Germanicus Julius Caesar (original name Nero Claudius Drusus) or simply Germanicus, was a much-celebrated Roman general who proved to be pivotal in the history of the Roman Empire.
The son of Nero Claudius Drusus or Drusus the Elder (who had the name Germanicus bestowed upon him after he died due to his own feats against Germania), the younger Germanicus was born in 15 BC and died in AD 19. He took on the nickname (agnomen) of Germanicus that was given to his father as he was the new head of the family (yes, confusing at times I know).
The younger Germanicus was adopted by his uncle – the future Roman Emperor Tiberius. Germanicus had nine children with wife, Agrippina the Elder. He is the father of the empire’s third Emperor, Caligula, the brother of the fourth Emperor, Claudius and the grandfather of the empire’s fifth Emperor, Nero. He himself was being looked at as a future emperor until his life was cut short at 34.
Like his father, Drusus the Elder, Germanicus was a skillful military commander. He was sent to help Tiberius put down a rebellion in Illyricum in AD 7. The war took two years to come to an end, with Germanicus distinguishing himself out on the battlefield. He then returned to Rome and was bestowed triumphal honors, without an actual triumphal procession.
Credit: Carole Raddato
However, at the same time Publius Quinctilius Varus was in Germania leading Roman Legions XVII, XVIII and XIX into annihilation at the hands of Arminius in the Battle of Teutoburg Forest. This would eventually lead to Germanicus and Tiberius being sent to the Rhine border in AD 11 to put an end to any Germanic thoughts of invading Gaul.
Germanicus and Tiberius remained there for over a year, disrupting Germanic forces and alliances by crossing the Rhine on multiple occasions. Germanicus returned to Rome in AD 12 and continued his civil service as a consul.
Germanicus was given command of the legions in the Rhine in AD 13. He was on his way to the Rhine when Augustus died. Tiberius was then proclaimed Emperor. When he arrived on the Rhine border, he found the Legions in open revolt, unhappy with promises being made by Augustus seemingly being broken by Tiberius. He quelled the rebellion and the troops tried to proclaim him Emperor, but he remained loyal to Tiberius. As Tacitus wrote in Book I, XXXIV of his Annals:
“Yet the nearer Germanicus came to the heights of ambition, the more devotedly he labored in Tiberius’ cause. He administered the oath of allegiance to his subordinates and the Belgic cities, and he took the oath himself.”
Germanicus even paid the bonuses they were promised out of his own pocket. This also helped quell the rebellion and secured the loyalty of the troops. From here, he launched his first campaign against the tribes in Germania, posting several victories and securing a second triumphal march upon his return to Rome.
He returned to the Rhine in AD 15 and for the next two years fought the tribes and to avenge the defeat of Varus back in AD 9. While there, he came into contact with the armies of Arminius. It was here that Germanicus was able to recover the lost Legionary Eagles of the XIX Legion.
He and his armies made their way further north, where they found the site of the Battle of Teutoburg Forest. The troops spent hours burying their Roman brethren who remained unburied and exposed to the elements. The armies moved on before all the fallen could be buried. As Tacitus wrote in Book I, LXII:
“And so, six years after the fatal field, a Roman army, present on the ground, buried the bones of the three legions; and no man knew whether he consigned to earth the remains of a stranger or a kinsman, but all thought of all as friends and members of one family, and, with anger rising against the enemy, mourned at once and hated.”
Fighting continued for a short time later before the campaign drew to a close.
The third campaign against the Germanic tribes took place in AD 16, with Germanicus once again coming into contact with the forces commanded by Arminius. Here, they inflicted heavy losses on the tribes over several battles. Arminius and his uncle Ingomar were injured in these battles, however they managed to escape.
Not only did Germanicus and the Romans succeed in defeating several Germanic tribes, including the Marsi and Chatti, he was able to recover another lost Legionary Eagle from the Varus disaster back in AD 9.
From here, Germanicus was recalled to Rome, where he celebrated another triumph, where coins were minted to celebrate the occasion. While a triumph was celebrated, it could hardly be said that the Romans conquered all of the Germanic people, with Arminius still at large and some Germanic tribes still roaming the land beyond the Rhine.
Upon his recall and triumph, Germanicus was given the command in Asia, where he made contact with Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, the new Governor of Syria, who turned out to be hostile towards Germanicus. Rumors suggest that Piso was deployed to undermine Germanicus, due to the success of Germanicus and the loyalty he garnered from ordinary soldiers.
Germanicus set about organizing the provinces in Asia, including Cappadocia. This was often a profitable venture for the Romans as organization and streamlining cities would enable more efficient levying of taxes. Trade would also improve.
Upon hearing of a famine in Egypt, Germanicus made his way to the “breadbasket” of the empire. This proved to be a grave mistake by Germanicus, as no political official (of which Germanicus was one) was allowed to enter Egypt without the express permission of the emperor. This permission was not sought. Germanicus returned to Syria, where he suspected that Piso was undermining his instructions. As Tacitus mentions in Book II, LXIX:
“On the way from Egypt, Germanicus learned that all orders issued by him to the legions or the cities had been rescinded or reversed.”
Germanicus had ordered Piso back to Rome and it is during this time that Germanicus fell ill. Germanicus himself suspected that Piso was trying to poison him, and after apparent inspection of the home of Piso, Tacitus noted in Book II, LXIX:
“The cruel virulence of the disease was intensified by the patient’s belief that Piso had given him poison; and it is a fact that explorations in the floor and walls brought to light the remains of human bodies, spells, curses, leaden tablets engraved with the name Germanicus, charred and blood-smeared ashes,and others of the implements of witchcraft by which it is believed the living soul can be devoted to the powers of the grave. At the same time, emissaries from Piso were accused of keeping a too inquisitive watch upon the ravages of the disease.”
Germanicus later succumbed to his affliction, dying in AD 19. The widespread rumors of poison led Piso to be put on trial over the death of Germanicus. However, Piso himself perished under suspicious circumstances, with suicide being the official cause of death. Others have speculated that he was murdered, as Tacitus notes in Book III, XV:
“After being carried home, he wrote a little, apparently notes for his defense the next day; sealed the paper, and handed it to a freedman. Then he gave the usual attention to his person; and finally, late at night, when his wife had left the bedroom, he ordered the door to be closed, and was found at daybreak with his throat cut and a sword lying on the floor.”
Rumors swirled that the emperor himself was involved in the death of Germanicus by employing Piso to poison him. It was then rumored that Tiberius had Piso killed so Piso would not divulge the emperor’s involvement in the death of the beloved general.
While the emperor’s involvement cannot be proven beyond doubt, contemporaries have postulated that Tiberius was jealous of the success and popularity of Germanicus and possibly saw that as a threat to his own reign. They have also speculated that this is why Germanicus was recalled from his campaigns in Germania – ultimate success could have led to Tiberius losing his place as emperor by being deposed or murdered.