Tiberius Caesar -- 42 BC to 37 AD (Tiberius Claudius Nero)

Tiberius was the stepson of Augustus. A sucessful general, Tiberius was forced to divorce his wife and marry Augustus' daughter Julia. Unhappy in his forced marriage, Tiberius abandoned his wife and retreated to the island of Rhodes.           Augustus' grandsons and Tiberius' brother Drusus died before him, so Augustus recalled Tiberius to Rome (even though he disliked him personally) and made Tiberius his heir and successor to the throne. Augustus died in 14 AD and Tiberius became the second Roman Emporer.           Tiberius was a good administrator and was adept at foreign relations. During his reign, Rome maintained good relations with its neighbors. Tiberius tried to retire from his duties as Emporer and appointed Sejanus, chief of his personal guards, as ruler in his stead. He retired to the island of Capri, but in 31 AD he learned that the overambitious Sejanus had murdered two possible heirs to the throne, so Tiberius returned to Rome and had Sejanus executed. Tiberius grew increasingly unpopular in his last years because he resented the interference of the Senate and because he opposed the gladitorial games. When he died he left a peaceful and prosperous Empire. The evil and perverse Caligula succeeded him to the throne.           Tiberius concerns us because he was the Emporer of Rome during Jesus' lifetime. He is mentioned in the scriptures in Luke 3: 1.