Druze the Younger

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Drusus Julius Caesar (Latin: Drusus Iulius Caesar; October 7, 14 to. C. – Rome, September 14, AD 23), born as Nero Claudius Drusus (Nero Claudius Drusus), but better known as Druso the Younger (Drusus minor, to distinguish him from his uncle, Drusus the Elder) or Druso II (for distinguish him from both his uncle and his nephew Drusus Caesar), was a Roman politician and general, belonging to the Julio-Claudian dynasty.

Son of the Emperor Tiberius, he was surpassed in the line of imperial succession by his cousin Germanicus, with whom a relationship of conflict but also collaboration was established. After putting down a military revolt in Pannonia in AD 14, he was elected consul for the following year. He lived for a time in the capital and later took the position of governor in Illyric, after the death of Germanicus in 19, which placed Drusus as the sole heir to the Principality. The young man was again elected consul in 21 and tribune of the plebs in 22. His position as heir to the empire made him fall into the sights of the powerful and ambitious praetorian prefect Sejanus, who ended up assassinating him.

Historiographic sources

Joven (Roman National Museum, Rome)

The main historical sources on Drusus the Younger are those of the great Roman imperial chroniclers and biographers: Tacitus, in his Annals, which tells the history of Rome from 14, the year of death of the first emperor, Augustus; Suetonius, who in his Lives of the Twelve Caesars tells the story of the first twelve Roman emperors, including Julius Caesar; Dio Casio, who in his imposing Roman History, presents a chronological tour of all the events that took place from the founding of Rome in 1 B.C. C., until his time, in 229 d. C., covering a period of almost a millennium and Veleyo Patérculo, who in the Historiae romanae ad M. Vinicium libri duo recounts the events related to the ancient world from the fall of Troy to the death of Drusus the young. Also Pliny the Elder in his Naturalis historia, a 37-book treatise on nature, leaves some information about Drusus.

Ancient sources present Drusus as a skillful military commander who knew how to show his intelligence on the most important occasions. However, he was criticized for his worldly life, dotted with vices and banquets, and above all for his cruelty and his enjoyment of bloodshed. So much so that the sharpest swords were called Drusian in his honor.Tiberius often criticized this licentious behavior, both in public and in private.Other negative aspects, which Tacitus especially highlighted, are his arrogance and arrogance. Behind an apparent modesty he hid a cheeky attitude. Thus, pretending to accommodate the requests of the Roman Senate, he then adapted the decisions of the assembly to his own objectives. In addition, his intolerance and impulsiveness often led him into arguments that put him in uncomfortable positions. In any case, Tiberius was very accommodating to his son, allowing him to enjoy pleasure trips in Campania even when this meant offending the senators. Pliny also points us to an anecdote that shows how Drusus led a worldly life, when he followed the advice of the refined gourmet Apicius, instead of acting according to the criteria suggested by his father.

Family origins

Bust of Tiberio, father of Druso menor (Regional archaeological museum Antonio Salinas, Palermo)

Drusus the Younger, born Nero Claudius Drusus, was the eldest son of Tiberius Claudius Nero, who would later become emperor, and Vipsania. His biological father was named after Drusus the Younger's grandfather and was the son of Livia Drusilla, but was adopted by Augustus when he married Livia. Drusus the Younger was therefore the adoptive grandson of Augustus, who in turn had been adopted by Julius Caesar. Thus, according to the founding legend of the gens Julia , he would be a descendant of Julo, son of Aenea and grandson of the goddess Venus.On his paternal side, his uncle was Drusus the Elder. Thus, Drusus the Younger was a cousin of Germanicus and Tiberius Claudius Nero (the future Emperor Claudius), as well as an uncle of Germanicus' sons: Gaius Caesar "Caligula" and Agrippina the Younger, who would be the mother of Emperor Nero.On his mother's side, he was the grandson of Marco Vipsanio Agrippa, a close friend and general of Augustus, and Pomponia Cecilia Attica. His maternal aunt was Agrippina the Elder, who married Germanicus. Thus Caligula and Agrippina the Younger, in addition to being his nephews on the father's side, were also his cousins on the mother's side.

Detail of the Augusto de vía Labicana, which represents the adoptive grandfather of Druso el Joven in the last years of life (Roman National Museum, Rome)

Youth (14 BC-11 AD)

Druso was born on October 7, 17 B.C. C.. he is a member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. According to some historians, the date of his birth should be located in the year 13 a. C., although this data has been denied by more modern historiographical works. In 12 B.C. C., while Vipsania was pregnant with Drusus' younger brother, Augustus forced his parents to divorce because he wanted Tiberius to marry his daughter, Julia the Elder. Tiberius accepted the decision with regret, and Vipsania lost the child. In 6 B.C. C. Tiberius decided to leave Rome to retire to Rhodes, probably disgusted by his wife, with whom relations had been spoiled after the death of their son. Thus, Drusus's father left him alone in Rome with his wife, leaving Ostia without listening to the requests of all those who wanted her to stay.

