The Republic in Danger : Drusus Libo and the Succession of Tiberius

A PDF version of this book is available for free in open access via www.oup.com/uk as well as the OAPEN Library platform, www.oapen.org. It has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 3.0 license and is part of the OAPEN-UK research project. The Republic in Danger offers a new interpretation of Roman political history for the years 6 BC to AD 16, focusing especially on the rise of Tiberius Caesar and his succession to Augustus, the founder of the Principate. The volume proposes a new and compelling model for understanding the end of Augustus' reign and the succession of Tiberius. While Tiberius' rise to supreme power was at the expense of Augustus' grandsons, who were all dead by the time Augustus was laid to rest, their supporters remained unconvinced that life was possible under the rule of Tiberius. The result was an alliance between the enemies of Tiberius and M. Scribonius Drusus Libo. Drusus Libo, an aristocrat connected to the house of the Caesar, committed suicide in AD 16 while on trial for treason. Pettinger argues that Drusus Libo's prosecution was due to his alliance with Tiberius' enemies who were planning to destroy his government and replace tyranny with republican democracy. Pettinger offers a comprehensive analysis of the struggle between Tiberius and the supporters of Augustus' grandsons, which has repercussions for our understanding of the creation of the Principate at Rome. [C:\Users\Microsoft\Documents\Calibre Library] The Republic In Danger Offers A New Interpretation Of Roman Political History For The Years 6 Bc To Ad 16, Focusing Especially On The Rise Of Tiberius Caesar And His Succession To Augustus, The Founder Of The Principate. The Volume Proposes A New And Compelling Model For Understanding The End Of Augustus' Reign And The Succession Of Tiberius. While Tiberius' Rise To Supreme Power Was At The Expense Of Augustus' Grandsons, Who Were All Dead By The Time Augustus Was Laid To Rest, Their Supporters Remained Unconvinced That Life Was Possible Under The Rule Of Tiberius. The Result Was An Alliance Between The Enemies Of Tiberius And M. Scribonius Drusus Libo. Drusus Libo, An Aristocrat Connected To The House Of The Caesar, Committed Suicide In Ad 16 While On Trial For Treason. Pettinger Argues That Drusus Libo's Prosecution Was Due To His Alliance With Tiberius' Enemies Who Were Planning To Destroy His Government And Replace Tyranny With Republican Democracy. Pettinger Offers A Comprehensive Analysis Of The Struggle Between Tiberius And The Supporters Of Augustus' Grandsons, Which Has Repercussions For Our Understanding Of The Creation Of The Principate At Rome.--publisher's Website. An Urgent Summons And A Terrible Charge -- The Treatment Of An Enemy -- The Adoption Of Agrippa Postumus And The Friends Of Gaius Caesar -- Growing Pains -- The Buck Stops Where? -- Augustus Final Arrangements -- The Exiles Of The Younger Julia, D. Junius Silanus, And Ovid -- Novus Principatus: An Imperial Co-operative -- The Hesitation Of Tiberius -- Did You Hear About Agrippa? -- Germanicus: Successor To Tiberius Or Augustus? -- Alternative Government. Andrew Pettinger. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [239]-252) And Indexes. This is an open access title available under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 International licence. It is free to read at Oxford Scholarship Online and offered as a free PDF download from OUP and selected open access locations. The Republic in Danger offers a new interpretation of Roman political history for the years 6 BC to AD 16, focusing especially on the rise of Tiberius Caesar and his succession to Augustus, the founder of the Principate. The volume proposes a new and compelling model for understanding the end of Augustus' reign and the succession of Tiberius. While Tiberius' rise to supreme power was at the expense of Augustus' grandsons, who were all dead by the time Augustus was laid to rest, their supporters remained unconvinced that life was possible under the rule of Tiberius. The result was an alliance between the enemies of Tiberius and M. Scribonius Drusus Libo. Drusus Libo, an aristocrat connected to the house of the Caesar, committed suicide in AD 16 while on trial for treason. Pettinger argues that Drusus Libo's prosecution was due to his alliance with Tiberius' enemies who were planning to destroy his government and replace tyranny with republican democracy. Pettinger offers a comprehensive analysis of the struggle between Tiberius and the supporters of Augustus' grandsons, which has repercussions for our understanding of the creation of the Principate at Rome. ## Abstract M. Scribonius Drusus Libo has always been considered an inexplicable victim of predatory prosecutors, destroyed in the changed conditions of Tiberius’ succession to the founder of the Principate. This is wrong. Drusus Libo conspired with a group of Tiberius’ opponents to challenge Tiberius’ right. The senate’s investigation of Drusus Libo will be examined in Chapter One and Chapter Two. It will be shown that Drusus Libo was treated in a way reminiscent of Catiline’s associate P. Lentulus Sura in 63 bc. Drusus Libo’s collaborators are then identified as a group of persons who supported first Gaius Caesar, then L. Aemilius Paullus and finally Agrippa Postumus. It is argued that the relationship of this group to Tiberius was beyond repair long before he succeeded Augustus. Tiberius’ succession to the supreme power in ad 14 signalled, therefore, a decisive defeat for this group. The succession is thus reconsidered from a new point of view: it was by no means sewn up. Drusus Libo is central to our understanding of Tiberius’ behaviour at this time. This is what the book examines in detail. A new historical model for the years 6 bc to ad 16 is offered, which has repercussions for the study of both the preceding and subsequent periods. The book is therefore a contribution to the study of the invention of the Principate at Rome. The volume proposes a new model for understanding the end of Augustus' reign and the succession of Tiberius in the years 6 BC to AD 16. Focusing on Drusus Libo's role in an alliance between the enemies of Tiberius, Pettinger offers a comprehensive analysis of the struggle between Tiberius and the supporters of Augustus' grandsons