racter is made specially prominent by
ancient historians; but their statements are beginning to be taken with
much allowance.

After a reign of twenty-three years, Tiberius died, either in a fainting
fit or from violence, at the age of seventy-nine.

LIVIA, the mother of Tiberius, deserves more than a passing notice. She
exercised almost a boundless influence on her husband, Augustus. She
had great ambition, and was very cruel and unscrupulous. She managed
to ruin, one after another, the large circle of relatives of Augustus,
until finally the aged Emperor found himself alone in the palace with
Livia and her son, Tiberius. All Rome execrated the Empress, and her son
feared and hated her. She survived Augustus fifteen years, and died in
29. Tiberius refused to visit her on her death-bed, and was not present
at her funeral.

SEJANUS was the commander of the Praetorian Guard of Tiberius. He was
trusted fully by the Emperor, but proved to be a deep-dyed rascal. He
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 Agrippina, 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, Sejanus 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 Agrippina, 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.

CLAUDIUS (41-54).