![]() ![]() ![]() Germanicus was a key figure in the Julio-Claudian dynasty of the early Roman Empire. His maternal grandparents were the triumvir Mark Antony and Augustus' sister Octavia Minor. His paternal grandmother was Livia, who had divorced his grandfather, Tiberius Claudius Nero, around 24 years before Germanicus' birth, and who was the widow of the late emperor Augustus. Germanicus was born in Rome on 24 May 15 BC to Nero Claudius Drusus and Antonia Minor and had two younger siblings: a sister, Livilla and a brother, Claudius. ![]() Germanicus is the toddler holding Antonia Minor's hand. ![]() House and early life Īra Pacis: processional frieze showing members of the Imperial household (south face). Upon Germanicus' adoption into the Julii, his brother Claudius became the sole legal representative of his father, inheriting the agnomen "Germanicus" as the new head of the family. In accordance with Roman naming conventions, he adopted the name "Julius Caesar" while retaining his agnomen, becoming Germanicus Julius Caesar. As a result, Germanicus was adopted out of the Gens Claudia and into that of the Gens Julia. By AD 4 he was adopted as Tiberius' son and heir. He took the agnomen (nickname) "Germanicus", awarded posthumously to his father in honor of his victories in Germania, at which point he nominally became head of the family in 9 BC. Some historians such as Iosif Constantin Drăgan believe he may have been named Decimus Claudius Nero or Decimus Claudius Drusus at his Dies lustricus, since his father's praenomen at birth was " Decimus". Germanicus's praenomen (personal name) at birth is unknown, but he was probably named Nero Claudius Drusus after his father (conventionally called "Drusus"), or possibly Tiberius Claudius Nero after his uncle. To the Roman people, Germanicus was the Roman equivalent of Alexander the Great due to the nature of his death at a young age, his virtuous character, his dashing physique, and his military renown. As a famous general, he was widely popular and regarded as the ideal Roman long after his death. His death has been attributed to poison by ancient sources, but that was never proven. During their feud, Germanicus became ill in Antioch and died on 10 October AD 19. While in the eastern provinces, he came into conflict with the governor of Syria, Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso. In AD 17, he returned to Rome, where he received a triumph before leaving to reorganize the provinces of Asia Minor, whereby he incorporated the provinces of Cappadocia and Commagene in AD 18. He avenged the Roman Empire's defeat in the Teutoburg Forest and retrieved two of the three legionary eagles that had been lost during the battle. From there he commanded eight legions, about one-third of the entire Roman army at the time, which he led against the Germanic tribes in his campaigns from AD 14 to 16. The year after, he was made proconsul of Germania Inferior, Germania Superior, and all of Gaul. He held that office until AD 11, and was elected consul for the first time in AD 12. He was also the father of Caligula, the maternal grandfather of Nero, and the older brother of Claudius.ĭuring the reign of Augustus, Germanicus enjoyed an accelerated political career as the heir of the emperor's heir, entering the office of quaestor five years before the legal age in AD 7. His connection to the Julii Caesares was further consolidated through a marriage between him and Agrippina the Elder, a granddaughter of Augustus. As a result, Germanicus became an official member of the gens Julia, another prominent family, to which he was related on his mother's side. In AD 4 he was adopted by his paternal uncle Tiberius, who succeeded Augustus as Roman emperor a decade later. The agnomen Germanicus was added to his full name in 9 BC when it was posthumously awarded to his father in honor of his victories in Germania. The son of Nero Claudius Drusus and Antonia the Younger, Germanicus was born into an influential branch of the patrician gens Claudia. Germanicus Julius Caesar (24 May 15 BC – 10 October AD 19) was an ancient Roman general and politician most famously known for his campaigns in Germania. ![]()
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