Tiberius - The Twisted Roman Emperor?

Tiberius - The Twisted Roman Emperor? | History Documentary

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Tiberius - The Twisted Roman Emperor
Tiberius was born in 42 BCE, two years after the death of Julius Caesar. When the Emperor Augustus took a fancy to his mother he was thrust into the nest of vipers that was the Imperial Palace.
He tried to avoid politics and never really wanted to be emperor and when he finally got the job in his fifties he started well.
But something changed, turning him into a tyrannical self-absorbed recluse -pursuing perverse pleasures and becoming increasingly suspicious of the world and everyone in it.
This video explores what could have transformed the solid, if slightly unimaginative Tiberius into the murderous monster he became in later life?
Finding Out More:
There is no better starting point than the almost contemporary histories of Suetonius (The 12 Caesars) and Tacitus (The Annals). These are widely available as free downloads. The classic BBC series I, Claudius is looking a little dated now, but for anyone wanting a little nostalgia of 1970s TV, I have added this to my Amazon store page:
www.amazon.com/shop/professor...
Academic References;
Scheidel, W. (2009). Disease and death in the ancient city of Rome. Princeton/Stanford Working Papers in Classics.
Winterling, A. (2012). Imperial madness in ancient Rome. História (São Paulo), 31, 4-26.
Copyright Disclaimer:
The primary purpose of this video is educational. I have tried to use material in the public domain or with Creative Commons Non-attribution licences wherever possible. Where attribution is required, I have listed this below. I believe that any copyright material used falls under the remit of Fair Use, but if any content owners would like to dispute this, I will not hesitate to immediately remove that content. It is not my intention to infringe on content ownership in any way. If you happen to find your art or images in the video, please let me know and I will be glad to credit you.
Images:
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Wellcome Collection
Internet Archive
My own images and videos taken at the Villa Jovis and in the Archaeological Museum in Naples
Music (via Wikimedia commons)
Gustav Holst - The planets, op. 32 - Mars, the bringer of war. Skidmore College Orchestra. Musopen. CC0
Bull of Heaven: Sun ritual CC0
Nightingale from Respighi’s Pines of Rome CC0
Kevin MacLeod Mourning Song CC3.0
Video produced by Graeme Yorston and Tom Yorston.

Пікірлер: 373

@Fhjull33 10 ай бұрын

One of the most interesting figures in the history of Rome. In my opinion, Tiberius did not have any mental disorders. He was a distinctly introvert with a strong dislike of people and society, he was also moderately cruel and suspicious, and apparently at one time was in a state of clinical depression after the death of his son and the Sejanus affair. But this is not enough to talk about a mental disorder. His desire for power and control is often underestimated, seeing in him unwillingness to rule, which his actions do not confirm. Tiberius assumed power, killed Agrippa Postumus, displaced the Praetorian Guard in Rome, dealt with the party of Agrippina and her sons with the help of Sejanus, then dealt with Sejanus and his supporters and concentrated all power in his hands, ruling the empire at his discretion from Capri (Tacitus, Philo and Cassius Dio clearly show that he made all the key decisions on his own even while outside of Rome, reducing the role of the intimidated senate to the execution of his orders). And rules competently and responsibly. He was a very thoughtful, cunning, prudent person. Cruel at the end of life. August spoke very precisely about Tiberius' "slow-moving jaws". Was he a sexual pervert? For many reasons, I don't think so. Tiberius left Rome for Capri at the age of 67 and until this period Tacitus writes that his life was impeccable. It is rather difficult to believe that a man who sincerely loved his wife and lived moderately all his life, already in extreme old age, suddenly decided to become a sexual pervert. Many people did not like Tiberius, he carried out repressions and really was something like a tyrant. So I think it was falsely attributed to him.

@martinwarner1178 10 ай бұрын

Good comment. Thank you. Peace be unto you.

@13strange67 10 ай бұрын

You are mostly wrong : he was a super-Paedo ! What he got up to on the isle of Capri shocked even Caligula ! He did not love his wife ! It was a hateful and loveless marriage of inconvenience : his true love ( Vipsania ) he had to put away for political reasons I read he was so strong he could poke his finger through an apple and moreover had a male priest's legs broken because he rebuffed his homosexual advances Watch 'I, Claudius' excellent and well-researched TV drama to get at the truth of the man He only nominated his even more depraved ( and adopted ) nephew : the infamous Caligula : so that his own miserable failings would be wiped out by stark contrast. I thank you for your time

@davidlucey1311 10 ай бұрын

Good point about his sexual proclivities likely being exaggerated or fabricated. At first, I was leaning towards some kind of mental breakdown, or maybe dementia, but it sounds like for most of his life, at least, before he became emperor, he was a respectable man, at least, by the standards of Roman morality.

