persuaded Livilla, the daughter-in-law of the Emperor, to poison her
husband, the heir apparent, and then he divorced his own wife to marry
her. He so maligned Agrippína, the widow of Germanicus and daughter of
Agrippa and Julia, that Tiberius banished her, with her sons Nero and
Drusus. In 26 he induced the Emperor to retire to the island of
Capreae, and he himself became the real master of Rome.

Tiberius at last finding out his true character, Sejánus was arrested
and executed in 31. His body was dragged through the streets, torn in
pieces by the mob, and thrown into the Tiber.


CALIGULA (37-41).

Tiberius having left no son, the Senate recognized Gaius Caesar, son
of Germanicus and Agrippína, grandson of Julia, and great-grandson of
Augustus, as Emperor. He is better known as CALIGULA,--a nickname
given him by the soldiers from the buskins he wore. He was twenty-five
years of age when he began to reign, of weak constitution, and subject
to fits. After squandering his own wealth, he killed rich citizens,
and confiscated their property. He seemed to revel in bloodshed, and
is said to have expressed a wish that the Roman people had but one
neck, that he might slay them all at a blow. He was passionately fond
of adulation, and often repaired to the Capitoline temple in the guise
of a god, and demanded worship. Four years of such a tyrant was
enough. He was murdered by a Tribune of his Praetorian Guard.


THE CLAUDIAN EMPERORS.