Germanicus Julius Caesar

Germanicus was the most popular member of the imperial family in his generation and died at thirty-three amid accusations of poisoning. Born in 15 BC, he was the son of Nero Claudius Drusus and Antonia, the nephew of Tiberius, and the grandson of Mark Antony and of Livia. Augustus required Tiberius to adopt him in AD 4, placing him ahead of Tiberius's own son in the succession. He campaigned in Pannonia and Dalmatia and was consul at twenty-six. He was commanding the armies of the Rhine when Augustus died in AD 14, and the legions mutinied over pay and service terms and offered to make him emperor. He refused, threatened to kill himself in front of them, and restored order partly by forging a letter of concessions. He then led three years of campaigns across the Rhine against Arminius, who had destroyed three legions in the Teutoburg Forest in AD 9. He reached the battlefield and buried the remains, recovered two of the three lost eagles, defeated the Germans at Idistaviso in AD 16, and lost a fleet in a North Sea storm. Tiberius recalled him, arguing that diplomacy would be cheaper than campaigns that could not be sustained. He was given command in the east and quarrelled violently with Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, the governor of Syria, whom Tiberius had appointed. He fell ill at Antioch in AD 19 and died, publicly accusing Piso of poisoning him. Piso was tried and killed himself. The affair permanently damaged Tiberius, and Germanicus's son Caligula and grandson Nero both ruled.

• Lived: 15 BCE – 19 CE
• Nationality: Italian
• Roles: military_leader, general