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Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso (c. 44/43 BC – AD 20), was a Roman statesman during the reigns of Augustus and Tiberius. He served as consul in 7 BC,[1] after which he was appointed governor of Hispania and consul of Africa. He belonged to one of Rome's most distinguished senatorial families, whose members included Calpurnia, third wife of Julius Caesar.
He was a member of the gens Calpurnia, specifically among the Calpurnii Pisones. His father and grandfather both shared his name, with his father being Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso (consul in 23 BC), and his grandfather being one of the participants in the Catiline Conspiracy. He had a brother, Lucius Calpurnius Piso, who was an augur and became consul in 1 BC.[2]
Piso was married to Plancina, a woman of noble rank and wealth. By Plancina, Piso had two sons, Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, who after Piso's death had to take the name of Lucius Calpurnius Piso,[3] and Marcus Calpurnius Piso.
Piso held several positions under Augustus and Tiberius. Ronald Syme infers that Piso was a military tribune in the Spanish campaigns of 26-25 BC. This accords with his known tenure as triumvir monetalis in 23 BC. Between that office and being appointed quaestor, which enabled him entry into the Roman Senate, Syme infers Piso was married. Syme fills the gap between those events and his consulate with various activities, such as accompanying his friend Claudius Nero in his Alpine campaign.[4] At some date between 5 BC and AD 2 he was admitted to the College of Pontiffs.[5]
In 3 BC he was proconsul of the province of Africa, and of Hispania Tarraconensis in AD 9. [6] According to Tacitus, he was cruel to the people of Spain, but during his trial in AD 20 such claims were discounted as "old and irrelevant".[7]
A debate flared up in AD 16, early in the reign of Tiberius. Tiberius announced he would be leaving Rome soon and the Senate was unsure whether it could conduct business in his absence. Piso contended it would bring credit to the Senate and the equestrians if they could handle affairs on their own. Asinius Gallus took the counterview that business could only be conducted in the presence of the Princeps to ensure the dignity of the Roman people was properly upheld. Senators favored the viewpoint of Gallus, setting a precedent for Tiberius' reign that would have pronounced consequence during his sojourn in Capri with a Senate fearful to act independently in Rome.[8] Historian Seager says "Tiberius was entirely in agreement with Piso," but that Tiberius did not like to appear biased in affairs which directly affected him and so let the Senate come to a decision on it's own.[9]
Governorship of Syria
In AD 17, heir designate Germanicus was given command of the eastern portion of the empire and Piso was appointed as his legate, and made governor of Syria.[10] This appointment came with the command of four legions. Though both Piso and Germanicus were of the same rank, Germanicus had greater authority (imperium maius). Tacitus suggests that Piso was appointed to act as a check on Germanicus, and that he was given secret instructions by Tiberius to thwart his efforts and control him.[11]
In the summer of 19, Germanicus had left to take care of matters in Egypt, and when he returned he found that Piso had ignored his orders to the cities and the legions. Germanicus was furious and ordered Piso's recall to Rome.[10] During the feud, Germanicus fell ill and, though Piso had left the province, Germanicus claimed Piso had poisoned him. Piso received a letter from Germanicus renouncing their friendship (amicitia). On 10 October, Germanicus died from the illness. Upon hearing of Germanicus' death, he returned to resume command of Syria.[12]
As the death of Germanicus occurred during their feud most people suspected him of having poisoned Germanicus, although this was never proven. The armed attempt by Piso to regain control of Syria immediately after the death of Germanicus only aroused more indignation. This, the rumors of him poisoning Germanicus, and his conduct going back as far as his governorship of Spain were all taken up by the delatores in their accusations against him. It wasn't long before the matter was taken to the Emperor.
Tiberius was forced to order an investigation, and after briefly hearing both sides, decided to defer the case to the senate. Tiberius made no effort to conceal his sentiments: the Pisones were longtime supporters of the Claudians, with their support going back to the early days of Octavian. A public trial was held, and Tiberius made allowances for Piso to summon witnesses of all social orders, including slaves, and he was given more time to plea than the prosecution, but it made no difference: before the sentencing, Piso had died. He committed suicide, though Tacitus supposes that Tiberius may have had him murdered, fearing his own implication in Germanicus' death.[13][14]
The accusations brought against Piso are numerous, including:[15][16]
- Insubordination
- Corruption
- Abandoning and reentering a province
- Summary justice
- Destroying military discipline
- Misusing the fiscus principis (emperor's money)
- Fomenting civil war
- Violating the divinity of Divus Augustus (sacrilege).
Although the murder of Germanicus was one of the accusations brought against him, he was only actually found guilty of abandoning and reentering Syria without authorisation to wage war, and for violating Germanicus' imperium, for, although they were both of proconsular rank, his authority was less than that of Germanicus, to whom the senate had given greater authority (imperium maius) in the eastern provinces before his departure in AD 17.[17][18]
In accordance with the lex Iulia maiestatis, the senate had his property proscribed, forbade mourning on his account, removed images of his likeness, such as statues and portraits, and his name was erased from the base of one statue in particular as part of his damnatio memoriae. Additionally, the senate instructed the curatores locorum publicorum iudicandorum to remove and destroy structures built above Porta Fontinalis to connect his properties. Yet, in a show of clemency not unlike that of the emperor, the senate had Piso's property returned and divided equally between his two sons, on condition that his daughter Calpurnia be given 1,000,000 sesterces as dowry and a further 4,000,000 as personal property. His wife Plancina was absolved.[15][18] Allegedly Munatia Plancina was convicted of very serious crimes. But her powerful friend Livia fought for her and exerted pressure on Tiberius. Therefore, her acquittal was foreseeable and she dissociated herself from her husband Piso who committed suicide.[19] A recently discovered senate resolution also confirms that Munatia Plancina owed her impunity to the recommendation of Tiberius, who had been pressed by Livia to act in this way.[20] But after the death of Livia in 29 AD, Plancina no longer had such a powerful protectress. So in 33 AD Tiberius renewed the charge. Plancina committed suicide before the judgement.[21][22]
His accomplices, a Visellius Karus and a Sempronius Bassus, were to be declared outlaws for committing treason. Their property was to be sold with profits consigned to the aerarium. It is unclear whether or not their case was handled by a judicial authority, such as a quaestio, or by the senate as well.[15][note 1]
Tacitus casts a negative light on Piso's chracter. He describes an arrogant man who saw himself as a member of a strong aristocracy that did not have to submit itself to the ruling family.[11] Seneca is also critical of Piso, describing an episode of cruelty in which he sentences three soldiers to death in Africa for trivial reasons.[23][24] A contemporary of Piso, Seneca recalls:
I remember Gnaeus Piso, a man who was free from many vices, yet of a perverse disposition, and one who mistook harshness for consistency.
He was played by John Phillips in the ITV series The Caesars, and by Stratford Johns in the BBC TV serial I, Claudius.[25]
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