Tiberius, Second Edition

Robin Seager has updated his classic biography of Tiberius, which focuses on the Emperor’s complex character as the key to understanding his reign. * The most readable account available of the life of Tiberius, the second Roman emperor. * Argues that Tiberius’ character provides the key to understanding his reign. * Portrays Tiberius as a man whose virtues and beliefs were corrupted by power. * Shows how Tiberius’ fears of conspiracy and assassination caused him to lose his grasp of reality. * A new afterword discusses important new evidence that has come to light on the reign of Tiberius. Content: Chapter 1 Tiberius' Childhood: The Political Background (pages 1–10): Chapter 2 Tiberius and Augustus (pages 11–39): Chapter 3 The Accession of Tiberius (pages 40–47): Chapter 4 Germanicus and Drusus (pages 48–103): Chapter 5 Tiberius as Princeps, AD 14?26 (pages 104–150): Chapter 6 Seianus (pages 151–188): Chapter 7 The Last Years (pages 189–208): Robin Seager Traces The Life Of Tiberius From His Birth In Rome In 42 Bc During The Death Throes Of The Republic, Through His Military Career And Reign As Emperor, To His Death In Ad 37. Tiberius' Complex Character Is The Key To Understanding His Reign. Challenging The Common Ancient View Of Tiberius As A Consummate Hypocrite, Seager Portrays Him Instead As A Man Whose Virtues And Beliefs Were Corrupted By Power, Who Lost His Grasp Of Reality As His Fears Of Conspiracy And Assassination Spiralled Out Of Control, And Who Finally Resorted To Ruling By Terror. The Second Edition Of This Biography Contains A Substantial Afterword, Reconsidering Various Questions And Discussing Important New Evidence That Has Come To Light Since The Book Was First Published--jacket. Tiberius' Childhood : The Political Background -- Tiberius And Augustus -- The Accession Of Tiberius -- Germanicus And Drusus -- Tiberius As Princeps, Ad 14-26 -- Seianus -- The Last Years. Robin Seager. Includes Bibliographical References ( P. [288]-298) And Index.

Tiberius lived to a ripe old age, and in that time saw the death of the Roman republic, the acceleration of its militarism, and the rise of its empire. Along the way he became a military hero, pleaded with the senate to resume its responsibilities, fought and instigated conspiracies, and became addicted to power and all its perversions, including elaborate and paranoid fantasies. Seager (classics and ancient history, U. of Liverpool) explains the familial and political motives of this complicated man and his complex and violent times, explaining how the ambitions of others intertwined and conflicted with those of a man who was, after all emperor but not declared divine. For this new edition Seager adds an afterword describing the most recent findings on Tiberius and those around him, and an additional bibliography. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

For a man with political ambitions in the late republic the way to eminence in the state was the cursus honorum, the succession of magistracies that made up a career in public office.