In 4, when Augustus decided to choose Tiberius as his successor, Drusus's father returned to the political scene. The emperor forced him to adopt his nephew Germanicus, the son of his brother Drusus the Elder, thus putting him in the line of succession to Tiberius's natural son, Drusus the Younger, who was only a year his junior. he changed his name from Nero Claudius Drusus to Drusus Julius Caesar, since he was under the potestas of Tiberius, and married his cousin Claudia Livila, widow of Gaius Caesar. Shortly after his first daughter was born Julia Livia. In 19 they had a set of twins, Tiberius and Germanicus Twin, meanwhile, in 2 he had received the toga virilis and between 7 and 8 he was pontiff.

First commissions and death of Augustus (11 - 14 AD)

Drusus's political career began on the 11th when, at the behest of Augustus, he was appointed quaestor. Two years earlier, Augustus had allowed him to participate in Senate meetings even though he was not yet a senator, perhaps encouraged by military successes from his father Tiberius. In the year 13, he was made a permanent member of the senate select committee that Augustus had created to deal with the daily problems of the assembly.

That same year, Augustus allowed him to participate in the competition for the position of consul, even without having held the position of praetor. In the month of May 14, he was appointed a member of the brotherhood of the Brothers Arvales and in August, when Augustus died, Drusus read in public the four books containing the Emperor's wishes about his own funeral, about the decoration of his mausoleum and about his administration, in addition to the last instructions to the powers assigned to Tiberius and the people. Furthermore, during the funerals, in which Germanicus did not participate because he was busy in Gaul, Drusus delivered a eulogy for his grandfather from the rostra. In the will left by the Emperor, Drusus was designated as the second degree heir, along with Germanicus, son of Drusus the Elder.

Bust of Druso el Joven (National Archaeological Museum of Spain, Madrid)

The rebellion in Pannonia (AD 14)

During that same year, in Pannonia there was a violent military uprising by the legions VIII Augusta, VIIII Hispana and XV Apollinaris, led by the legate Quinto Junio Bleso. To calm the protesters, Tiberius decided to send his son Drusus to the region as legate, flanked by two Praetorian cohorts, despite the fact that he had little or no military experience. To advise him, he sent the Praetorian prefect Lucius Aelius Sejanus, who had much influence with Tiberius. Once in Pannonia, Drusus entered the camp of the rebels, and read the message that his father had given him, which said that:

... (Tiberius) carried in the heart his legions, with which he had fought in numerous wars; as soon as his spirit had been ripped from mourning, he would deal with his demands in the Senate. Meanwhile, he had sent his son to agree without delay all that could be given immediately. The rest of the concessions should be requested to the Senate, to which it was not correct to deny the power to grant or deny favors
Tacitus, Anals I, 25

Centurion Julio Clemente was in charge of responding to the imperial message. He began by asking for leave at sixteen instead of twenty, an end-of-service allowance, a denarius a day as salary, and that veterans should never again be placed under the flag. The answer was that Drusus had no power. to respond to the requests and that he would have to consult the Senate, which generated many doubts in the soldiers who did not understand what the Prince's son had come to if he did not have powers.

Little Druze Bust (Louvre Museum, Paris)

The rebels then began to threaten the Praetorians and other Imperial delegates, especially Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Augur, who was considered the least likely to accept the legionaries' claims. As Lentulus returned to Drusus's camp, was captured in an ambush, stoned and seriously injured, managing to save himself only thanks to the soldiers who ran to his aid. During that night there was a lunar eclipse, an event that the rebel soldiers interpreted as a sign of death, and began to beg the gods with trunks and horns for mercy. Meanwhile, Drusus decided to summon his advisers to his camp and sent agents to the enemy camp to provoke the distrust of the rioters. Some of the employees asked the Prince's son to send Quintus Junius Blesus, one of the former commanders of the legions and collaborator of Drusus, to Rome; Lucius Aponius, a knight under the command of Drusus, and Justus Catonius, a primipilus centurion. Within Drusus's command, a discussion began between those who wanted to wait for orders from Rome, and those who wanted to act immediately. Drusus decided to act: he had the insurgent leaders Percennius and Vibulenus killed, and then began to hunt down the other rebels. Some were killed by the centurions and Praetorians, while others were handed over by his own soldiers, like a sign of loyalty to the Emperor. The VIII and XV Legions surrendered, while the VIIII insisted on waiting for Tiberius' decision. However, after the surrender of the other legions, the legionaries of the VIIII had to give in and the rebellion was put down. Drusus decided to return to Rome without waiting for the arrival of the legates.

