Tiberius, a not so popular emperor Quiz

Answer: Tiberius Claudius Nero

Tiberius was born in the Claudian gens and was the son of Tiberius Claudius Nero. Augustus became his stepfather when he married, Tiberius' mother, Livia. Neither Sextus Pompey nor Mark Antony were any relation to Tiberius.

Answer: Twice

Tiberius was married twice, first to the love of his life, Vipsania, and then to Julia the Elder, daughter of Augustus. Tiberius descended into misanthropy after he was forced by Augustus to divorce Vipsania for state reasons and marry his daughter, Julia. The marriage to Julia was an unhappy one, and later she was exiled for adultery. He never remarried after that.

Answer: Germanicus

Augustus induced Tiberius to adopt Germanicus, son of Drusus the Elder and Antonia the Minor. He undoubtedly saw Germanicus as a potential heir to the throne upon the demise of Tiberius. Cestius Gallus had no part in this arrangement, and Tiberius never adopted Caligula, he merely left him in his will as an heir to spite Rome.

Answer: He kept them in office for a long time

Tiberius was known for keeping governors in office for long periods of time. There were no fixed salaries for governors, and weekly reports would be impractical, considering how long it would take a courier from the provinces to Rome. Tiberius could be strict about who married into the imperial family, but he did not limit these appointments to members of the imperial family. For one thing, he didn't think that much of his family members.

Answer: Herod Agrippa

Herod Agrippa was imprisoned for remarks about Tiberius which he considered disparaging. Herod Antipas was deposed towards the end of Tiberius' reign, but he was not imprisoned. Aretas was king of Nabataea, who declared war on Herod Antipas for slighting his daughter. Antipas was engaged to marry Aretas' daughter, but he fell in love with Herodias, and he sent Aretas' daughter back to Nabataea.

He could hardly have imprisoned Cleopatra since he was only twelve years old when Cleopatra died.

Answer: The Danube

Tiberius led several campaigns in Germany before he became emperor. He was leading an expedition in the Alps when he discovered the source of the Danube River. The Danube arises in the Black Forest in Germany.

Answer: Tacitus

The other historians also wrote histories of Tiberius, but Tacitus wrote the most detailed account. The first six chapters of Tacitus' Annals are devoted to the reign of Tiberius.

Answer: Jesus Christ

Tiberius reigned from 14 to 37 AD, and the ministry of Jesus Christ took place during his reign. Paul of Tarsus was executed in the reign of Nero, Caiaphas was the high priest responsible for the condemnation and crucifixion of Jesus, and he was deposed later in Tiberius' reign, but was not executed. Rabbi Gamaliel flourished during this time and was a key figure in the rabbinical school in Jerusalem.

Answer: Crassus

Marcus Licinius Crassus lost Roman standards to the Parthians in 53 BC at the Battle of Carrhae.

Answer: Vipsania and Drusus the Elder

Without a doubt, Tiberius deeply loved Vipsania, his first wife, and Drusus the Elder, his brother. He was not particularly close to either his mother, Livia, or Augustus. He had a low opinion of Claudius, and although he left Caligula and Tiberius Gemellus as his heirs in his will, he was not truly fond of Caligula. It is thought that he wished to spite Rome by naming Caligula.