Annals I.3

Augustus meanwhile, as supports to his despotism, raised to the pontificate and curule aedileship Claudius Marcellus, his sister's son, while a mere stripling, and Marcus Agrippa, of humble birth, a good soldier, and one who had shared his victory, to two consecutive consulships, and as Marcellus soon afterwards died, he also accepted him as his son-in-law. Tiberius Nero and Claudius Drusus, his stepsons, he honoured with imperial tides, although his own family was as yet undiminished. For he had admitted the children of Agrippa, Caius and Lucius, into the house of the Caesars; and before they had yet laid aside the dress of boyhood he had most fervently desired, with an outward show of reluctance, that they should be entitled "princes of the youth," and be consuls-elect. When Agrippa died, and Lucius Caesar as he was on his way to our armies in Spain, and Caius while returning from Armenia, still suffering from a wound, were prematurely cut off by destiny, or by their step-mother Livia's treachery, Drusus too having long been dead, Nero remained alone of the stepsons, and in him everything tended to centre. He was adopted as a son, as a colleague in empire and a partner in the tribunitian power, and paraded through all the armies, no longer through his mother's secret intrigues, but at her open suggestion. For she had gained such a hold on the aged Augustus that he drove out as an exile into the island of Planasia, his only grandson, Agrippa Postumus, who, though devoid of worthy qualities, and having only the brute courage of physical strength, had not been convicted of any gross offence. And yet Augustus had appointed Germanicus, Drusus's offspring, to the command of eight legions on the Rhine, and required Tiberius to adopt him, although Tiberius had a son, now a young man, in his house; but he did it that he might have several safeguards to rest on. He had no war at the time on his hands except against the Germans, which was rather to wipe out the disgrace of the loss of Quintilius Varus and his army than out of an ambition to extend the empire, or for any adequate recompense. At home all was tranquil, and there were magistrates with the same titles; there was a younger generation, sprung up since the victory of Actium, and even many of the older men had been born during the civil wars. How few were left who had seen the republic!

Tacitus mentions that Augustus, to help with despotic reign, starts giving away posts to people right and left. Tacitus is doing three things at once with this passage. First, he is mildly trying to show Augustus’ tyranny, as many of these positions used to be elected and Augustus’ choices are unqualified. Second, Tacitus is showing that Augustus is promising a lot of things to a lot people to stay in power (which contradicts his last passage about Augustus being unopposed). Third, Tacitus is showing that Augustus is actually searching for an heir. Tacitus begins the passage cleverly with the phrase “as supports to his despotism.” True, these jobs all support the Emperor. True, by giving away positions, he keeps friends and is able to rule longer. But, the greatest support of all for the office of the princep is to find an heir.

The family tree gets confusing, but it’s important. Augustus has no male children and no obvious heir, which works well for Augustus because he gets to tell everyone they’re his number one. He gives his nephew, Marcellus, a management position over public works despite being young. He gives Agrippa, his son in law, consulships despite not being of the right class and adopts Agrippa’s kids Caius and Lucius. He also adopts and honors his step-kids, Tiberius and Drusus. That’s six people that think they are going to be princep. Of course, Tacitus' narative makes it seems like this is happening all at once when, in fact, it over many years.

Marcellus, Agrippa, Drusus, Caius, Lucius and Drusus all die, leaving Tiberius alone as the heir…maybe. The death years of each were 23 BC, 12 BC, 9 BC, AD 2, AD 4. Livia, Augustus’ wife and mother of Tiberius, is accused of somehow killing Caius and Lucius. We’ll call these unsubstantiated murder accusations #1 and #2. Livia, in order to get Tiberius to the throne, was killing off the competition. Tacitus seems to hate women.

With the big five competitors gone, Tiberius is left with only two more competitors- Agrippa’s last son, Agrippa Postumus (who is also Augustus’ grandson) and Drusus’ kid, Germanicus. Livia convinces Augustus to banish Agrippa Postumus in AD 6 or 7 and Tiberius adopts Germanicus. Problems solved, so it seems. A nice line of succession is established: Augustus, Tiberius, Germanicus.

Everything is dandy in Rome except with Germany, where Quintilius Varus had a big defeat. Few remember the Republic. Again is the contradiction. Empire is inferior, yet stable. Republic is superior, yet unstable. It should be noted that when Tacitus was writing, it Rome was still called a Republic. Only in retrospect do people end the Republic with Augustus. Perhaps Tacitus was the influence.

So, things look good for Augustus and Tiberius at the moment. Only three hanging threads remain. Agrippa Postumus is still hanging around in exile. Tiberius has a son already, also named Drusus, which I’m sure will become a problem. Additionally, Germanicus is going to be sent to Germany to command forces in Rome’s only problem area. Tacitus is setting something up.