Sejanus
Lucius Aelius Sejanus entered the world around 20 BC in the Etrurian town of Volsinii. He belonged to the Seia gens, a family of the Equites class or knights. This social tier ranked second only to senators within the Roman Republic and early Empire structure. His father Lucius Seius Strabo held significant political connections through marriage alliances. One wife was Cosconia Gallita, sister to two men who served as suffect consuls in AD 10 and AD 2. Another theory suggests his mother was Junia Blaesa, sister of Junius Blaesus. The grandfather maintained relations with senatorial families via Terentia, a relative of Gaius Maecenas. Maecenas stood as one of Emperor Augustus most powerful allies during that era. Sejanus later adopted into the Aelia gens changed his name to Lucius Aelius Seianus. This adoption likely came from either Gaius Aelius Gallus or Sextus Aelius Catus. The adoptive family counted two consuls among their ranks including Quintus Aelius Tubero and Sextus Aelius Catus. His uncle Junius Blaesus distinguished himself as proconsul of Africa in AD 21. He earned triumphal honors by crushing the rebellion of Tacfarinas.
The Praetorian Guard formed an elite unit under Emperor Augustus in 27 BC. Their original function served strictly as bodyguard for the emperor and imperial family members. They also managed day-to-day city care like general security and civil administration. Augustus allowed only nine cohorts to form one fewer than a normal Roman legion. These units remained inconspicuously scattered across various lodging houses throughout the city. Two prefects commanded these forces until Strabo received governorship of Egypt in AD 15. Sejanus became sole commander after this date and instigated major reforms. In AD 20 the scattered encampments centralized into a single garrison just outside Rome. The number of cohorts increased from nine to twelve total. One cohort now held daily guard duty at the palace itself. Joint leadership between two prefects ended completely under his command. Sejanus personally appointed all centurions and tribunes within the force. Around 12,000 soldiers placed themselves at his immediate disposal with complete loyalty. Tiberius openly displayed the strength of the guard during parades afterward. The facade of Augustus no longer maintained republican veneer over the regime. Cassius Dio noted that after Sejanus no other prefect except Gaius Fulvius Plautianus rose to such influence.
By AD 23 Sejanus exerted considerable influence over Emperor Tiberius decisions. He referred to Sejanus as Socius Laborum meaning partner in his toils. A statue stood erected in his honor inside the Theatre of Pompey. Followers advanced with public offices and governorships throughout the Senate. His privileged position caused resentment among senatorial class and imperial family members. Drusus Julius Caesar particularly earned enmity toward him through open conflict. That year a mutiny broke out among legions posted in Pannonia and Germania. Drusus restored stability in the army while Sejanus accompanied him with cohorts. Following years witnessed growing animosity between these two powerful men. As early as AD 20 Sejanus sought solidify connection with imperial family. He betrothed daughter Junilla to son of Claudius named Claudius Drusus. The girl was only four years old when arranged marriage occurred. The boy mysteriously died days later from asphyxiation according to Suetonius records. By AD 23 enmity reached critical point during an argument where Drusus struck prefect with fist. He lamented aloud that stranger invited assist government while emperor son alive. Sejanus secretly plotted against Drusus and seduced wife Livilla as accomplice. Poison slowly killed Drusus who died September 13 AD 23 from natural causes.
Tiberius left administration more than ever care of Sejanus after losing his son. He withdrew to countryside Campania then finally island Capri in AD 26. Sejanus easily controlled all information passing between Tiberius and capital city. Livia death in AD 29 changed everything regarding his overt power checks. She had checked Sejanus power for some time before her passing. Sejanus began series purge trials senators and wealthy equestrians throughout Rome. Networks spies informers brought victims trial false accusations treason charges. Many chose suicide over disgrace condemned executed under these circumstances. Gaius Asinius Gallus prominent senator opponent linked Agrippina faction perished. Agrippina sons Nero and Drusus arrested exiled AD 30 starved death suspiciously. Only Caligula youngest Germanicus survived purges moving Capri with Tiberius AD 31. Three younger sisters Agrippina Younger Drusilla Livilla also survived Sejanus purges. Tiberius lived until death AD 37 while remaining on island Capri. The climate poisoned hatred Tiberius mother Livia felt toward Agrippina openly. Her ambition become Rome first woman known secret among political circles.