@user-bh2eq2ew6s 10 ай бұрын

Yeah its the go to move when trying to destroy a political opponent or tarnish their legacy after bested. Joan of Arc had a second in command, a Marshal of France I forget his name, but I very much believe he suffered something similar, he had an obscene amount of wealth and land, and then all of a sudden he went from being a pious respected man to being the worst person that ever lived, low and behold the people who accused him stood to gain all his lands and wealth. The accusations against him are just so insanely dark and farfetched its hard to believe, they portrayed him worse than any person in history Ive read up on, and this man was a brave supposedly pious defender of the faith and people just before hand.. its very hard to believe@@davidlucey1311

@greggremlin 9 ай бұрын

@@13strange67u were on a roll there cuz i was rolling with u right up until that idiotic fantasy dogsh*t of a theory about Lil Cali,theres no way for him to know what a sick son of a wh*re his son is gonna be so u lost me there n because of that everything else coming from u is dogsh*t from one mistake but thats all it takes pal dont whine about it

@Incorruptus1 3 ай бұрын

Most Smart Caesar = Julius Most Radical Caesar = Tiberius Most Evil Caesar = Caligula Thank you for creating and uploading.

@professorgraemeyorston 3 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed them. Love your name!

@erniegutierrez2288 10 ай бұрын

Tiberius was very unpopular for many reasons so rumors about him were most likely exaggerated. Fun fact, Sejanus convinced Tiberius to combine the Praetorian camps, allowing him to unify the guards and conspire. After Tiberius, those camps were never separated again, leading to the Praetorians often picking and choosing the Emperor.

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

Interesting.

@idipped2521 3 күн бұрын

Making beating a slave in front of a statue of Augustus a capital offense made me laugh for some reason.

@professorgraemeyorston 3 күн бұрын

Just one of his many strange edicts.

@toddh377 Жыл бұрын

Great in a nutshell bio and analysis! My first introduction to Tiberius was BBC's production of I, Claudius. Seems like the majority of the imperial family would be enough to drive anyone mental. Tiberius may have had a mental condition mixed in with the corrupting power of absolute rule.

@professorgraemeyorston Жыл бұрын

Thank you, I remember I Claudius fondly and George Baker's portrayal of Tiberius as a rather unimaginative figure.

@rhobot75 Жыл бұрын

Another great vid. Thanks, Doc!

@professorgraemeyorston Жыл бұрын

Thank you.

@carolstevens1722 10 ай бұрын

Fascinating! I find the psychological aspects particularly intriguing. Thank you for this excellent documentary!

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@marial8235 11 ай бұрын

Good analysis. The primary sources are suspect. Tiberius took a turn for the worse when he was forced to divorce Vipsania. Allegedly he saw her one day and followed her home. He also seems like a man ambivalent about power. His first retreat to Greece and his eventual solace at Capri point to a man disinterested, for the most part, with the trappings of power. He seems to have accepted the role of Princeps more as a duty and a means of self-preservation. The alleged perversions-the minnow thing-any other rich Roman may have conducted sexual relations with enslaved children. So the historical context of slavery, sex and children is missing. I also wonder if such perversions/fetish/paraphilias suddenly emerge late in life? Isn’t it true that deviants act out at an early age? With the limitations of existent sources, I wish modern excavations would examine Tiberius’ other Villas on Capri. Also, perhaps an investigation into his years of exile in Greece. Anyhow thanks for a thoughtful and thought provoking video.

@professorgraemeyorston 11 ай бұрын

Thank you - I agree I did not cover the historical context of sex with slaves and children in any detail. It is a fascinating subject, but probably not one that can be aired on KZfaq which is getting increasingly sensitive to anything controversial.

@KD400_ 10 ай бұрын

Who cares if they act out later in life what he did was wrong. In fact I had to search this up because pedophilia is becoming more common in the western world. The amount of sexual acts on kids has increased. The west has fallen exactly like rome did. These modern paedophiles get their inspiration from roman emperors like tiberius

@bluebee5266 10 ай бұрын

@@professorgraemeyorston A society is in trouble when discussion of historical facts among adults becomes "controversial"!

@KennethHall-tp4hw 9 ай бұрын

I agree Tiberius seems to have genuinely not been interested in power; regarding your view that he took on the role of Princeps you must know the remark attributed to him by Suetonius that being Emperor of Rome was "like having a wolf by the ears"? Evokes the paranoid atmosphere of Roman politics very well I thought. Pace : )

@WilliamFlickinger-ex2sd 9 ай бұрын

You are very beautiful and you are very smart what a lovely face you have

@gechen7 11 ай бұрын

Thank you doctor, your videos are so precious. They should be spread widely. Why have they not more followers!? A huge thank for your research, sound and balanced judgment.

@professorgraemeyorston 11 ай бұрын

Thank you - the channel is building slowly.

@voyaristika5673 10 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for your fascinating videos. I enjoy every one of them and hope you keep them coming!

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

Thank you.

@allisonhogg5131 Жыл бұрын

Thank you. I love Sorrento, Capri and the Amalfi coast and of course Limoncello. Roman history is fascinating.

@professorgraemeyorston Жыл бұрын

It is a lovely part of the world, and the limoncello adds to the atmosphere!

@TheJon2442 10 ай бұрын

Sadly we fau to benefit for the bad parts of history (facts).... The woke rewriting of history abounds!

@BrianJohnson-bb2vi 10 ай бұрын

Jolly good show, a tad surprised you lumped Donald and Boris in with Tiberius. Leopards and spots as they say old bean.

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

I seem to have upset some people with those images, but others like them.

@genestippell1833 3 ай бұрын

If given the power trump keeps saying what he's going to do. Take him at his word.

