Scene II: Four plebeians meet and discuss Tiberius. They fear he is growing tyrannous. They wish for Augustus, who was good. They see the same goodness in Germanicus and hope he might someday rule. They warn one another to keep counsel because the Emperor's spies are everywhere.

Scene III: Germany. Germanicus crowns a Centurion with a garland of woven grass to signify the Centurion's bravery in battle. Asinius enters and tells Germanicus of Augustus' death, Tiberius' coronation, and of Germanicus' extended proconsulship. They are interrupted by a mutiny among the German mercenaries, who cry that Germanicus is to be their emperor. Germanicus leaves to quell the mutiny

Scene IV: Rome. Tiberius, Sejanus, and Julia congratulate themselves. Upon Augustus' death Julia, Augustus' widow and Tiberius' mother, sent Sejanus to Rhodes where Tiberius was held in exile. By their swift actions, they have brought Tiberius home to Rome and crowned him Emperor before Germanicus could claim the crown. Sejanus admires Tiberius' pretense of not wanting the crown at his coronation. They realize that their enemies are both Germanicus and his friend, Asinius (who was sent to Germany to remove him from Rome).

Scene V: Germany. Germanicus, alone, compares his right to the throne with Tiberius' and finds himself the better man. He enumerates the many omens and activities that bode ill for Rome. Among them is the torture of Jews calling themselves Christians and the recent flight of the praetor Piso.

Scene VI: Rome. Caligula and Sejanus enter opposite below while Tiberius and Julia enter opposite above. Each speaks to himself and out of the others' hearing. Caligula reveals that he is merely playing to fool to protect himself in envious Rome. Julia chafes at having placed her son on the throne and yet she cannot rule. Tiberius rankles under his mother's scolding and wonders how he can be rid of her and yet still be a dutiful son. Sejanus reveals that he is playing his own game and seeks to set mother and son against one another, get rid of both Julia and Tiberius, and take the throne for himself. Germanicus is still in his way, however.

Caligula remembers that he was born to be a soldier and that Germanicus knows as much. He marvels that his mother, Agrippina, should so little know him.

Julia contemplates ways to remove Tiberius from power so she might have it herself, but at last she realizes that she must dissemble and await her time. She exits.

Tiberius determines to honor his mother in show but to keep her ambition in check. He exits.

Sejanus decides his best course is to remain the flatterer and await his opportunity. He exits.

Caligula, now alone on stage, thinks to go to Germanicus and rouse him, but as he contemplates this his mother Agrippina enters with his brothers "valiant Drusus" and "wise Nero."

Drusus is in favor of toppling the tyrant. Nero points out that such an act would be impious. They both swore fidelity and prayed for Tiberius' safety. Agrippina hears in her sons the wisdom of their father, Germanicus. She advises them to speak fairly to Tiberius and await the ultimate triumph of Germanicus. They see Caligula playing the fool and ask him what he thinks of the Emperor. Caligula feigns folly, saying that the Emperor is a brave man and has a golden crown. His mother and brothers dismiss him as a foolish child. They exit, leaving Caligula to mutter that, while he admires his brothers highly, he does not trust them. He claims that they might all learn a lesson from him one day.

Scene VII: Tiberius, Julia, and Sejanus discuss the return of Asinius from Germany. The multitude cheered him and desired to hear about Germanicus. The three fear Germanicus' populatity. Tiberius jokes that Germanicus will be a demi-god once Tiberius has outlived him. In order to win the people's praise, he will raise the dead Germanicus himself to the height. Julia advises Tiberius to bar Germanicus from Rome, but Tiberius realizes how quickly that would turn the people away from him and towards Germanicus.

Piso interrupts them. He brings news that Armenia is in revolt under Vonones. Tiberius sees Armenia's war as his opportunity to dispatch Germanicus. No sooner will his enemy arrive in triumph than Tiberius will send him out to Armenia to quell the rebellion. With luck, Germanicus will die in the attempt. If not, Tiberius plans to trump up charges of Germanicus' incompetence and crush his popularity.

Drusus Tiberius (the emperor's son) enters with his wife, Livia, and her servant, Spado. When Tiberius, Julia, and Drusus Tiberius leave, Sejanus takes the opportunity to woo Livia. She will not at first hear his adulterous suit. She pulls his rapier but is disarmed. Spado draws his rapier, but Sejanus buys him off with a purse of gold. Livia takes Spado's rapier to kill Sejanus herself but is prevented when Sejanus pretends to faint. In his swoon he pretends to believe himself dead and speaking to Proserpina. Livia hears him tell the goddess of the dead that he is a lover and should be sent to Elysium. She is moved by this. When he recovers she says she will pity him, that he has reason to hope for her, but she will promise him nothing.

When Livia and Spado leave, Sejanus, alone, reveals that the courtship has nothing to do with love. He seeks to revenge a box on the ear he received from Drusus Tiberius. He also intends to use the affair with Livia as a stepping stone on his way to the throne.

