Tiberius Gemellus entered the world on the 10th of October AD 19. This date marked a rare event in Roman history, as he was born alongside his twin brother Germanicus Gemellus. Their father Drusus Julius Caesar held immense rank within the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Emperor Tiberius celebrated the birth of these twins with great enthusiasm. He claimed no man of such high status had ever produced twins before. The Senate commemorated this moment by minting coins that featured both boys on their reverse side. Tragically, the twin brother Germanicus Gemellus died while still a young child in AD 23. This loss left Gemellus as the sole surviving son of Drusus and Livilla.
Poison And Political Elimination
In the spring of 22, Drusus received tribunician power from the Senate. This honor signaled to all observers that he was the designated heir to Emperor Tiberius. However, a bitter dispute arose between Drusus and Lucius Aelius Sejanus later that year. Sejanus served as the powerful praetorian prefect during this turbulent era. By the 14th of September 23, Drusus had died under suspicious circumstances. Ancient sources including Tacitus and Cassius Dio suggest he was poisoned. They allege Livilla administered the poison at the specific request of Sejanus. The exact cause of their feud remains unknown to modern historians. Following his death, Tiberius adopted his great-nephews Nero and Drusus instead. These men were sons of Germanicus, the late brother of Drusus. Neither of these new heirs would survive long enough to claim the throne.