@RaymondGrandison 9 ай бұрын

Dear professor this was an excellent and even-handed presentation: thank you for your hard work.

@kenc9236 10 ай бұрын

Awesome video and I have learned a lot.

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

Awesome, thank you!

@annettekleynhans6127 6 ай бұрын

I started watching I, Claudius, with Derek Jacobi and this short and to the point info gave me a more insightful background to appreciate the 1976 production even more. Thank you… am a subscriber now.

@professorgraemeyorston 6 ай бұрын

Welcome aboard! And I'm glad it was helpful! I'm just finishing one on Caligula which should be out soon.

@lyntwo 10 ай бұрын

Your mention of the recent findings about cognition problems etc. regarding psoriasis caused me to read further, these findings cast a different slant on my own late father's over aggressive and distorted perception in his later life. Thank you.

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

I'm glad it was helpful.

@33andathird 9 ай бұрын

I think there's a strong link between alcohol and psoriasis and depression that makes such conditions mutually reinforcing. Alcohol is a bad drug but is so central to many lives that it is commonly perceived as consolation for, rather than causative of, an ailment. I think this video made that kind of assumption at one point. As a depressant and trigger for inflammatory and allergic conditions, it's the part of the cycle of aforementioned ailments that can be broken. Family and personal experience too.

@carmelbrain7399 Жыл бұрын

good insights

@professorgraemeyorston Жыл бұрын

Thank you.

@mariateresaancona8027 9 ай бұрын

Excellent....thanks.

@matthewschiffer4649 10 ай бұрын

Fantastic video!!

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

Thank you.

@BarleyC 10 ай бұрын

Excellent, informative documentary. To what extent do you think lead poisoning might have impacted the behaviors of “mad” Roman emperors? I understand lead was everywhere in the ancient Roman world, used in plumbing, drinking vessels, and cosmetics, especially amongst the upper classes.

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

It is a theory that Romans had high levels of lead and there is some archaeological evidence from bones that this was the case. As always, interpretation and generalisability is complex -so it remains a possible theory.

@donaldwyant3483 10 ай бұрын

First time here. Excellent! work.

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

Thank you, welcome aboard!

@LoisThiessen 10 ай бұрын

This is very interesting! Lord Acton's quote, I think, hits the nail on the head. Power can be intoxicating and, where there are no boundaries, causes harm beyond measure. Could he have contracted syphilis? I understand this, too, can cause severe personality and mental disruption.😟

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

Thank you - the syphilis question is very contentious -it probably wasn't present in Europe at the time - but a very similar treponemal disease may have been - but we just don't know if this would have had the same effect on the brain as syphilis.

@albashir7140 9 ай бұрын

That was brilliant ❤

@professorgraemeyorston 9 ай бұрын

Thank you.

@user-jt5mt3io2p 10 ай бұрын

@ 13:25, that is, like, beyond "shrinkage"😂😂😂😂😂

@mikefallopian3191 10 ай бұрын

''Forensic Psychiatrist'' . LoL. A most impressive euphemism for Q U A C K .

@linusp9316 8 ай бұрын

Definitely not. Hopefully you never have to deal with having a friend or loved one suffer from serious mental illness, and don't have to find out how valuable the work of a good psychiatrist is, both to the patient and their family.

@carapo66 10 ай бұрын

Taking us beyond the "crazy man' tag. Subscribed.

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

Thank you, welcome aboard.

@kunga72 10 ай бұрын

The big question is whether Tiberius is actually guilty of the smears historians directed at him, as was the custom in ancient Rome.

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

It is impossible to know, but the two historians were working independently and probably didn't know of each others' work.

@juliuswilliams4447 10 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

Thank you Julius, this will help fund further videos - do you have any suggestions of topics you'd like covered.

@kerlyn3582 9 ай бұрын

Fascinating stories and told with sensitivity. As a Christian I believe the mistake most of these rulers of Rome made was to set themselves up as little gods and persecuted those who loved Jesus Christ

@judithnb2495 10 ай бұрын

Fascinating. One minor thing though on the banner it says depot instead of despot. Made me chuckle though.

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

Thank you - I must have been thinking of medication!

@Lucius1958 10 ай бұрын

"Playing tonight in the Capri Lounge: Tiberius Caesar and his Spintrians!" ;-)

@christopheraliaga-kelly6254 3 ай бұрын

Tacitus loathed Tiberius because Domitian claimed that if he needed advice on what to do, he looked through Tiberius' memoirs. And Tacitus HATED Domitian, as he had dominated the historian' s public life and was even more terrifying!

@professorgraemeyorston 3 ай бұрын

Interesting!

@user-nb4ex5zk3w 2 ай бұрын

He had delusions of grandeur...believing he was an emperor.

@davidpyott3710 8 ай бұрын

Another excellent video Don't listen to the poor darlings who are egregiously offended by a contemporary political reference I think from the comments section you stay far away from commenting on such things because you are a professional as it were

@professorgraemeyorston 8 ай бұрын

Thank you. I try to stay clear of politics. My point was to show that all politicians, whatever their flavour are at risk of being corrupted by power.

