Тиберий: третий Цезарь, второй Август…
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Most historians traditionally attribute the turn of Tiberius to political persecution of the families of Agrippina and senators to the name of Seianus — commander of the Praetorian Guard, who enjoyed the complete confidence of the emperor. But an in-depth analysis of the sources does not confirm this opinion. Seianus was only an instrument in Tiberius's hands, sometimes a creative one but an instrument. When Tiberius became suspicious of his striving for excessive independence and got information on Seianus accusing him of preparing a coup d'etat, he quickly cut short the career of his former favourite without remorse. A viewpoint saying that Seianus did not hatch a plot but somebody hatched a plot against Seianus is becoming increasingly popular of late.
Making an assessment of the almost 23-year reign of emperor Tiberius, one cannot but agree that in the light of all known negative events it was, by all means, the most successful reign for the Roman Empire during the entire epoch of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, the first six Roman Caesars.