CHAPTER 9
Interlude
16CE – 22CE
In the year 16CE, the Emperor Tiberius was 56, but the Empire was not enjoying his second year as Emperor.
Following the death of Augustus in 14CE, he seems to have wished for the Senate and the state to simply act without him. His direct orders were rather vague, inspiring debate more on what he actually meant, than on passing his legislation. In his first few years, Tiberius seemed to have wanted the Senate to act on its own, rather than as a servant to his will as it had been under Augustus.
But in that same year a Roman army of 50,000 under Germanicus defeated the German war Chief Arminius and retrieved the lost eagle standards of Varus.
In the preceding year – 15CE – Valerius Gratis became Governor of Judea and continued to serve in that capacity until 26 CE.
Eleazar (16-17) of the House of Annas of the Sadducee Sect is appointed the High Priest of Jerusalem. Nationalistic (Zealot) Jews at this time consider the House of Annas as being in League with the Romans."
In 16CE, Julius Valerius became Governor of Aegypt and became one of the province’s longest serving governors staying in that post until 31CE.
This was the age of Germanicus who was born in 15BC of impeccable parentage - his grandmother being the empress Livia, and his grandfather being Mark Anthony. Germanicus became immensely popular among the citizens of Rome, who enthusiastically celebrated his military victories. He was also a favorite with Augustus, his great- uncle, who for some time considered him heir to the Empire. He is recorded to have been an excellent soldier and an inspired leader.
It was no surprise then that, as a rival to Tiberius, he was eventually poisoned on the orders of Tiberius. Had he been proclaimed Emperor following the death of Augustus, the Roman Empire would have taken a different course. As it was the poisoning of Germanicus had a long ranging affect on the Roman Empire.
The year 17CE heralded some important events. Firstly, a rather insignificant incident occurred that could have had a devastating effect on the whole empire. A roman deserter called Tacfarinas rallied his own tribe in Ethiopia to invade the Aegyptian province. This sent alarm throughout Rome as the city was entirely dependent on Aegyptian grain to feed the city populace.
The roman garrison in Aegypt was not battle-hardened so they were initially no match for the warrior Nubians. Fortunately, the invasion was eventually defeated but the Senate was alarmed at their vulnerability for Aegyptian grain.
Early in 17CE, a major earthquake totally destroyed the city of Sardis and laid waist the region, which is now eastern Turkey. The Senate appropriated huge sums of money to rebuild Sardis and the entire region in such amounts that other parts of the empire were stripped of funds.
Also in 17CE, Herod Antipas, in the emperors’ name, completed the building of the city of Tiberius on the Sea of Galilee. The peasants considered the new settlers a promiscuous rabble. Herod built them houses and new gifts of land likely at the expense of the local people.
The year 18CE opened with both the Emperor Tiberius and Germanicus becoming joint Consuls of the Roman Empire, a move that Tiberius judged to be a threat to his own position. Germanicus subsequently was sent to Syria where, it is said, Tiberius had him poisoned by the governor, Gnaeus Piso. And in India, a tribe of Indo- Parthians ousted the Indo-Scythians from their capital at Taxila.
Joseph Caiaphas (18-36CE) son in law of High Priest Annas of the Sadducee Judaism Sect is appointed High Priest of Jerusalem
Then in 19CE, Tiberius expelled all Aegyptians and Jews from Rome. This move inflamed the Aegyptian people and created concern over the grain deliveries, upon which Rome was dependant. It was done, it was said, to placate the people of Rome who were angry at the death of Germanicus.