# Tiberius — The Lives of the Caesars character guide > Tiberius in The Lives of the Caesars by Suetonius. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Tiberius Nero, Nero, Tiberius Claudius Drusus, Claudius, Drusus, Tiberius Claudius Nero, Caesar Tiberius **First appearance:** 0002-book-iii-tiberius ## Who they are A soldier of grim discipline and deeper suspicion, Tiberius ruled Rome while trusting almost no one, least of all the family circling his throne. ## Relationships ### [Augustus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/characters/augustus) _family_ Augustus adopted Tiberius as his son and heir, but their relationship was strained by Augustus's insistence on Tiberius divorcing his wife to marry Julia. ### [Claudius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/characters/claudius) _family_ Claudius was Tiberius's nephew, and Tiberius treated him with contempt, denying him any significant public honors. ### [Caligula](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/characters/caligula) _family_ Caligula was Tiberius's grandnephew and adopted grandson, and Tiberius raised him on Capri, but Caligula later despised him. ### [Galba](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/characters/galba) _professional_ Galba served under Tiberius as a general and governor, earning a reputation for competence but not personal closeness. ### [Otho](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/characters/otho) _professional_ Otho served as a courtier under Tiberius, but their relationship was distant and formal, with Otho later rebelling against Tiberius's successor. ### [Drusus Nero](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/characters/drusus_nero) _family_ Drusus Nero was Tiberius's younger brother, and Tiberius deeply mourned his death, though some sources suggest underlying rivalry. ### [Augustus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/characters/augustus) _family_ Augustus adopted Tiberius as his son and heir, but their relationship was strained by Augustus's insistence on Tiberius divorcing his wife to marry Julia. ### [Caligula](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/characters/caligula) _family_ Caligula was Tiberius's grandnephew and adopted grandson, and Tiberius raised him on Capri, but Caligula later despised him. ### [Augustus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/characters/augustus) _family_ Augustus adopted Tiberius as his son and heir, but their relationship was strained by Augustus's insistence on Tiberius divorcing his wife to marry Julia. ### [Drusus Nero](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/characters/drusus_nero) _family_ Drusus Nero was Tiberius's younger brother, and Tiberius deeply mourned his death, though some sources suggest underlying rivalry. ### [Galba](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/characters/galba) _professional_ Galba served under Tiberius as a general and governor, earning a reputation for competence but not personal closeness. ## In the story ### [Book III: Tiberius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/book-iii-tiberius) Central figure of the chapter; his adoption by Augustus, rise to power, and cruel reign are detailed. ### [Book IV: Gaius Caligula](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/book-iv-gaius-caligula) Germanicus's adoptive father and predecessor to Caligula; suspected of poisoning Germanicus and whose amassed fortune of 2,700,000,000 sesterces was squandered by Caligula. ### [Book V: The Deified Claudius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/book-v-the-deified-claudius) The subject of the chapter; his birth, childhood, censorship, British campaign, and personal foibles are detailed. ### [Book VI: Nero](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/book-vi-nero) Born at Antium nine months after Tiberius' death; his father Domitius regarded him as an abomination; later became emperor and adopted by Claudius. ### [Book VI: Nero](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/book-vi-nero) Uncle of Gaius Caesar, later emperor, who adopted Nero; initially a laughingstock at court. ### [Book VI: Nero](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/book-vi-nero) Nero was born nine months after Tiberius' death; his death allowed Nero's father to escape treason charges. ### [Book VII: Galba—Otho—Vitellius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/book-vii-galba-otho-vitellius) Tiberius, when he heard that Galba was destined to be emperor but in his old age, said: 'Well, let him live then, since that does not concern me.' He reduced Livia's bequest to Galba from fifty million sesterces to five hundred thousand. ### [Book VII: Galba—Otho—Vitellius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/book-vii-galba-otho-vitellius) Nero's father, Lucius Domitius, was succeeded by Galba in a consulship. Vitellius made funerary offerings to Nero and openly urged a flute-player to render something from Nero's book. ### [Galba](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/galba) Tiberius commented on Galba's destined but late emperorship, and later reduced his inheritance from Livia. ### [Galba](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/galba) Nero's reign preceded Galba's; Galba revoked Nero's grants and punished his supporters. ### [Otho](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/otho) Emperor whose favor Otho cultivated; Otho was privy to Nero's plans, including the murder of his mother, and was banished after a rivalry over Poppaea Sabina. ### [Otho](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/otho) Emperor who was so fond of Otho's father Lucius that many believed Lucius was Tiberius's son. ### [Otho](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/otho) Emperor who praised Otho's father for his loyalty and enrolled him among the patricians. ### [Vitellius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/vitellius) Referenced in connection with the deposition of senators and the environment of Capreae where Vitellius spent his youth. ### [Vitellius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/vitellius) Vitellius won his intimacy through a passion for dice; Lucius Vitellius served as censor and bore charge of the empire during Claudius's British expedition. ### [Vitellius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/vitellius) Vitellius was dear to Nero for his service in allowing Nero to compete in the Neronia. ### [Book VIII: The Deified Vespasian—The Deified Titus—Domitian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/book-viii-the-deified-vespasian-the-deified-titus-domitian) Emperor who sent Vespasian to Germany and Britain, and under whom Vespasian served. ### [Book VIII: The Deified Vespasian—The Deified Titus—Domitian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/book-viii-the-deified-vespasian-the-deified-titus-domitian) Emperor during whose reign Vespasian was banished from court and later given command in Judaea. ### [The Deified Vespasian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/the-deified-vespasian) Emperor under whom Vespasian served in Germany and Britain; appointed Vespasian to command a legion through Narcissus. ### [The Deified Vespasian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/the-deified-vespasian) Emperor whose favor Vespasian lost by falling asleep during his performances; later Vespasian was sent to Judaea under Nero's reign. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/endnotes) Referenced in notes about his reign, the great fire, and his statue. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/endnotes) Mentioned in notes about his policies, building projects, and reign. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/characters/tiberius - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/characters