Germanicus, 15 BCE-19 CE

Germanicus Julius Caesar was born on May 24, 15 BCE, in Antioch, Syria (now Antakya, Turkey,) to Nero Claudius Drusus and Antonia Minor, the younger surviving daughter of Marc Antony and Octavia Minor. After the death of his father, he was adopted by his paternal uncle, Tiberius, in 4 CE. He rose in political and military power by holding several different offices and going on campaign with Tiberius in Illyricum. He was elected Consul in 12 CE and was made proconsul of Germania Inferior, Germania Superior, and Gaul in 13 CE. He commanded eight legions, about one-third of the Roman army, leading them against the Germanic tribes from 14 to 16 CE. He avenged Varus’ disastrous loss of three legions in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, retrieving two of the three legionary eagles that had fallen there. After his triumph in Rome, he left for Asia Minor, where he became ill (some say poisoned) in Antioch and died on October 10, 19 CE. Had he lived, he would have been emperor after Tiberius. Instead, it was his son, Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, called Caligula (meaning “Little Boots”) by Vipsania Agrippina who followed Tiberius to the imperial seat.