@Cdarlosfletch58 10 ай бұрын

The last 3 political comparisons at the end are ridiculous !! And very woke

@linusp9316 8 ай бұрын

They're all horrible people, Putin especially. None will be remembered well by historians. Incidentally, the term "woke" seems to have lost all meaning at this point, beyond "something I don't like". Too funny.

@bawsack69 3 ай бұрын

He uses the term "BCE" so he's nothing but an anti-Christian subversive.

@sheryldalton8965 10 ай бұрын

The description of him sounds like Baron Harkonen from the original Dune movie.

@donaldfeger91 10 ай бұрын

I really enjoyed this presentation thank you for sharing your knowledge!

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@Bowruss 11 ай бұрын

Professor, your content is exceptional. Not sure if you would be intersted in doing a video on the American writer William S Burroughs but am confident he would be more than a worthy and interesting subject. We look forward ard to every new post, and wish you well always Good Sir! Thank you from Florida.

@professorgraemeyorston 11 ай бұрын

Thank you, I have done a short film film on him and was planning a longer one - the problem is KZfaq would probably rate it 18 and hardly anyone would get to see it.

@Bowruss 11 ай бұрын

@@professorgraemeyorston Ah, and I never watch shorts, lol, but I will be sure to do so in this case. Completely understand the subject matter issue. Thank you for your reply and, again, for your utterly fascinating work here!

@luluandmeow 11 ай бұрын

Hello, I find your videos balanced and fascinating, thank you. Would you be interested in doing one about Alexander the Great?

@professorgraemeyorston 11 ай бұрын

Thank you good suggestion.

@alayneperrott9693 10 ай бұрын

Since the diagnostic bone lesions caused by syphilis have now been found in European skeletons dating from centuries before the voyages of Columbus to the New World, for example in mediaeval monks in the UK (from a monastic graveyard in Hull, if I recall correctly) and in remains dating from Late Antiquity to the Dark Ages in France, it is possible that advanced syphilis should be considered in Tiberius's case. He seems like a man whose lifestyle might have been conducive to contracting it.

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

The syphilis like bone lesions that have been discovered have not been unequivocally confirmed as syphilis and bones showing these changes are extremely rare.

@mandibailey9104 10 ай бұрын

Sir, those last 3 images are terrifying. 😅 I couldn't help myself. Very well done. Truly, there's no way to be certain what caused madness in Tiberius. The sheer number of diseases in his time period are too numerous to count. Even today, most military infantry men and women have frontal lobe injuries prior to the frontal lobe maturing. Personally, I believe you covered the subject matter respectfully and in an informative manner.

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

Thank you.

@spartan.falbion2761 9 ай бұрын

'most military infantry men and women have frontal lobe injuries' citation please? This sounds like arrant nonsense.

@mandibailey9104 9 ай бұрын

@@spartan.falbion2761 I'm definitely not uploading my husband's VA medical records

@mandibailey9104 9 ай бұрын

@@spartan.falbion2761 I can help point to information type frontal lobe damage infantry due to traumatic brain injury into Google. Then, type in at what age does the frontal lobe fully develop.

@mandibailey9104 9 ай бұрын

@@spartan.falbion2761 Unfortunately, KZfaq doesn't allow hyperlinks. I would be more than willing to help in understanding. There's a great possibility I would also learn something as well. The only other knowledge on the subject matter is from working with neurologists.

@derekbates4316 9 ай бұрын

Well, this was informative, about as informative as school news.

@robbio40 3 ай бұрын

Excellent documentary Professor! I am an ancient roman (from the end of the Roman Republic to the Byzantine) and Ptolemaic Dynasty history buff. I was bored one day and decided to read the book Augustus. I thought "wow" this is interesting. Then, I read Suetonius's 12 Caesars. I believe Tiberius to be always a cruel and depraved man. The writers theorized that when he was forced to give up his beloved wife Vipsania, the last of his heart died. I like reading and learning about the emperors personalities and how they ruled. I believe Tiberius was one of the worst emperors but their were others that were far worse(Caligula and Nero) come to my mind. I look forward to seeing more of your insightful documentaries because you make them interesting and make people think about what really happened😊

@professorgraemeyorston 3 ай бұрын

Thank you, I try to be thought provoking.

@indigocheetah4172 9 ай бұрын

Would you produce an episode on Herod , and the Roman soldiers at Masada. It appeared that the Roman legion was unstoppable ?

@professorgraemeyorston 9 ай бұрын

Yes, that would be an interesting topic.

@indigocheetah4172 9 ай бұрын

@@professorgraemeyorston, thank you.

@dshe8637 Ай бұрын

Just imagine the population hopefully anticipating the succession of Caligula 😳

@regaltilapia 3 ай бұрын

“….leaders closer to home…..” This autumn we might have Don-the-Con back….

@BobBelson 10 ай бұрын

Nero, Caligula were pretty bad too. One burned down a city and another continued in Tiberius footsteps.

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

There were plenty of bad ones!

@bill9989 5 ай бұрын

Given how much Tiberius loved his brother Drusus, it's odd how much he disliked and feared his brother's son, Germanicus. Clearly, jealously was a major factor as Germanicua was loved by the people.

@professorgraemeyorston 5 ай бұрын

He was a complex character Tiberius - much like his great nephew Caligula - coming soon!

