Seven Failed Plots That Shaped the First Roman Emperors

A historical investigation explores seven unsuccessful plots against Roman emperors from Augustus to Domitian, indicating that these foiled attempts frequently incited paranoia and subsequent purges. During Augustus's reign (27 BC–AD 14), the banishments of Julia the Elder (2 BC) and Julia the Younger (AD 8) likely masked succession schemes. Tiberius (AD 14–37) contended with Sejanus, who poisoned Drusus (AD 23) and was executed in AD 31. Caligula (AD 37–41) discovered the Three Daggers conspiracy in AD 39, resulting in his tyranny and assassination in AD 41. Claudius (AD 41–54) survived Scribonianus's revolt (AD 42) and executed Messalina (AD 48). Nero (AD 54–68) encountered the Pisonian Conspiracy (AD 65), leading to his demise in AD 68. Vespasian (AD 69–79) thwarted a plot in AD 79, while Domitian (AD 81–96) grew paranoid following the Revolt of Saturninus (AD 89), culminating in his assassination in AD 96. The sources include Tacitus, Suetonius, and Cassius Dio.