Tiberius Caesar was born on November 16, 42 BC and died on March 16, 37 AD. He was 54 before he became the emperor of Rome.

After the death of Julius Caesar, his family had sided with Mark Antony, who was competing for power with Octavian (later Augustus). When Antony was defeated at the battle of Actium, they lived in hiding for some time. When they were finally allowed back into Rome, Augustus fell in love with Tiberius' mother Livia. He forced her to get divorced and married her, which made Tiberius his stepson.

Tiberius spent 12 years with his wife Vipsania Agrippina, the daughter of Augustus' son-in-law before he was forced to divorce and marry Julia, the daughter of Augustus. This marriage was a disaster. Julia and Tiberius hated each other and Julia eventually became a prostitute and was exiled on a small island.

Tiberius did not like the stresses in Rome and often found military commands far away. He went into exile on the island of Rhodes in 6 BC and was summoned back in 2 BC because almost all of the other successors to the throne were dead.

When Tiberius first became emperor, he did many good things for the empire. He strengthened the navy, replenished the treasury and stopped holding gladiatorial games.

He became very withdrawn though, after Drusus, his son, died in 23 AD. After this, much of his power went to Sejanus, the head of the Praetorian Guard. In 27 AD Tiberius moved permanently to the island of Capri.

In his old age he became mean and cruel. His palaces had prisons and torture rooms. He had Sejanus murdered by Macro, the new head of the Praetorian Guard.

His only remaining concern was who would become the successor to the throne. He selected Gaius Caesar (Caligula), a great-grandson of Augustus.

In March of the year 37 AD, he became ill. When it appeared that he would recover, Macro smothered him with a blanket.