Meanwhile, Germanicus, too, had been driven away from Rome by a rebellion in Germany. The expedition was successful, and Tiberius praised the triumph of both sons in the Senate.

Bust of Germánico, adoptive brother of Druso el Joven (Roman National Museum)

The first consulate and the period as governor of Illyricum (15 - 20 AD)

In the year 15 he became consul for the first time together with Cayo Norbano Flaco and became part of the Sodales Augustales. He commissioned the direction of the gladiator show in honor of his half-brother, which would be remembered as games full of bloodshed and cruelty, to the point that the people were horrified and Tiberius was forced to reprimand his son. In those years a strong division began to establish itself at court between supporters of Drusus and those of Germanicus. Tiberius feared the popularity of his adopted son while trying to favor his biological son. Instead, many of the nobles looked askance at the origins of Drusus and his wife, who compared to those of Germanicus and Agrippina, were considered humble. The two brothers, however, had a good relationship and remained indifferent to those disputes.

In 17, Drusus was sent as governor of Illyricum to gain military experience and to curry favor with the army. Tiberius decided to send his son there to take him away from the comfort of the city and to secure both sons loyal legions to them, using as a pretext the conflicts between the Germanic tribes of the Cherusci and the Suevi. Furthermore, since the emperor was transforming Illyric into two provinces, Dalmatia and Pannonia, Drusus had been sent to organize the administration of the new provinces. While Drusus and Germanicus were still in Rome, the praetor Vipstano Gallo died. Both wanted to favor Decimus Haterius Agrippa, a relative of theirs. The law required, however, that the number of children prevail, and many of the senators opposed Agrippa. Ultimately, Tiberius decided to ignore the law, and Agrippa was elected by a slim majority.

Drusus marched as governor to Illyricum, accompanied by his wife Livilla. At the end of the year, he was visited by Germanicus, who was in Dalmatia. Shortly thereafter, Germanicus became consul, although he did not go to Rome but instead He dedicated himself to visiting different provinces. In 19 d. C., Druso began to acquire military glory for leading the Germans to an extreme situation by interfering in their internal conflicts. The powerful Marboman king Marbod was ousted by his rival Catualda, supported by the Goths and corrupt Marcoman chiefs, and had to ask for the help of Tiberius. The Romans welcomed Marbod in Ravenna, but in the meantime, Catualda too was overthrown by Vibilio, the chief of the Hermunduros, and was welcomed in Forum Iulii, in Gaul Narbonensis. Armenia of King Artaxias, favored by Germanicus, decreed that the brothers, that is, Germanicus and Drusus, deserved the honor of an ovation.

While Germanicus was still in Antioch in Syria, he presented the symptoms of a violent illness, and a few days later, on October 10, he died. Suspicion fell on the hated Tiberius and his envoy to Syria, Gnaeus Calpurnius. Piso, considered the material author of the poisoning. When the remains of Germanicus arrived in Italy in the spring of 20, disembarking in Brindisi, Drusus, along with Claudius and the sons of Germanicus who were in Rome, went out to meet the funeral procession and joined him at Terracina.

After the mourning period ended, Drusus had to return to Illyricum. Meanwhile, in Rome, everyone awaited to know the fate of Piso, who was still in Asia Minor. Piso, who feared for his future, sent his own son to the capital, while he himself sought refuge in the territory controlled by Drusus, because he thought that he would be happy about the death of his rival. Drusus, however, replied to Piso that if the rumors about his participation in the murder turned out to be true, which he did not want, he would be ruthless against him. Piso returned to Rome together with his wife Plancina to stand trial for the death of Germanicus. Drusus followed soon after, adjourning the standing ovation ceremony approved by the Senate. Piso's trial began and the defendant, convinced that he would be convicted, chose suicide rather than undergo the death penalty. Drusus, out of court city to renew the auspices, he returned on May 28 to receive an ovation. A couple of days later, Drusus's mother, Vipsania, died, making her the only daughter of Agrippa to die a natural death, it is probably to this period that his entry into the college of augurs dates back.

Bust of Tiberius, father of Druso el Joven (Römisch-Germanisches Museum, Cologne)

Heir to the Principality (AD 20-22)

In 21 Drusus again assumed the position of consul and at the beginning of the year Tiberius, his partner in the consulate, decided to go live in Campania, in Nola, to accustom his son to exercising consular functions by himself. However, the motivations for Tiberus's retirement to Campania are questioned by other authors. In addition, Cassius Dio points out that the new position of consul was seen as a bad omen for Drusus since all the previous companions of Tiberius in the consulate (Publius Quintilius Varus, Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso and Germanicus) had met a violent death. In any case, Drusus took advantage of the occasion to gain experience and win favors, intervening in disputes between senators in a calm manner. What the heir to the throne had to face was the use of the Prince's image to protect himself from crimes: more specifically, the case dealt with a senator, Gaio Cestio, who accused a woman, Annia Rufilla, of having have used the image of the Emperor to protect themselves from the accusation of fraud. Other senators complained that even slaves used this method and, consequently, asked the consul for an exemplary punishment: Drusus, after verifying Rufilla's guilt, sent her to jail.

