ANCIENT HISTORY ESSAY: JULIO CLAUDIANS; The Army held an increasing amount of influential power over each of the Julio-Claudian Emperors’; the army was the base of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. The Principate was founded on the practice of maius imperium, supreme military potestas (power). Soldiers swore an …show more content…
This is conveyed when Tiberius reduced his role when he retired to Capri – therefore determining that the princeps did not have to be based in Rome to rule-, assigning much of his power over to the Praetorian Guard Prefect Sejanus, who, Tacitus records Tiberius could speak “freely and unguardedly” with Sejanus regarding him as “the partner in my labours.” Ibid justifies what Tacitus is saying by “Tiberius believed him disinterested and listened trustingly to his advice, however disastrous”. Tiberius’ role is severely reduced during his time in Capri, as Sejanus was responsible for all communication between the Senate and the Princeps, much of which he intercepted as a means of corrupting the emperor so he could become Princeps, this is identified by Tacitus who suggests that “the ambitious Sejanus had his eyes on the Principate.” However Sejanus’ plans were discovered, the Praetorian Guard had grown more powerful in the absence of Tiberius from Rome, comprehends how influentially powerful the army has become in such a short amount of