his
campaigns with success, and honor to himself. Returning to Rome in 7 B.
C., he celebrated a triumph, and afterwards married Julia, the dissolute
daughter of Augustus. This marriage proved to be the ruin of Tiberius,
developing everything that was bad in his character, and making him
jealous, suspicious, and hypocritical.

Augustus, not relishing the changes in his character, sent him to
Rhodes, where he lived seven years in retirement. Through his mother's
influence, however, he was recalled in 2 A. D., and was afterwards
appointed the Emperor's successor. He ascended the throne at the age of
fifty-six. A silent man, "all his feelings, desires, and ambitions were
locked behind an impenetrable barrier." He is said but once to have
taken counsel with his officers. He was a master of dissimulation, and
on this account an object of dislike and suspicion. But until his
later years, his intellect was clear and far-seeing, penetrating all
disguises.

Throughout his reign Tiberius strove to do his duty to the Empire at
large, and maintained with great care the constitutional forms which had
been established by Augustus. Only two changes of importance were made.
First, the IMPERIAL GUARD, hitherto seen in the city only in small
bodies, was permanently encamped in full force close to the walls. By
this course the danger of riots was much lessened. Secondly, the old
COMITIAS were practically abolished. But the Senate was treated with
great deference.

Tiberius expended great care on the provinces. His favorite maxim was,
that a good shepherd should shear, and not flay, his sheep. Soldiers,
governors, and officials of all kinds were kept in a wholesome dread of
punishment, if they oppressed those under them. Strict economy in public
expenses kept the taxes down. Commerce was cherished, and his reign on
the whole was one of prosperity for the Empire.

Tiberius was noted especially for prosecutions for MAJESTAS, on the
slightest pretext. _Majestas_ nearly corresponds to treason; but it
is more comprehensive. One of the offences included in the word was
effecting, aiding in, or planning the death of a magistrate, or of one
who had the _imperium_ or _potestas_. Tiberius stretched the application
of this offence even to words or conduct which could in any way be
considered dangerous to the Emperor. A hateful class of informers
(_delatores_) sprung up, and the lives of all were rendered unsafe.
The dark side of this ruler's cha