At that time a rebellion had broken out in Gaul that Tiberius wanted to have suppressed under his direct command, although he was still in Campania. The Senate was informed only when the war was over and the Prince explained the fact that none of the two consuls would have participated by stating that it was not necessary for the princes to leave Rome just to put down a rebellion. Towards the end of the year the poet Clutorio Priscus was accused. The poet, after having composed a carmen for Germanicus's funerals, had composed another for Drusus's, taking advantage of the fact that Drusus was ill, hoping to make a profit. The designated consul Tenth Haterius Agrippa proposed capital punishment for Priscus. Only a few were in favor of the poet, who was eventually imprisoned and promptly executed.

Bust of Druso el Joven (Ethnological and Archaeological Museum, Córdoba)

In 22 Tiberius petitioned the Senate for tribunicia potestas for Drusus, a power that since the time of Augustus had been reserved for the emperor or his designated successor. Indeed, while Germanicus was still alive, Tiberius he had kept the election suspended, but after the death of his adopted son, Drusus was his only remaining heir. to the gods. Marcus Junius Silano also suggested that, instead of the names of the consuls, those of the tribunes be used to indicate the date, without his proposal being successful among the senators. Tiberius, however, wanted that the claims of the ceremonies were lowered, and Drusus, who in the meantime had gone to meet his father in the Campania region, sent a letter to the Senate in which he expressed all his thanks. This fact was considered an insult to the importance of the position that had been attributed to him, and many began to challenge the ways of Drusus, who, still very young, was being educated to dedicate himself only to his pleasures and not to appear even to receive the State's highest honors.

Fall and death (23)

In 23 AD the great decline of the Julio-Claudian family began: in fact, the praetorian prefect Lucius Aelius Sejanus began to advance his political positions to be designated heir to the empire. He increased his powers as praetorian prefect to put under his direct command all the cohorts present in Rome and having the ability to appoint centurions and tribunes for himself. However, the imperial family was full of heirs (Drusus the Younger was the direct successor, but in addition there were his twins, and the three sons of Germanicus), who hindered the prefect's ambition. For this reason, Sejanus decided to start by eliminating the most dangerous of his rivals: Drusus. This mutual hatred between himself and the Prince's son was fueled by a dispute in which Drusus, with an impulsive temperament, had slapped Sejanus across the face.

Minor Druze Bust (Saint-Raymond Museum, Toulouse)

The prefect, after analyzing the risks, decided to attack Drusus through his wife Livilla, who was also the sister of Germanicus, and, pretending to be madly in love, dragged her into adultery and turned her against his husband. Sejanus, moreover, was able to get even closer to Tiberius, until he became his personal adviser, something that Drusus frequently complained to his father about. In addition, every thought and secret that the heir deposited in his woman, now disgraced, ended up being spread. Sejanus decided to poison Drusus with a slow-acting poison to make it look like a disease. The poison was administered by the freedman Ligdo, one of Drusus's favorite slaves, who seems to that Sejanus had involved through rape. Drusus died on September 14, 23.

Tiberius thought that the son had died because of his vices but still felt immense pain. However, he continued to appear in the Senate and the deceased received the same honors that had been granted to Germanicus. The funeral was pompous and the procession full of images of the ancestors, from Aeneas and Romulus to the Claudians. Drusus was buried in Augustus' mausoleum along with his brother Germanicus. Drusus's death, however, caused nothing more than feigned grief, as everyone was happy that the dynasty of the beloved Germanicus was once again flourishing. Sejanus, seeing that no investigations into the young man's death had been carried out, he decided to continue his crimes, especially after the fact that Agrippina, Germanicus's wife, barely concealed her joy at the new position of her children in the line of succession. That same year, one of Drusus and Livilla's twins, Germanicus, also died.

Druso el Joven, along with Augusto and Julo, the founder of the Gens Julia (Detail of the Great Cammeo of France, Cabinet des médailles, Paris)

Sejanus, before falling from grace, was able to kill Agrippina and her two eldest sons, Nero and Drusus, sending them into exile or starvation. Details of Drusus's death were discovered only eight years later thanks to Sejanus's wife, Apicata, who confessed everything and had the freedmen Ligdo and Eudemus, who was Livilla's personal doctor, tortured. Suetonius pointed out that Tiberius let Sejanus kill Drusus and the lineage of Germanicus to facilitate the accession to the throne of his biological grandson, Drusus's son Tiberius Twin.