In AD 31 Sejanus shared consulship absentia despite equestrian rank status. He finally became betrothed to Livilla after years of intrigue service. Senators equestrians courted favor as if emperor himself present daily. Birthday publicly observed statues erected honor him throughout city streets. Ancient historian Cassius Dio wrote he seemed emperor Tiberius kind island potentate. Suddenly end AD 31 arrest summarily executed body cast down Gemonian stairs. What caused downfall unclear ancient historians disagree nature conspiracy order events. Modern historians consider unlikely Sejanus plotted seize power overthrowing Tiberius serve regent. Antonia mother Livilla alerted Tiberius growing threat posed letter dispatched Capri care freedman Pallas. Tiberius addressed contradictory letters Senate praising some denouncing friends simultaneously. Announced arrival next day point death confusion alienated many followers. Naevius Sutorius Macro previously prefect vigiles replaced Sejanus effect downfall. October 18 AD 31 summoned Senate meeting letter bestow tribunician powers dawn entered building. Letter digressed unrelated matters suddenly denounced ordered arrest immediately apprehended imprisoned Tullianum. That evening Senate convened Temple Concord condemned death taken prison strangled. Body cast onto Gemonian stairs riots ensued mobs hunted anyone linked.
Following damnatio memoriae judgment statues torn name obliterated public records coins pictured opposite. October 24 eldest son Strabo arrested executed following father death. Apicata committed suicide October 26 addressing letter Tiberius claiming Drusus poisoned complicity Livilla. Confessions slaves admitted administering poison Drusus under torture conditions Tacitus recorded. Enraged truth Tiberius soon ordered more killings Livilla starved death by mother Antonia Minor. Remaining children Capito Aelianus Junilla executed December year beginning following year. No precedent capital punishment virgin said raped first rope neck body thrown down stairs. At beginning following year damnatio memoriae passed Livilla as well. Rome rejoiced demise quickly plunged extensive trials Tiberius persecuted tied schemes. Senatorial ranks purged hardest hit families political ties Julians imperial magistracy exempted wrath. Arrests executions supervised Naevius Sutorius Macro succeeded Sejanus Prefect Praetorian Guard. Political turmoil continued until death Tiberius AD 37 succeeded Caligula afterward. Most historical documentation Tiberius revenge given Suetonius Tacitus portrayal tyrannical vengeful emperor challenged modern historians Edward Togo Salmon wrote extensively about these events.
Ancient historians universally condemned Sejanus accounts differ extent manipulated Tiberius other way around. Velleius Paterculus exception praised Tiberius Sejanus defending latter high position government despite equestrian rank. Suetonius Tranquillus asserts merely instrument Tiberius hasten downfall Germanicus family disposed once ceased useful. Tacitus attributes much decline Tiberius rule after AD 23 corrupting influence Sejanus generally harsh Tiberius too. Writers victim regime included Aulus Cremutius Cordus Velleius Paterculus poet Phaedrus. Cordus brought trial AD 25 accusations treason charged eulogized Marcus Junius Brutus spoken Cassius Longinus true Romans offence Lex Maiestatis Senate ordered burning writings. Seneca Younger letter Marcia daughter elaborated father likely incurred displeasure commission statue starved self death. Marcia instrumental saving work published again under Caligula reign later years. Phaedrus suspected alluded Sejanus Fables received unknown punishment short death. Velleius Paterculus two-volume Roman History details history Troy until Livia Augusta death AD 29. Conjectured put death friend Sejanus Cruttwell C.T. wrote history literature second edition London Charles Griffin Company page 345.
