The Succession Plans of Augustus and Tiberius

Abstract

This thesis examines the role of Tiberius in Augustus' succession plan. Tiberius was important because he became emperor after Augustus' death at Nola in AD 14. Augustus wanted a direct family heir, someone of Julian descent, to succeed him. In order to achieve and ensure this goal would be carried out even in the event of his death he created a succession plan that had to be revised several times throughout his life because of unfortunate deaths. Augustus did not consider the fact that Tiberius had dynastic concerns of his own. As Augustus' succession plan evolved it included and affected Tiberius' own dynastic concerns.