Tiberius

Tiberius Claudius Nero Caesar (November 16, 42 BC - March 16, AD 37), Roman emperor AD 14 - 37. Second emperor of what is usually identified as the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Tiberius was by birth a Claudian -- son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia -- and was the adopted heir of Augustus, who was a Julian. The subsequent emperors who were related in varying degrees to both families through Nero were members of this blended dynasty.

Tiberius received his position through his mother, who was Augustus's second wife. In pursuance of their family policy, he was compelled by politics to divorce his first wife, Vipsania, daughter of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, and marry Julia, daughter of Augustus (and, thus, his own step-sister), but that marriage failed.

Tiberius spent much of the latter part of his reign in self-exile on the island of Capri[?]. The city of Rome was controlled in his place by Sejanus.

In the Bible, Tiberius is mentioned by name only once, in Luke 3:1 (stating that John the Baptist entered on his public ministry in the fifteenth year of his reign). However, since it was during his reign that Jesus Christ preached, many references to Caesar ( or the emperor in some other translations), without further specification, actually refer to Tiberius.

The town Tiberias on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee was named in Tiberius's honour by Herod Antipas[?].

See Also: Roman Emperors, Julio-Claudian Family Tree

Preceded by: Augustus

Roman emperors

Followed by: Caligula