Daily Roman History:

Though he was never the intended heir since his relations to the Imperial family was that of Augustus' step-son, Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus was forced to come out of retirement and named heir after the untimely deaths of Augustus' two grandsons in 4AD. His reign would prove to be a rocky one, always at odds with the Senate, and allegedly having his popular nephew Germanicus poisoned when he was viewed as a threat to usurp him. With the sudden death of his son and heir Drusus in 23AD Tiberius became aloof and withdrawn leaving most of the administration of the Empire to his Pretorian Prefect Sejanus. So reliant on Sejanus that Tiberius would begin calling him "Partner of my labours". This too eventually turned sour as Sajanus' corrupt leadership lead to him being murdered on Tiberius' orders in 31AD. For the last few years of his reign the Empire functioned essentially without a head, as Tiberius became even more paranoid and reclusive. He died in 37AD, some reports saying he was either smothered to death, poisoned, starved, or just left to waste away. Upon hearing of his demise mobs in Rome took to the street shouting "To the Tiber with Tiberius!", refering to criminals usually being thrown in the Tiber River rather then buried. Ultimately, his body was cremated and placed in the Mausoleum of Augustus.

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