Tiberius (Hardback)

History has not been kind to the memory of Tiberius Caesar (42 BC-AD 37), second emperor of the Romans. His reputation for capable generalship and sensible civic leadership are marred by reports of cruelty, treason trials and sexual depravity. Some historians have described him as a ‘tyrant’ or even a ‘monster’. But does he deserve this negative appraisal?

In TIBERIUS, Lindsay Powell presents a fresh and penetrating reassessment of the life and legacy of the extraordinary man handpicked by Augustus to succeed him. He shows that Tiberius was the right man for the job, at the right time.

Tiberius built upon the innovations of Augustus by bolstering the Roman Commonwealth’s institutions and reining in its expenditures. He used his proven leadership skills in military and diplomatic affairs to avoid war whenever possible. A no-nonsense disciplinarian willing to eschew popularity for the good of the Res Publica, he respected the Senate’s independence, recruited competent public administrators, rooted out malpractice in provincial government, and was generous to communities blighted by disaster.

TIBERIUS examines the known facts of the personal and professional life of this controversial emperor. He was a soldier, a poet, a collector of art and an astrologer. Lindsay Powell explores how he dealt with success, disappointment and loss, all while under the unrelenting pressure of serving Augustus, and then carrying out his ultimate duty by ruling the empire in his own right.

Descended from a famous family, his standing has been undermined by his infamous appointees: right-hand man, Aelius Sejanus, who betrayed him; prefect of Judaea, Pontius Pilatus, who crucified Jesus of Nazareth; and his successor, Caius, better known as Caligula. Yet, when he died of old age (or was he murdered?), he left the Roman Empire both stronger and at peace.

Meticulously researched, TIBERIUS is lucidly written by the author of the acclaimed biographies Germanicus and Marcus Agrippa.

With a foreword specially written by Dr Penelope J. Goodman, University of Leeds, TIBERIUS is lavishly illustrated with 93 illustrations and 17 maps.


Praise for Tiberius:

“A masterly re-assessment of Tiberius Caesar, whose status as one of Rome’s greatest and most consequential emperors Lindsay Powell here convincingly demonstrates.”
— Tom Holland, co-presenter of The Rest is History podcast and translator of Suetonius The Lives of the Caesars

“If you think we live in an age of political intrigue now, this splendid book on Tiberius, by Lindsay Powell, will prove that politicians of our age are rank amateurs compared to those of Ancient Rome. Powell challenges the myths and reveals the real man that Tiberius was behind the imperial mask.”
— Dr W.F. Strong, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and author of Stories from Texas: Some of Them Are True

“The latest installment in Powell's series of outstanding studies of the Julio-Claudians, this biography of Tiberius provides a balanced, and insightful chronological account of the controversial emperor. Additionally, it brilliantly contextualizes his reign by offering a detailed analysis of two often-ignored topics: the fifty formative years of Tiberius' life prior to becoming emperor, and the "cultural afterlife" of Tiberius — how his image and history have been presented (and frequently mis-represented) by later eras. As always, Powell demonstrates complete mastery of both the ancient sources and modern scholarship, yet presents all this erudition in a clear, accessible, and entertaining narrative style.”
— Dr Gregory S. Aldrete, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and author of Ancient Rome on the Silver Screen

“Admirably thorough, scholarly and addictively readable, Powell's shining biography takes us beneath the skin of a notorious yet highly complex man. An essential read for anyone who hopes to understand the machinations and power-play of Rome's first imperial dynasty.”
— Dr Daisy Dunn, Author of The Missing Thread

"Powell's Tiberius offers a fresh, fascinating, and much-needed new account of the life of a key figure in Roman Imperial history. Powell has given us a valuable new insight into the world of early Imperial Rome, and onto an emperor whose importance to the empire is so often overlooked. The book does not shy away from addressing the more controversial elements of Tiberius' reign, looking for the truth behind the ancient rumours, while also demonstrating that there was far more to Rome's second emperor than his detractors claimed."
— Dr Joanne Ball, University of Liverpool and author of Publius Quinctilius Varus

“With Tiberius, Lindsay Powell has produced yet another triumph of ancient world scholarship. The life of Rome's second emperor is presented in fascinating detail, together with his equally interesting afterlife, as seen in the eyes of posterity.
Tiberius's pivotal reign, coming immediately after that of the first emperor, Augustus, ensured that the principate would not be a mere transitory phase. Instead, it solidified the hold of the Caesars on political power. The Republic was gone forever, and the Rome of the emperors had irrevocably taken its place.”
— Marc DeSantis, author of Rome Seizes the Trident

“Powell is a top-notch military historian whose work on ancient military strategy I've been following for years. His own biography of Tiberius is about to get released and promises to be a must-read."
— Dr Iskander Rehman, Senior Political Scientist at the RAND Corporation, author of Iron Imperator: Roman Grand Strategy Under Tiberius