- cross-posted to:
- roughromanmemes@lemmy.world
- cross-posted to:
- roughromanmemes@lemmy.world
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Explanation: Tiberius, the stepson of the first Roman Emperor Augustus, was at the bottom of the list for “Who Augustus wanted to succeed him.”
Unfortunately for both of them, Tiberius was still on that list, so when everyone else had died of various causes, Tiberius was plucked from the bench as the backup heir. He didn’t really want the job - in fact, he was quite insistent on not wanting the job - but there’s no arguing with an all-powerful autocrat who’s also technically your dad.
Tiberius spent the first ~10 years of his rule being competent but miserable, with an especial eye towards the financial stability of the Empire, and the next ~10 years being an irritable, isolated paranoiac (and miserable). Despite being the most powerful man in the world, he was known as tristissimus hominum - ‘the gloomiest of men’. He constantly complained about nearly everything about the job - from the lethargy of Senators to the bootlicking of up-and-coming politicians.
Poor fellow probably wanted a quiet life of luxury, and instead had to deal with cutthroat Roman politics 'til the day he died.
Was he a just and fair ruler?
I seem to recall a quote about people who want power shouldn’t be given it.
Stories about him are mixed. My interpretation is that he was immensely competent and interested in the orderly functioning of the Roman state, but in the second half of his Emperorship, spent most of his time weeding out conspiracies against his life (real or imagined, depending on which sources you trust) and trying to avoid doing the job of being Emperor (such as during his prolonged stay at his private island where literally no one could contact him).
For much of the Empire’s existence, circumstances within the emperor’s household were very, uh, “Game of Thronesy”.
Augustus forced Tiberius to divorce his first wife and marry Agustus’ daughter, Julia the Elder, in order to help cement the family ties.
Tiberius was devastated by this. At some point, Julia was caught in an affair. Augustus had her exiled (in relative comfort, of course). After Augustus’ death, Tiberius took all of Julia’s possessions and basically had her starved to death.
That’s who should lead. Someone who understands how difficult and important it is to do right and doesn’t want the job as a result.