@stephendavies6949 25 күн бұрын

A tad tangential this comment, but it does make me wonder why Gene Roddenberry decided to give Capt James Kirk the middle name Tiberius...

@professorgraemeyorston 24 күн бұрын

Good question, I like tangential! It's not as if it was a common name in the 1960s.

@mirzadzomba9852 9 ай бұрын

Nothing to say on Germanicus? Really? The death of Tiberius's heir under suspicious circumstances in 19 CE caused a gigantic scandal that did more than almost any other event to ruin the emperor's public image. That must have added to his paranoia. And also, why is there no comment on Tiberius's complex relationship with his mother, Livia (that descended into an unseemly power struggle in the 20s CE)?

@davidcoleman2796 Ай бұрын

He liked to have a good time . Give him a break. 😂

@annerigby4400 9 ай бұрын

My reaction to the story of Tiberius is that he had your average horrible Roman elite upbringing, that he suffered from a skin condition that would have caused people to treat him a certain way and so when he attained power, and lots of it, he became corrupted by it. For some people, as illustrated at the end of the video, power leads them to test the boundaries by making decisions that give them full feeling of power. When they suffer no consequences, they continue and it seems to me that the down-side for them is fear. I see the illustrated leaders shown at the end of the video as having one thing in common: they are frightened little men who will do everything and anything to maintain power because the alternative is unacceptable. Johnson is out of the loop, but I expect he has replaced the obsession with power into an obsession with money. Why would Tiberius be any different?

@Freedom2111 10 ай бұрын

The maps shown in the video are not of the time of Tiberius. For example, they show Dacia as part of the Empire, but that area was not conquered until the early 2nd century, during the reign of Trajan.

@leemday5731 Ай бұрын

In the film troy Aginemnon said this...the Gods only protect the strong! Seems he took that philosophy to heart he wouldn't be the first and certainly not the last.

@cyboman9171 9 ай бұрын

Thank you, Professor Yorston, for this harrowing - but still fascinating - account of the deranged reign of the Emperor Tiberius. Perhaps you're already aware of this, but in 1967, C.D. Darlington, a renowned 20th century geneticist, published an epic history that relies in a significant extent on the role genetics (as Darlington had come to understand it) in human history. Darlington's interpretation of Caesarian Madness (though I don't recall him using that term) to inbreeding among the ancestors of Tiberius and his successor Nero. And, as you also probably already know, ncestuuus inbreeding has been suggested (though never proven) to have been an inportant factor in the (apparent) criminallly paranoid insanity of Adolph Hitler. And, in the late 20th century, it was suggested that the prodigious serial killer, Ted Bundy, was born as a result of an incestuous relationship between his mother and his maternal grandfather - another claim that, to my knowledge, was never proven scientifically. All of the above, I guess, will forever be considered the result of speculation - not of the kind of demonstrated truth that is the direct result of rigorous scientifid inquiry. I really hope that, sooner or later, Dr. Yorston, you will take up this topic in detail, with your usual intellectual acuity and humanity.

@thomascieslak7956 10 ай бұрын

Money corrupts everything

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

Money and power go hand in hand.

@stealthgeek29 8 ай бұрын

Well then, I'd be happy to take that evil, corrupted money off your hands.

@gerryhouska2859 Жыл бұрын

Power corrupts.

@professorgraemeyorston Жыл бұрын

It does indeed.

@rolandnelson6722 9 ай бұрын

Power doesn’t corrupt, it reveals.

@carolr4871 Жыл бұрын

That rogue's gallery right at the end was a nice surprise.

@professorgraemeyorston Жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it, some people have been less enthusiastic.

@carolr4871 Жыл бұрын

@@professorgraemeyorston If I may say so, screw 'em.

@jomon723 10 ай бұрын

Like me..Your very sad and blind @@professorgraemeyorston

@linusp9316 8 ай бұрын

@@jomon723 It's "you're".

@fonziebulldog5786 10 ай бұрын

If it was the same Tiberius as in the great telly show Domina from 2021 he was damaged already from a young age by his family when trying to strangle his mother in her sleep.

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

I haven't seen the show, but I'm not aware of any historical sources for that.

@strike4n 10 ай бұрын

Your suggestions at the end of his video, that current leaders are as deviant as Tiberius is subjective and raises questions about the credibility and bias of your documentary.

@randallbates9020 10 ай бұрын

I absolutely agree. That shows an agenda to be sure. This guy lost all credibility with me at that moment.

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

I am not suggesting they are deviant, simply that all leaders are at risk of abusing their power - whether they do so or have done so is a matter or personal interpretation.

@kingrama2727 9 ай бұрын

He’s a professor so he’s most. Likely a Marxist who loves Xi and Biden

@MackMateCom 9 ай бұрын

Yes cheap discrimination

@kingrama2727 9 ай бұрын

@@MackMateCom Marxists gunna Marxist lol

@Freedom2111 10 ай бұрын

Suetonius was overly harsh in what he wrote about the emperors, he's probably not a reliable source. Tiberius was far from being a perfect emperor, but Caligula, Nero, Honorius and Elagabalus were far worse. A good psychiatrist would be able to understand that.

@mrnice7570 9 ай бұрын

Swam with naked children

@Oldwhiteguy 9 ай бұрын

What you say about Suetonius is true, but what you say of Tiberius could be said of Nero.

