Tiberius | Page 2

brought to trial by the people for treason; because, when her litter
was stopped by a great crowd in the streets, she openly exclaimed, "I
wish my brother Pulcher was alive now, to lose another fleet, that
Rome might be less thronged." Besides, it is well known, that all the
Claudii, except Publius Claudius, who, to effect the banishment of
Cicero, procured himself to be adopted by a plebeian [293], and one
younger than himself, were always of the patrician party, as well as
great sticklers for the honour and power of that order; and so violent
and obstinate in their opposition to the plebeians, that not one of them,
even in the case of a trial for life by the people, would ever condescend

to put on mourning, according to custom, or make any supplication to
them for favour; and some of them in their contests, have even
proceeded to lay hands on the tribunes of the people. A Vestal Virgin
likewise of the family, when her brother was resolved to have the
honour of a triumph contrary to the will of the people, mounted the
chariot with him, and attended him into the Capitol, that it might not be
lawful for any of the tribunes to interfere and forbid it. [294]
III. From this family Tiberius Caesar is descended; indeed both by the
father and mother's side; by the former from Tiberius Nero, and by the
latter from Appius Pulcher, who were both sons of Appius Caecus. He
likewise belonged to the family of the Livii, by the adoption of his
mother's grandfather into it; which family, although plebeian, made a
(195) distinguished figure, having had the honour of eight consulships,
two censorships, three triumphs, one dictatorship, and the office of
master of the horse; and was famous for eminent men, particularly,
Salinator and the Drusi. Salinator, in his censorship [295], branded all
the tribes, for their inconstancy in having made him consul a second
time, as well as censor, although they had condemned him to a heavy
fine after his first consulship. Drusus procured for himself and his
posterity a new surname, by killing in single combat Drausus, the
enemy's chief. He is likewise said to have recovered, when pro-praetor
in the province of Gaul, the gold which was formerly given to the
Senones, at the siege of the Capitol, and had not, as is reported, been
forced from them by Camillus. His great-great-grandson, who, for his
extraordinary services against the Gracchi, was styled the "Patron of
the Senate," left a son, who, while plotting in a sedition of the same
description, was treacherously murdered by the opposite party. [296]
IV. But the father of Tiberius Caesar, being quaestor to Caius Caesar,
and commander of his fleet in the war of Alexandria, contributed
greatly to its success. He was therefore made one of the high-priests in
the room of Publius Scipio [297]; and was sent to settle some colonies
in Gaul, and amongst the rest, those of Narbonne and Arles [298]. After
the assassination of Caesar, however, when the rest of the senators, for
fear of public disturbances; were for having the affair buried in oblivion,
he proposed a resolution for rewarding those who had killed the tyrant.
Having filled the office of praetor [299], and at the end of the year a
disturbance breaking out amongst the triumviri, he kept the badges of

his office beyond the legal time; and following Lucius Antonius the
consul, brother of the triumvir, to Perusia [300], though the rest
submitted, yet he himself continued firm to the party, and escaped first
to Praeneste, and then to Naples; whence, having in vain invited the
slaves to liberty, he fled over to Sicily. But resenting (196) his not
being immediately admitted into the presence of Sextus Pompey, and
being also prohibited the use of the fasces, he went over into Achaia to
Mark Antony; with whom, upon a reconciliation soon after brought
about amongst the several contending parties, he returned to Rome; and,
at the request of Augustus, gave up to him his wife Livia Drusilla,
although she was then big with child, and had before borne him a son.
He died not long after; leaving behind him two sons, Tiberius and
Drusus Nero.
V. Some have imagined that Tiberius was born at Fundi, but there is
only this trifling foundation for the conjecture, that his mother's
grandmother was of Fundi, and that the image of Good Fortune was, by
a decree of the senate, erected in a public place in that town. But
according to the greatest number of writers, and those too of the best
authority, he was born at Rome, in the Palatine quarter, upon the
sixteenth of the calends of December [16th Nov.], when Marcus
Aemilius Lepidus was second time