaflaub justifies this by stating that Tiberius‘ “long career as a commanding general provided him with such a bonus of loyalty within the armies that, after the mutinies, there were only minor difficulties.”
The influential power of the army can be seen manly in the Praetorian Guard, particularly in the role of the Prefect that has been heightened in potestas throughout the reign of Tiberius.
This is conveyed when Tiberius reduced his role when he retired to Capri – therefore determining that the princeps did not have to be based in Rome to rule-, assigning much of his power over to the Praetorian Guard Prefect Sejanus, who, Tacitus records Tiberius could speak “freely and unguardedly” with Sejanus regarding him as “the partner in my labours.” Ibid justifies what Tacitus is saying by “Tiberius believed him disinterested and listened trustingly to his advice, however disastrous”. Tiberius’ role is severely reduced during his time in Capri, as Sejanus was responsible for all communication between the Senate and the Princeps, much of which he intercepted as a means of corrupting the emperor so he could become Princeps, this is identified by Tacitus who suggests that “the ambitious Sejanus had his eyes on the Principate.” However Sejanus’ plans were discovered, the Praetorian Guard had grown more powerful in the absence of Tiberius from Rome, comprehends how influentially powerful the army has become in such a short amount of
time.
Gaius’ accession to become Principate was decided by the Praetorian Guard at Capri. The Praetorian Guard Prefect Marco took Gaius to Rome where the Senate voted him into the powers of Princeps. This conveys just how powerful the army has become throughout this period of time. However, the conspiracy that had been raised about Gaetulicau who had been plotting against Gaius was short lived as he was executed by the Praetorian Guard, who remained loyal to Gaius before plotting against him and eventually murdering him. This is vindicated by Suetonius who states that “two guards put their heads together and succeeded in killing him…” Demonstrating how much power the Army held over Rome throughout the Julio-Claudian era.
The Praetorian Guard chose Claudius as the next princeps after they disposed of Gaius. Claudius was grateful that the Praetorians chose him for his intellect and had ignored the fact that he had no military experience; he acknowledged their role throughout his reign by featuring them on coins, with donatives and by holding games in their camp. Claudius paid attention to the morale of legions stationed at the frontiers, taking care to move them every so often, as well as large stone camps built in places where troops were normally stationed. Salmon interprets that “Claudius always carefully cultivated the troops. The praetorians received annual donations, the other soldiers were given opportunity for booty and various honours were showered upon different army cohorts.” Suggesting that the army still had influential power of Claudius and the senate. The highlight of his military career was the conquest of Britain; this expansion of the empire strengthened his position as princeps and gave more honour to the armies which gained Claudius more loyalty from the army throughout his reign. Momigliano justifies this by stating “with the conquests of Mauretania and Britain, the greatest imperial success since Augustus, Claudius could claim to have solidly established his prestige with the army.” Further demonstrating the successful powers held by the army.
On the death of Claudius, Agrippina and Burrus arranged for the Praetorians to swear loyalty to Nero, the third successive emperor who owed his position as Princeps to the Praetorian Guard. Unlike Claudius, Nero showed little interest in the army. He did not visit the camps and did not undertake any campaigns himself. His main contact with the army was in parades and spectacles. Salmon identifies this by stating that “in general Nero was careless about troops… unlike Gaius, Nero did not exhibit himself into the armies. He avoided military camps and he was even discreet enough to appoint freedmen as army officers.” After Nero’s trip to Greece, he returned more egocentric and despotic than ever before, claiming that he could no longer speak to his troops and had to communicate solely through written correspondence, according to ancient sources. It was Nero’s disregard towards the Praetorian Guard and the armies that led to his eventual suicide. Griffin states that Nero was unable to “shoulder the burden of expected military glory.” Salmon justifies this through his interpretation about “Nero now paid the penalty for neglecting to cultivate the soldiers.” Nero’s personal and political persecutions of the Senate and the neglect of the armies meant that Nero lost the support on which the Principate rested.
The Army held an increasing amount of influential power over each of the Julio-Claudian Emperors’; the army was the base of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. The Principate was founded on the practice of maius imperium, supreme military potestas (power). Soldiers swore an oath of personal allegiance to the Princeps, and the military term imperator became a permanent title of the Princeps throughout this era. This is conveyed through the way all the princeps have ruled alongside the Praetorian Guard and the army. Giving them power over Rome, the Senate and the rule of the Princeps.