@jordanlennox5435 9 ай бұрын

You mention Caligula being worse then Tiberius… either you never knew or have forgotten that it was Tiberius who killed various members of Caligulas family and enslaved Caligula for 6 years on the island of Capri when he was a young boy and exposed him to all manner of trauma and degradations. Forcing him to live with the same person who killed his own family. Now, I think you will want to consider again who exactly was worse? Tiberius was the one who derailed Caligulas entire life in his childhood and “schooled him” in all manners of degradations and traumatized him. In essence, he ushered Caligula into early madness and taught him all the horrors he knew as he was his template. Hopefully, most people, including Psychiatrists know this too, as you mentioned.

@Freedom2111 9 ай бұрын

@@jordanlennox5435 Caligula was not "forced to live with the same person who killed his own family" - it is unlikely that Livia (well into her 80s when Caligula was with her) killed her own grandson, although Tacticus seemed to suspect she knew about Germanicus' murder. Tiberius had a combination of positive accomplishments and negative deeds. He was a good general in his younger days, and as emperor he managed the revenue intelligently. He may or may not have been complicit in the death of his adopted son Germanicus, Tacitus implies it but does not make the accusation. Caligula's 3 sisters and Germanicus' brother Claudius were unharmed. Caligula had no positive achievements - he killed people for the slightest reasons. He sent an army to the shores of Gaul to collect sea shells, then claimed to have conquered Britannia. Many others have had traumatic childhoods, but went on to become strong and successful adults.

@beowulf1312 3 ай бұрын

I doubt anyone can be categorical about the Emperors' and Professor Yorston's evaluation is reasonable.

@bbffmuyy 9 ай бұрын

Lead in everything, wine, food, makes you crazy.

@alexandermayagoitia8671 20 күн бұрын

El texto sigue muy de cerca el de la Enciclopedia Británica! No pude encontrar la cita del caso.

@huwzebediahthomas9193 Жыл бұрын

They were all a bit loopy. I blame their use of lead for water drinking infrastructure myself, even in their peuter drinking vessals.

@professorgraemeyorston Жыл бұрын

Interesting point - some historians blame the whole fall of the Roman empire on lead poisoning and high levels of lead have been found in Roman age skeletons.

@twintailsanimations4973 8 ай бұрын

Nicely done but injecting modern day politics into this really brought down the whole thing. It started well but much like Tiberius it got worse in the end.

@igorrromanov 10 ай бұрын

The most refined, the most tragic. Greatest general and savior of empire, yet a tyrant too.

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

I'm not sure about greatest general.

@user-yc3ys4cg4p 10 ай бұрын

OCTAVIANUS ORDERED TIBERIUS TO REFUSE VIPSANIA, AND GOT MARRY WITH IULIA, AND TIBERIUS HATED HER. THEN...

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

He made Tiberius divorce Vipsania.

@Oldwhiteguy 9 ай бұрын

Remember, the wine they drank then poisoned many.

@kc3718 10 ай бұрын

thank you for information re psoriasis and cognitive impairment , i neve rknew this .

@thomasrengel5577 9 ай бұрын

Why didn't you include Joe Biden, Jeremy Corbyn, or Diane Abbott in your modern leaders? I am an American, 71 years old so I watched the BBC's "I Claudius" when it was on PBS hear. I also read The London Daily Mail (because unlike The Torygraph it's free) so I'm familiar with BOTH sides of the Pond. Yes, I read Seutonius' "Lives of the Twelve Caesars" in translation in 1975 (long story you don't want). The treason trials weren't THAT frequent. Keep to the medical stuff. Oh, thanks for the fuller information about Quidde--I knew the brief story about the pamphlet regarding Caligula vs. Kaiser Wilhelm II as being in 1896---now I know what the work was and I can look it up---the sort of thing I spend too much time at! All in all, a very useful and informative presentation marred by Left-wing possibly "Woke-ist" politics at the end. Once someone enters into such things it makes one wonder about your earlier material. I should ask you when you're in the throes of Woke-ism under your new PM Sir Keir Starmer whom I've read a lot about (especially in The Daily Mail which is now become a Left-Progressive publication increasingly staffed by refugees from The Grauniad). Diane Abbott should do Joe Biden impersonations! She's sort of Joe Biden with some brains added but even then she's smarter than Joe!

@linusp9316 8 ай бұрын

Can you please define "woke" for us? Thanks.

