Germanicus, the son of Drusus, whom
Tiberius had adopted at the command of Augustus in 4 A. D. He had married
Agrippina, daughter of Agrippa and Julia, and was looked upon as the heir
of Tiberius in preference to the latter's younger and less able son,
Drusus.

*The campaigns of Germanicus, 14-17 A. D.* To restore discipline among his
troops and relieve them from the monotony of camp life, as well as to
emulate the achievements of his father, Germanicus, without the
authorization of Tiberius, led his army across the Rhine. The German
tribes were still united in the coalition formed in the time of Varus,
and, under their leaders Arminius and Inguiomerus, offered vigorous
opposition to the Roman invasion. Nevertheless, in three successive
campaigns (14-16 A. D.), Germanicus ravaged the territory between the
Rhine and the Weser and inflicted several defeats upon the Germans. Still
Arminius and his allies were by no means subdued, and the Romans had
sustained heavy losses. One army had narrowly escaped the fate of the
legions of Varus, and twice had the transports of Germanicus suffered
through storms in the North Sea. For these reasons Tiberius forbade the
prolongation of the war and recalled Germanicus. With his departure, each
of the three Gauls was made an independent province, and two new
administrative districts called Upper and Lower Germany, under legates of
consular rank, were created on the left bank of the Rhine. Freed from the
danger of Roman interference, the Germanic tribes led by Arminius now
engaged in a bitter struggle with Marbod, king of the Marcomanni, which
ultimately led to the overthrow of the latter's kingdom. Not long
afterwards Arminius himself fell a victim to the jealousy of his fellow
tribesmen (19 A. D.).

*Eastern mission and death of Germanicus, 17-19 A. D.* After his return
from Gaul, Germanicus was sent by Tiberius to settle affairs in the East,
where the Armenian question had again become acute. While he was in Syria,
a bitter quarrel developed between himself and Piso, the legate of the
province. Accordingly, when Germanicus fell ill and died there, many
accused Piso of having poisoned him. Although the accusation was false
Piso was called to Rome to stand his trial on that charge, and, finding
that the popularity of Germanicus had biased popular opinion against him,
and that Tiberius refused him his protection because of his attempt to
assert his rights by armed force, he committed suic