“Consider this, too, whether Piso dealt with the armies in a revolutionary and seditious spirit; whether he sought by intrigue, popularity with the soldiers; whether he attempted to repossess himself of the province by arms, or whether these are falsehoods which his accusers have published with exaggeration. As for them, I am justly angry with their intemperate zeal. For what purpose did they strip the corpse, and expose it to the pollution of the vulgar gaze, and circulate a story among foreigners that he was destroyed by poison, if all this is still doubtful and requires investigation?
“For my part, I sorrow for my son and shall always sorrow for him; still I would not hinder the accused from producing all the evidence which can relieve his innocence or convict Germanicus of any unfairness, if such there was. And I implore you not to take as proven charges alleged, merely because the case is intimately bound up with my affliction. Do you, whom ties of blood or your own true-heartedness have made his advocates, help him in his peril, every one of you, as far as each man's eloquence and diligence can do so. To like exertions and like persistency I would urge the prosecutors. In this, and in this only, will we place Germanicus above the laws, by conducting the inquiry into his death in this house instead of in the forum, and before the Senate instead of before a bench of judges. In all else let the case be tried as simply as others. Let no one heed the tears of Drusus or my own sorrow, or any stories invented to our discredit.”1
A silence fell over the hall. The senators were even more perplexed than before. None could fully gage the Emperor’s intent. Did he wish them to convict or acquit? And what reparations would there be if they passed the wrong verdict? All were terrified of incurring Tiberius’ wrath, should they displease him.
For his own part, Tiberius had been intentionally evasive. He was honest when he said he wanted the Senate to pass sentence fairly and without bias. If they voted the way they thought he wanted them to, then there was no justice and the trial would be a complete farce.
Tiberius did, in fact, mourn the loss of Germanicus. He was fond of the young man who had proven himself time and again. He had vanquished the Cherusci and avenged the treachery of Teutoburger Wald. The only solace Tiberius could find in the loss of Germanicus was that, at least now, Agrippina would never become Empress. He wondered if that was part of her mourning. He shuddered at the thought of what it would have been like had Germanicus attained the imperial throne with that bitch trying to rule through him. Livia had held tremendous influence over Augustus. However, her methods were subtle and non-self-serving. Agrippina, on the other hand, would seek to assert herself fully, demanding power and majesty onto her own person. Tiberius then contemplated his son’s wife. Since Drusus was now his heir, would Livilla serve him well as Empress? Livilla was a spoiled little girl in Tiberius’ mind, but harmless enough. She would be quite content to throw lavish banquets and entertain senators and foreign royalty.
He then contemplated Agrippina’s reaction to the new circumstances. While Drusus considered Agrippina a friend, the Emperor wondered just how genuine her feelings of friendship were. Would she look to undermine or cause harm to Drusus or Livilla as a means of hurting him? Tiberius could not be sure, but he would make note of it and warn Drusus to watch himself around that vile woman. He did not wish Drusus to cease in his friendship with Agrippina, he would rather he kept her close and under watch.
Plancina was frantically pacing in the atrium of the house where she and her husband were being kept, when the door opened. Livia entered the foyer, her face expressionless. Plancina immediately fell to her knees and clutched at Livia’s stola, weeping uncontrollably.
“Oh, Livia, you’ve got to help me! Agrippina’s friends will not stop condemning my husband. They will kill our son and me as well! Please, you’ve got to help me!” She came to her feet, her face white and her eyes wild; fearful tears flowing freely down her cheeks.
Her expression unchanged, Livia backhanded the woman sharply across the face. “Do you really think I will help save anyone who played a part in my own grandson’s death? To say nothing for the sedition and rebellion your wretched family has been the cause of!” she hissed.
Plancina held a hand over her cheek, which was turning red, and shook her head. “No,” she replied, “it wasn’t me, I swear it! I had nothing to do with Germanicus’ murder. Please, you must believe me!”
“Oh, come off it, woman!” Livia scoffed. “Your husband was little more than your whipping dog. He never could make a decision even so simple as how to wipe his own bottom without consulting you! And don’t think I don’t remember the hatred that existed between you and Agrippina well before Germanicus was ever sent to the east. So don’t play so innocent with me, otherwise I’ll come up with the most unpleasant means of disposing of you imaginable. And believe me, my imagination runs deep.”
Plancina fell to her knees again, her hands folded together against her forehead. She ceased in her sobbing, but her body still trembled. “You must believe me,” she pleaded. “Yes, I did hate Agrippina, and I still do. I’ve never denied that. And it seemed like both of them were bent on our family’s downfall. The quarrels between Piso and Germanicus started from the day they arrived. It never ceased. We had to do something, lest our family be ruined!”
“So you resorted to sedition and murder.” It was a statement, not a question.
Plancina shook her head frantically. “No,” she said softly. “If I bore any guilt, I would gladly share the same fate as my husband. I only told him he had to do something about Germanicus. I had no idea he was going to have him murdered and then start an insurrection amongst the legions. I’m amazed we even walked out of that place alive. Piso was a changed man after that. I could no longer speak with him, my influence over him completely evaporated.” She gazed up at Livia, eyes red and puffy, her cheeks tear stained. Again she took hold of Livia’s stola.
“Livia, if you cannot save me, please allow my son to be spared. He truly is innocent in this affair. After all, could a son, even a grown one, really deny his own father? I’m so afraid for him, and I don’t know what else to do.”
“You will compose yourself, woman, and you will do exactly as I tell you,” Livia replied sternly. “You will tell me who committed the act of murder against my grandson. I want names and where they can be found. Furthermore, you will separate yourself from your husband’s defense.”
Plancina nodded and rose to her feet, a fleeting hope glimmering in her eyes. “There was a notorious woman named Martina. She made poisoning people an art form. Her price was quite high. It nearly bankrupted my husband. She’s being offered immunity from the prosecution if she will testify against Piso.”
Livia raised an eyebrow. “Continue.”
Plancina swallowed hard. “She is supposed to be arriving within the next few days. There is a squalid tavern that she plans to stay at. It’s rather inconspicuous and fitting for her type. Oh, Livia, does this mean you intend to help us?” She clutched Livia’s stola, only to have the Empress slap her across the face once again. “I have promised you nothing! You will get no such promises of safe passage from me, vile woman. If you know what is good for you, you will distance yourself from your husband and do exactly as I tell you.” With that, Livia turned and left the room.