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Sejanus was born in 20 BCE in Volsinia (Etruria) as Lucius Aelius Seianus in the Seii family. Sejanus was an ambitious soldier, friend and confidant of Emperor Tiberius; Almighty Prefect of the Praetorian Guard from 14 CE. During the reign of Tiberius, he played a large role in the political life of the state.
Sejanus was the son of Lucius Sejus Strabo, an equite who became praetorian prefect under Octavian Augustus. Sejanus’ grandfather had contact with senatorial families because of his marriage to Terentia, the sister of the wife of Gaius Cilnius, who was one of the closest associates of Emperor Augustus. Sejanus’ father Strabo, like his ancestor, also established close relations with important Roman families. He probably married the daughter of Quintus Elius Tuberon, thus joining the prestigious lineage (gens) of the Elius (Aelia). Lucius Sejus Tuberon, who became consul in 18 CE, was probably his son. The last wife of Strabo was Cosconia Gallita, sister of Servius Cornelius Lentulus Maluginensis (consul for 10 CE) and Publius Cornelius Lentulus Scipio (consul for CE 2) and possibly a half-sister of Quintus Junius Blaesus (consul for CE CE). Sejanus may have come from his father’s relationship with Cosconia Gallita. Sejanus was later adopted into gens Aelia by Gaius Elius Gallus, and according to Roman custom, he was given a typical family name – Lucius Elius Sejanus.
It is believed that Sejanus’ father – Strabo – caught the attention of Emperor Augustus, due to the connection of his ancestor with the Patron. Finally, after 2 BCE, Strabo was appointed prefect of the Praetorian Guard (praefectus praetorio), achieving one of the two highest positions that a Roman equestrian could have achieved in the empire. He held his position dutifully and without errors until Augustus’ death in 14 CE.
Little is known about Sejan’s early life up to that time. According to Tacitus, he accompanied Gaius Julius Caesar, Augustus’ adopted grandson, in a military campaign in Armenia in 1 CE. After Tiberius took power in 14 CE, Sejanus assumed the position of prefectus of praetorians as the father’s companion.
The Praetorian Guard was an elite unit created by Augustus in 27 BCE to protect the emperor and his immediate family. In addition, the praetorians were responsible for ensuring the safety of the city and supporting the work of the civil administration. On the other hand, this unit was of psychological importance. It was the foundation of the empire and served as the emperor’s personal tool of influence and possible intimidation of the initiators of the plot. Initially, Augustus established the size of the unit at nine cohorts (less than in the Roman legion), which were located in different parts of the city and managed by two prefects.
When Strabo was appointed governor of Egypt in 15 CE, Sejanus took over the reign of his own. He immediately undertook the reform of the formation and established it as a powerful tool in the principate era. In 20 CE, he moved all the scattered garrisons to a single barracks, outside Rome. In addition, he increased the number of cohorts from nine to twelve, one of which was on permanent duty in the palace. The divisibility of the prefect’s office was abandoned – there was to be one commander of the Praetorian Guard from now on – and his powers were increased: he now personally appointed centurions and tribunes. Through these changes, Sejanus took full authority over a unit of approximately 12,000 soldiers that was ready to obey any order. During the reign of Emperor Tiberius, the strength of the guard was often presented at all kinds of parades, which only emphasized the end of the republic’s façade.
Rivalry with Druzus the Younger
After making these reforms, Sejanus became a trusted and strong adviser to the emperor himself. By 23 CE, he had a significant influence on Tiberius’ decisions, who called him “Socius Laborum” (“my partner in my hardships”). During this time, Sejanus was given a praetor position, which was not normally intended for equites. A monument was built in his honour in the Pompey Theater, and with time his supporters, performing public and managerial functions, sat in the Senate. The growing power of Sejanus and his important position in the state gradually began to arouse outrage among members of the imperial family and senators. The most hostile, however, was Druzus Julius Caesar, son of Tiberius, known as Drusus the Younger.
The history of hostility between Sejanus and Druzus dates back to 15 CE when the legions stationed in Pannonia and Germania revolted imperial power. When Tiberius’ adopted son, Germanicus, calmed the revolt in Germania, Druzus the Younger was sent to Pannonia along with Sejanus and two Praetorian cohorts. Druzus quickly suppressed the rebellion and ordered the execution of the leaders of the rebellion. The camp was cleared of rebels by the praetorians, and the legion returned to their winter barracks. Despite their success, the hostility between Druzus and Sejanus grew markedly.
From the accession of Tiberius to the Roman throne, his son Druzus was seen as a very likely successor. He was victorious at the head of his legions in the Illyricum province in 18 CE, and served as consul with his father in CE 21. In practice, however, Sejanus was still the second person in the country, who still wanted to increase his power. As early as 20 CE, Sejanus, wanting to consolidate his relationship with the royal family, betrothed his 4-year-old daughter Junilla to the son of the future Emperor Claudius – Drusus IV (Claudius Drusus). Ultimately, however, they did not get married due to the fact that a few days later Claudius Druzus died of asphyxia.
It seems that the unsuccessful attempt to link with the imperial family-directed all of Sejanus’ attention to an attempt to eliminate a possible heir to the throne – Druzus. In 23 CE, the conflict between Sejanus and the son of Tiberius reached i