Sejanus fall depicted section Juvenal Satire X emptiness power reviews destruction statues damnatio memoriae judgment reflects fickleness public opinion. Dramatist Ben Jonson borrowed poem passages play Sejanus His Fall topical reference former royal favourite Robert Devereux Earl Essex executed treason two years before. Anonymous Tragedy Claudius Tiberius Nero 1607 another Roman history play time leading figure. Making contemporary political points reinterpretation distant historical episodes common practice seventeenth century France. Cardinal Mazarin celebrated political pamphlet L'Ambitieux portraict Aelius Sejanus person Cardinal Mazarin Paris 1642. England other royal favourites seen terms George Villiers Duke Buckingham target anonymous manuscript Roman tragedy Emperor's Favourite. Sir John Eliot sent Tower London outspoken criticism Duke comparing him Sejanus 1626 parliament. Following Buckingham death 1628 translation Pierre Matthieu published title Powerful Favourite life Aelius Sejanus Volume One Google Books. Another translation Thomas Hawkins Politicall Observations upon Fall Sejanus originally Della peripetia fortuna Giovanni Battista Manzini. Anthony Ashley Cooper Earl Shaftesbury target four-page political pamphlet Sejanus popular favourite solitude sufferings signed Timothy Tory 1681. Story interpreted argument absolute monarchy direct rule without intermediary politicians W Thomas Wilfrid Laurier University 2006 crafting Absalom Achitophel Dryden Pen Party pages 52-7.
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Common questions
When and where was Lucius Aelius Sejanus born?
Lucius Aelius Sejanus entered the world around 20 BC in the Etrurian town of Volsinii. He belonged to the Seia gens, a family of the Equites class or knights.
How did Lucius Aelius Sejanus change his name and social status?
Sejanus later adopted into the Aelia gens changed his name to Lucius Aelius Seianus. This adoption likely came from either Gaius Aelius Gallus or Sextus Aelius Catus.
What major reforms did Lucius Aelius Sejanus implement for the Praetorian Guard?
In AD 20 the scattered encampments centralized into a single garrison just outside Rome. The number of cohorts increased from nine to twelve total and one cohort now held daily guard duty at the palace itself.
Who died on September 13 AD 23 according to records about Lucius Aelius Sejanus?
Drusus Julius Caesar died September 13 AD 23 from natural causes after being poisoned by Sejanus and Livilla. Suetonius records that the boy mysteriously died days later from asphyxiation following an argument where Drusus struck prefect with fist.
When was Lucius Aelius Sejanus arrested and executed in AD 31?
Naevius Sutorius Macro summoned Senate meeting letter bestow tribunician powers dawn entered building October 18 AD 31. That evening Senate convened Temple Concord condemned death taken prison strangled body cast onto Gemonian stairs riots ensued mobs hunted anyone linked.
All sources
53 references cited across the entry
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- 2journalThe Consular Brothers of Sejanus.Adams, Freeman — 1955
- 3bookThe Augustan AristocracyRonald Syme — Clarendon Press — 1989
- 5bookTacitusSyme, Ronald — Oxford University Press — 1958
- 14journalSejanus. Whose Conspiracy?Ann Boddington — January 1963
- 23bookA History of the Roman World From 30 B.C. to A.D. 138Salmon, Edward Togo — Methuen — 1987
- 24bookLes Cohortes PrétoriennesMarcel Durry — Editions De Boccard — 1938
- 34webA.S.Kline translation, lines 56–113Poetryintranslation.com
- 35journalSeventeenth-Century Translations of JuvenalG. L. Brodersen et al. — 1 January 1953
- 36webOnline introduction and textExtra.shu.ac.uk
- 39inlineVolume 1, Google Books
- 40inlineGoogle Books
- 42inlineGoogle Books
- 44bookC----- and Country. A Play of Seven Acts.Masquerader — T. Monger — 1735
- 45bookThe FavouriteBen Jonson — 1770
- 46bookSejanusJean Magnon — 1647
- 47bookDe dood van Elius Sejanus of Spiegel voor der vorsten gunstelingenHenri van der Zande — 1716
- 48inlineSee the preface, pp.v-xiii
- 50bookI, ClaudiusRobert Graves — Penguin Books Limited — 2006-08-03
- 52bookDion and the SibylsMiles Gerald Keon — Christian Publication Society — 1872
- 53bookPontius PilatePaul L Maier — Kregel Publications — 1968
- 54webBackground
- 56inlineAuthor's summary