@caseyself2134 11 ай бұрын

Okay I'm only gonna say this just once I'm only saying it to set the record straight as a historian I stake my reputation and my word that Rome had far worst leaders then Tiberius. Tiberius was a successful military commander who was forced into a marriage he did not want to be part of constantly had to deal with the same problems Caesar and other good Emperors dealt with AKA the Senate Barbarian hordes politics etcetera. Yes Tiberius could be a bit cruel and did enjoy executing his prisoners by throwing them off cliffs on the pointy rocks below so clearly he had a few things wrong upstairs but Rome prospered under his Reign financially and Military wise Nero was a cross-dressing perverted exhibitionist who slept with his own mother and kicked his pregnant wife to death after she scolded him from coming home from a chariot race late he then killed his own mother and paid off several small street gangs throughout Rome to cause the great fire of Rome so he could build his gold Palace he cared nothing for his people he cared only for himself a sadist who enjoyed giving pain Caligula was not necessarily what I would consider Pure Evil I would say Caligula was more than likely just mentally unstable not excusing some of his actions like betraying the head of the praetorian Guard but Tiberius did the best he could with what he had nobody was perfect let alone back then I don't see back then and I don't see today any human being who could follow and Lead at their people in the shadow and footsteps of Julius Caesar and Augustus that's a pretty hard act to follow. It really irritates me to see people posting videos like these with question marks at the end Nero was the basis for the Antichrist in the Christian Bible he used to line his garden with Christians at night and in the evenings when he ate and light them on fire my point being his namesake is Infamous with pure evil so the questions pretty much answered Tiberius was not the perfect emperor he was also not the worst Emperor by any means now I'm gonna go watch athf because it's a Saturday and I just to unload a hot sticky load of knowledge on my weekend peace out folks

@professorgraemeyorston 11 ай бұрын

So that's a no then!

@caseyself2134 11 ай бұрын

@@professorgraemeyorston it's a no Tiberius was not the worst emperor. I tried to be brief 😆

@nledaig 10 ай бұрын

"a bit cruel..." Ha ha ha.

@letsrelaxwithtexts2114 9 ай бұрын

Dude was forced to marry his step Sister. Not fun. It amazes me how much this people had no sense of guilty... so much intrigues, paranoia and not shame of killing your own kin

@professorgraemeyorston 9 ай бұрын

It wasn't just the Romans, I think it is the corrupting effect of absolute power.

@mikegan73 9 ай бұрын

Tony 'WMD' Blair would have been by far a better modern day example than Boris Johnson.

@professorgraemeyorston 9 ай бұрын

The point is that all leaders are subject to the same temptations, how well they deal with it depends on your political affiliations. My point was about human nature not politics.

@archiedpatterson1292 10 ай бұрын

The last 3 images is what got you banned

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

The point is that power can corrupt anybody - I could have included pictures of almost any leader and some people would have been offended.

@jeromesullivan4015 10 ай бұрын

Tiberius, Step son of Octavian, then Augustus, would be my hero, if I were evil enough..

@gnjp8340 10 ай бұрын

Professor Beware of the sources !- There are basically two .First the historian Tacitus who hated the Claudian dynasty grip of power and how far this was from what he saw as the virtues of the Republic . He basically depicts the reign as one of dictatorship and then tyranny … he wrote about 100 years after the reign and he actually never said Tiberius was a pervert just a tyrant . The second is Suetonius - again writing over hundred years - hardly a historian but more like a News of the World gossip writer who just reported hand down tasty unfounded gossip - Tiberius reign was actually one the most stable and prosperous , he himself was an outstanding General and yes no doubt fed up with politics , deception and aswell of death of his brother , son and forced mariage . But he was despised by many in the ruling class and they no doubt made a whole stack of lies about him living isolated on an Island , endorsed in Astronomy and Greek culture . Professor don’t trust the sources they are not evidence . At worst Tiberius had just had enough , maybe indeed depressed and yes -after betrayal of his right hand man -paranoid and tyrannical .. But nothing extraordinary for the times !! I think it might also be an injustice to Tiberius to place Boris and Trump on same spot they achieved far far less than Tiberius and nowhere such a commander or leader - Boris maybe is more like the gossip writer ! 😂

@91ATLbraves 10 ай бұрын

The twisted Roman emperor? Pretty sure time had a few of those

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

Oh yes, he wasn't the only one.

@ranapratapsingh3416 10 ай бұрын

He killed innocent son of Livia. A monster.

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

He had lots of people killed!

@wordscapes5690 9 ай бұрын

Usually, an emperor’s wickedness is measured against the wickedness of the emperor that followed. It is very often the case that the horrendous behavior of the emperor that came before is usually the depravity of the current emperor writing his history. Same thing with with Nero.

@professorgraemeyorston 9 ай бұрын

How many good ones were there?

@wordscapes5690 9 ай бұрын

@@professorgraemeyorston About as many good uncles I had as a child. One or two

@user-hi3xr6rq3y 10 ай бұрын

He was a bad lad, which makes you mad & makes me sad. He was very naughty. Naughtier than a knotty pine tree or a pirate's knotted up anchor rope.

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

How lyrical!

@chrish2277 Жыл бұрын

The single note in a minor tone in the background has proved too disconcerting for me so I've only gotten half through. Otherwise a very interesting video.

@professorgraemeyorston Жыл бұрын

Thank you, the background music is the hardest to get right - thanks for trying!

@marisolvalez4719 2 ай бұрын

He probably had parasites ...i was working at a store in my early years and i had a male co worker that had patches pf severe acne on his face his face had red bloches .He told me he had parasites and was getting treated with antibiotics this was in 2007 ....

@sifridbassoon 10 ай бұрын

.....(page turn)...

@carolr4871 Жыл бұрын

Was Tiberius more of a monster than Caligula?

@professorgraemeyorston Жыл бұрын

I think they were pretty pretty awful - it's hard to compare as we really don't know how accurate the sources are.

