Sejanus
Se-ja'nus, [Fr. Sejan, sa'zho\',| (Lucius /Elius,)
a celebrated Roman courtier and favourite of the emperor
Tiberius, was born at Vulsinii, in Etruria. He rose through
various promotions to be commander-inchief
of the praetorian cohorts, and, aiming at the imperial
power, soon after effected the death of Drusus, son
of the emperor, by poison, in 23 A.D., having previously
seduced Livia, the wife of Drusus, and made her an
accomplice in his crime. With a view of obtaining the
sole direction of public affairs, he induced Tiberius to
retire to the island of Caprex, and subsequently caused
Agrippina, the widow of Germanicus, and her sons, to be
put to death. The emperor, aroused at length to suspicion,
deprived Sejanus of his office, and ordered him
to be arrested and executed, 31 a.d.
See Tacitus, "Annales;" J. Arrhenius,
"
Dissertatio de Sejano,"
1696; Merivale, "The Romans under the Empire."
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Lucius Aelius Seianus (20 BC – October 18, AD 31), commonly
known as Sejanus, was an ambitious soldier, friend and
confidant of the Roman Emperor Tiberius. An equestrian by
birth, Sejanus rose to power as prefect of the Roman
imperial bodyguard, known as the Praetorian Guard, of which
he was commander from AD 14 until his death in 31.
While the Praetorian Guard was formally established under
Emperor Augustus, Sejanus introduced a number of reforms
which saw the unit evolve beyond a mere bodyguard into a
powerful and influential branch of the government involved
in public security, civil administration, and ultimately
political intercession; changes which would have a lasting
impact on the course of the Principate.
During the 20s, Sejanus gradually accumulated power by
consolidating his influence over Tiberius and eliminating
potential political opponents, including the emperor's son,
Drusus Julius Caesar. When Tiberius withdrew to Capri in 26,
Sejanus was left in control of the entire state mechanism as
de facto ruler of the empire. For a time the most
influential and feared citizen of Rome, Sejanus suddenly
fell from power in 31, the year his career culminated with
the consulship. Amidst suspicions of conspiracy against
Tiberius, Sejanus was arrested and executed, along with his
followers...
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Aelius. A Roman statesman, born at Vulsinii in Etruria. He was the son of Seius Strabo, who was commander of the praetorian troops at
the close of the reign of Augustus, A.D. 14 (Tac. Ann. iv. 1). In the same year Seianus was made the colleague of his father in the
command of the praetorian bands; and upon his father being sent as governor to Egypt, he obtained the sole command of these troops. He
ultimately gained such influence over Tiberius that this suspicious man, who was close and reserved to all mankind, opened his bosom to
Seianus, and made him his confidant. For many years he governed Tiberius; but, not content with this high position, he formed the design
of obtaining the imperial power. With this view he sought to make himself popular with the soldiers, and gave posts of honour and
emolument to his creatures and favourites. With the same object he resolved to get rid of all the members of the imperial family. He
debauched Livia, the wife of Drusus, the son of Tiberius; and by promising her marriage and a participation in the imperial power, he
was enabled to poison Drusus with her connivance and assistance (A.D. 23). An accident increased the credit of Seianus, and confirmed
the confidence of Tiberius. The emperor, with Seianus and others, was feasting in a natural cave, between Amyclae, which was on the
seacoast, and the hills of Fundi. The entrance of the cave suddenly fell in and crushed some of the slaves; and all the guests, in
alarm, tried to make their escape. Seianus, resting his knees on the couch of Tiberius, and placing his shoulders under the falling
rock, protected his master, and was discovered in this posture by the soldiers who came to their relief. After Tiberius had shut himself
up in the island of Capreae, Seianus had full scope for his machinations; and the death of Livia, the mother of Tiberius (A.D. 29), was
followed by the banishment of Agrippina and her sons Nero and Drusus. Tiberius at last began to suspect the designs of Seianus, and felt
that it was time to rid himself of a man who was almost more than a rival. To cover his schemes and remove Seianus from about him,
Tiberius made him joint consul with himself in A.D. 31. He then sent Sertorius Macro to Rome with a commission to take the command of
the praetorian cohorts. Macro, after assuring himself of the troops, and depriving Seianus of his usual guard, produced a letter from
Tiberius to the Senate, in which the emperor expressed his apprehensions of Seianus. The consul Regulus conducted him to prison, and the
people loaded him with insult and outrage. The Senate on the same day decreed his death, and he was immediately executed. His body was
dragged about the streets and finally thrown into the Tiber. Many of the friends of Seianus perished at the same time, and his son and
daughter shared his fate (Tac. Ann. iv. 41-59, 74; v. 6-9; Suet. Tib.; Dio Cass. lvii., lviii.; Juv.x. 65-86). The story of Seianus is
the subject of a play by Ben Jonson, entitled Sejanus, produced in 1603. See Tiberius.
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