Tiberius Claudius Nero was born November 16, 42 BC.  His father was also named Tiberius Claudius Nero.  His mother was Livia Drusilla.
          As the second emperor of the Roman Empire, Tiberius was the first emperor to place a personality upon Rome that was different to that which Augustus Caesar had made his own.
          During the reign of Augustus, the city of Rome was prosperous and calm while provinces were contentious and unhappy; the senate did what Augustus asked, and he asked all the right things.  During the reign of Tiberius, the city of Rome was tumultuous and retrograde while provinces were stable and calm; the senate did what Tiberius asked, but he asked little to start, and less as time passed.
          This very broad consideration of Tiberius as compared to Augustus is interesting, but the great story about Tiberius Caesar is in how his mind and moods transmogrified through his life and reign.
          Tiberius was born into a blessed environment with all aspects of life working in his favor.  He was a Claudian on his father’s and mother’s side, and his mother’s family was also connected to influential and historically significant families like the Aemilii Lepidi, Servilii Caepiones, and Livii Drusi.
          When Tiberius was 3 years old, his mother, Livia Drusilla, divorced his father and married Octavian (Augustus Caesar).  Women, even those born to the most powerful families, had little power, but by marrying Octavian, Livia placed herself in a position of influence that paid off for her son Tiberius.
          As Tiberius grew to adulthood, he performed very well at all his undertakings.  He managed to retrieve the legionary standards lost at the Battle of Carrhae by Crassus, Saxa, and Mark Antony, located the source of the Danube, excelled as a military leader, skilled legal advocate, and effective public servant.  He had it all, and was doing quiet well until...  In 12 BC, his marriage to Vipsania Agrippina (The daughter of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa - close friend of Augustus and the general who won the Battle of Actium in 31 BC which secured power for Augustus.) came to an end.  Augustus ordered him to divorce Vipsania and marry his daughter Julia the widow of Marcus Agrippa.  Tiberius’s marriage with Vipsania seemed to have been one of  love.  Tiberius did not take the order to divorce Vipsania very well.  He did what was demanded of him, but I believe that this act soured Tiberius toward his mother’s plans to make him emperor.
          Tiberius was a very interesting emperor.  His 23 years of rule involved many ups and downs, positives and negatives, costs and benefits.  He was a highly intelligent, dark, moody, and eccentric individual.  As his interest in participating in government matters lessened, power hungry individuals around him moved in to claim power over those matters.  More than any other person, Lucius Aelius Sejanus (LUCIUS AELIO SEIANO) filled the voids left as Tiberius disconnected from his role as emperor.  Sejanus was commander and prefect of the Praetorian Guard from 14 AD until his death in 31.  He maneuvered right to the edge of taking Rome from Tiberius.  All the while, Tiberius was indulging in more and more bazaar hedonistic extremes.

          Tiberius’s reign began in great times, and ended in sad times.  His accomplishments occurred during the earlier chapters of his reign; his tragedies during the closing chapters.
          The most well-known coin minted during the reign of Tiberius is often called the ‘Tribute Penny’.  It is fairly common in silver (Shown here in gold), but gains significance by way of its connection to Christianity and the gospels of Christ.  In Matthew 22:21 “Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s”.  Although is it unlikely that this coin was used, it has been chosen by popular demand to symbolize “...the things which are Caesar’s...”

          Of all the people involved in Tiberius’s coming to power, and use of power, Livia, his mother, has to be the most significant.  Livia’s role in the BBC production of ‘I Claudius’ was interesting to say the least; they have her killing her husband and Emperor Augustus, mouth kissed and breast fondled by Caligula, and killing other members of her family.  She plotted, schemed, and killed as was needed, and according to Tacitus and Cassius Dio (Roman historians) she was the worst 
 

that a dowager could be.  This view belies the truth in these male historian’s opinions of Livia.  A dowager’s wealth is acquired from her husband.  Livia brought wealth and influence to Augustus.  An arguable case can me made that a major part of Augustus’s success was the result of marrying Livia.  If Livia was not at the helm of the Roman ship of state during the reign of Augustus and Tiberius, she definitely influenced its navigation.
          Livia’s story is worthy of its own BBC production, if not for her actions then for how history has viewed and recorded her actions.  Actions that label men as heroes, labeled Livia as a crone or witch.  Livia can easily be seen as a two thousand year old example of a male dominant world’s double standard regarding men and women.  In a time when women had value only if their family name could give their husband influence, or their money could advance the men in their family, Livia rose to a height above that of the common roman aristocratic male.  Livia set the stage and standard for powerful roman woman, and might well be the benchmark for all the powerful and influential women throughout the history of the western world.
          There is a long list of women who ruled Rome through their relation to the emperor, and Livia is at the top of that list.

          If you enjoy intrigue and plotting, drama and suspense, I strongly suggest you read Robert Graves's ‘I, Claudius’ and ‘Claudius the God’.  I also highly recommend the BBC production of ‘I Claudius’ in which both of Robert Grave’s books were combined to create an exceptionally entertaining, and relatively accurate account of the Roman emperors Augustus through Claudius, their families, friends and enemies.  You might also want to read ‘Livia Drusilla - The First Empress of the Roman Empire’ which lays out her life, deeds, myths, and the coins reputed to carry her image through history; you will also find links to some of the other famous and infamous Roman Empresses, wives, mothers, sisters, and lovers that helped mold and shape Roman History.