Sejanus - Sejanus in later literature, Reference

Prefect of the Praetorian Guard (14–31), and all-powerful at Rome after the Emperor Tiberius's retirement to Capri (26). He systematically eliminated possible successors to Tiberius, such as Agrippina's sons, so that he himself might wield supreme power after Tiberius's death as regent for his young grandson Gemellus. His plans, however, were made known to Tiberius, and his fall from grace was sudden and spectacular.

Lucius Aelius Seianus (or Sejanus) (20 BC – October 18, 31 AD) was an ambitious soldier, friend and confidant of Tiberius, and for a time the most influential and feared citizen of Rome.

Sejanus was born at Volsinii, in Etruria, to the family of Lucius Seius Strabo, an equestrian who became praetorian prefect under Augustus.

He was appointed praetorian prefect on the accession of Tiberius, as the colleague of his father.

After the death of Tiberius' son Drusus in 23, Sejanus consolidated his power over the Senate, and concentrated the scattered elements of the Praetorian guard into a single camp outside the Viminal Gate of Rome. In the ensuing years Sejanus consolidated his own position, working towards the downfall of Germanicus’ widow Agrippina and her sons Nero and Drusus (29-30) and allegedly plotting against the life of the youngest son Gaius Caligula.

In 31, despite his equestrian rank, he shared the consulship with Tiberius, and finally became betrothed to Livilla. Tiberius discovered the plot, however, and chose Macro, prefect of the Vigiles, to replace Sejanus as prefect of the Praetorian guard and accomplish Sejanus’ downfall. Simultaneously Tiberius wrote a letter to the Senate denouncing Sejanus, where he was arrested and condemned to death.

Writing only a few years later, Philo, a leading figure in Alexandria's Jewish community, remembered Sejanus as "desiring to destroy our nation" (Legatio ad Gaium, XXIV).

Preceded by: Marcus Vinicius and Lucius Cassius Longinus

Consul of the Roman Empire together with Tiberius 31

Succeeded by: Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus and Lucius Arruntius Camillus Scribonianus

Sejanus in later literature

Ben Jonson made the story into a 1603 play entitled Sejanus, His Fall, and an anonymous contemporary also covered him 4 years later, in the 1607 play The Tragedy of Claudius Tiberius Nero.

Reference

Sejanus's fall from power and the aftermath are recounted in detail by ancient writers, notably the historians Dio Cassius (book LVIII) and Tacitus (Annals book VI), and also by Juvenal in his tenth satire.