@j0nnyism 10 ай бұрын

Much of his behaviour was a product of his environment but his sexual preferences are of course inexcusable today and appalling even for the time

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

If the accounts of his behaviour are true, even the Romans were shocked.

@chimpboy9760 9 ай бұрын

The brother he loved so much so had his brothers son poisoned. Germanicus should have been the emperor. Augustus mistake ended up wiping his family out less then 60 years after his death.

@kennethweser 10 ай бұрын

Tiberius was bad but the worst, most evil emperor still goes to Caligula.

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

Caligula or Nero or... there were plenty to choose from.

@shredderhater 2 ай бұрын

The background noise in this video gave me an anxiety induced headache, anyone else notice?

@professorgraemeyorston 2 ай бұрын

It is meant to be music, but not one of my greatest choices!

@shredderhater 2 ай бұрын

@@professorgraemeyorston I’ve been bingeing on your fantastic videos, it’s the first one to bother me , thanks for replying 🤗

@letsrelaxwithtexts2114 9 ай бұрын

I think he poisoned lucius and gaius snd maybe marcelus... and the grandkid of augusrys that was exiled

@professorgraemeyorston 9 ай бұрын

You may be right.

@kernowpolski 9 ай бұрын

As the presenter notes, one needs to take Suetonius' account of Tiberius with a pinch of salt. Suetonius was a Senatorial propagandist whose allegations against the Julio-Claudians sound a bit a like a hit job. Having said, that there is sufficient verifiable data to show his vicious murderous tyranny.

@samspade2657 10 ай бұрын

Annoying background sound.

@stuartkray312 10 ай бұрын

They say Roman's had consumed abnormally high contents of lead ...from thier diet I forget the plant they ate. Sweetner of some kind and the chemical reactions from the pots they used 4 cooking.

@anthonyellis6831 10 ай бұрын

Lead acetate trihydrate was known (sugar of lead) to be used as a sweetener for wine in Roman times. It is highly neurotoxic.

@michaelsmyth3935 10 ай бұрын

18:00 took most of the video, however, here comes the apologist review. Too many current similar accounts. Tiberius was just another paranoid, over powered Roman. Just another in a long line. Marius, Senna, Sulla for a recent crew.

@michaelmuller8494 10 ай бұрын

Why did he never want to be emperor? The other like 6 candidates "somehow" died around him

@LaurieValdez-zk3dy Ай бұрын

Noooooo

@MyLolle 10 ай бұрын

"tiberius. the twisted roman emperor." 🙄 i thought they all were...

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

Fair point.

@MyLolle 10 ай бұрын

@@professorgraemeyorston that was honestly an honest question. i just started reading more and watching more videos about roman empire. i am still learning. 😉

@AdrienneReneau-ky4sc 2 ай бұрын

GREAT video With Graphics Have seen Videos of Roman Emperors HIS 13 year old mother was new to me and HIS SKIN Rash We know what Alcohol can do to BRAIN

@professorgraemeyorston 2 ай бұрын

Thanks Adrienne!

@ExiledGypsy 10 ай бұрын

That is the story of most of Western Emperors after Cesare, isn't it? The others died very quickly from the 1st sickness. Some were better at hiding it like Augustus, that is all. Claudius after Tiberious started well but got sick and recovered paranoid. Nero too was popular to start with. Same as Comodus, he started well as well but then paranoia got the better of him. His father Marcus Orelius was sick most of the time or away killing non Romans. Infact once Rome stopped fighting enemies outside it turned on itself. That is the danger of being an autocrat. Soon or later your paranoia gets the better of you and your need to control becomes obcessive. You probably stop sleeping well and things go downhil from there. Someone invested unbreakable glass for Tiberious but he put him to death instead of giving him capital. Romans had different ideals to the judeo-christian culture after them. Tiberious was worried that the glass workers of the time will become unemployed and will start trouble. Law and order was already tough to uphold in Rome and anything that could make it worse was not entertained. The Romans elite had no need for conviniences like unbreakable glass and they could care if the rest considered them useful. The relationship to their subjects was totally different. The plebs were like reserved soldiers who were fed and kept alive to serve them and at times of war could be called on to fight. The rest were totally directed at keeping order. Their idea of justice was very different to ours.

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

Interesting!

@stephan6372 10 ай бұрын

Lead poisoning. At this time rich Romans would add lead to their wine to sweeten it.

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

It was also in the pipes.

@stephan6372 10 ай бұрын

@@professorgraemeyorston yes it was, but Romans mostly the rich, drank from home reservoirs and the poor from fountains with the lead pipes. I could never believe in the sime explanation of crazy. Much like polio, which seems more prolific in cities, among rich and poor, yet not so visible in country towns. This could also be related to lead poisoning and even arsenic poisoning.

@allenfitzpatrick8485 10 ай бұрын

I think Caligula was potentially a worse ruler than his grandfather. He apparently learned the arts of poisons from his great-grandmother Livia at an early age. And may have poisoned his father at age 5. Fortunately his reign was brief.

@professorgraemeyorston 10 ай бұрын

You may be right, I'll be preparing a video on Caligula in the coming months.

@mrgreen1888 10 ай бұрын

You mean grand uncle, Drusus Nero who was Germanicus father was his grandfather on his father’s side on his mother’s side it was Marcus Agrippa.