Scene VIII: Germanicus enters in triumph. The senators and all enter in order. Germanicus paraphrases liberally from Tacitus in describing his campaigns. He is cheered. All exit except Germanicus' elder sons Drusus and Nero. They squabble, call one another coward, and each claims that the other has restrained him from toppling Tiberius.

Scene IX: Tiberius, Germanicus, and the Senators enter, Germanicus having accepted the commission to Armenia. Sejanus wishes him well, and Germanicus calls Sejanus his "gentle friend." Tiberius, Sejanus, and Piso exit.

Germanicus realizes the dangers of the expedition and, should he die, entrusts his children and wife to his three closest friends and allies: Nerva, Sabinus, and Asinius. Nerva exits.

Piso reenters to hasten Germanicus. Germanicus laments leaving Rome and craves to take leave of his family. Drusus and Nero enter. They are still angry with one another for not having dispatched Tiberius for their father's glory. Germanicus tells them to be friends. Caligula enters with a tennis ball and racquet. Germanicus is amazed that Caligula seems so simple. He demands an explanation. Caligula will not explain until Drusus and Nero withdraw then he tells Germanicus that he has put on an antic disposition to survive in Rome.

Agrippina enters and begs Germanicus to take her with him to war. He will not. The family embraces and departs.

Scene X: Tiberius and Sejanus enter. Piso has been sent off with Germanicus. Sejanus has given Piso a stock of poisons with which to murder Germanicus in Armenia. Tiberius wishes his mother dead. She has grown bold with him. He also wishes to have Asinius and Sabinus killed. With the two wise councilors out of the way, Tiberius plans to trap Nero and Drusus (the Germanici) and dispose of them as well. The Emperor gives Sejanus his ring, tells him to "be Emperor" in disposing of his enemies, and leaves Rome while the plots begin to hatch.

Scene XI: Asinius, Nerva, and Sabinus enter. They bemoan the state of Rome. Tiberius has fled into the country and Sejanus now wields power as if he were Emperor.

Scene XII: Julia enters with Sejanus. He has told her that Tiberius means to have her killed. In turn, Julia plots with Sejanus to assassinate the Emperor. Tiberius is still in Campania. Sejanus tells of a cave there called Spelunca where the Emperor goes to dine. He knows of a stone that can be pulled to bring down the whole cave. Julia leaves it to Sejanus. Sejanus, alone, confesses that he will kill them all in time, but not now.

Sejanus sees seven planets between himself and the throne: Tiberius, Germanicus, the Germanici (Drusus, Nero, and Caligula), Julia, Agrippina, and Livia-which is, of course, eight. Sejanus already counts Germanicus out of the way, however. There is also Drusus Tiberius, but he means to dispatch him soon.

As for the cave Spelunca, Sejanus discloses that he intends to pull the stone and bring it down, but rather than kill Tiberius he means to save the Emperor's life and so gain more honor and trust before he turns his tricks.

Scene XIII: Armenia. Germanicus with Piso holds parley with Vonones. Germanicus gives the Armenian leader an honorable chance to surrender and treat for peace, but Vonones valiantly declares his decision to fight.

Scene XIV: The battle is engaged. Vonones and his son and army are defeated and run into the castle. Vonones appears on the walls and says he will submit to being a vassal-king to Germanicus. Germanicus answers that he must submit to Tiberius. Vonones refuses. Germanicus and Piso storm the wall, climbing it with their armies. Piso succeeds in reaching the top but must be rescued by Germanicus.

Vonones appears again at the keep (apparently below now). He challenges single combat, which Germanicus accepts. Vonones is killed. Piso and Germanicus argue over who should wear the garland of this honor. The Centurion breaks up the argument by offering to have the matter decided by the soldiers per Roman law. The soldiers choose Germanicus. Piso sprinkles the woven crown with poison before placing it on Germanicus' head. He gloats over Germanicus' imminent death as they all exit.

Scene XV: Tiberius, alone in his Orchard in Campania, threatens the poppies and marigolds as too ambitious, the roots as devious. He suddenly suspects Sejanus, fearing he will betray his plots to the Senate, Julia, or Germanicus.

Scene XVI: Germanicus' ghost enters wearing the poisoned mural crown. He now sees the treachery in Rome and bemoans it. He determines to visit his family one last time before beginning "this new life."

Scene XVII: Agrippina, Drusus, and Nero all dash onto the stage "as from their beds." Each has had a nightmare in which he was visited by Germanicus. Maximus knocks at the door with news of Germanicus' death. Germanicus' dying words accused Piso of the poisoning. Maximus has brought an alabaster box filled with Germanicus' cremated remains, preserved with spices to betray the poison found on his body.

Agrippina sends Nero to fetch Sabinus and Drusus to fetch Asinius. Nero returns with news that Sabinus is death. Drusus returns with news that Asinius is dying of poison.

Scene XVIII: One of Maximus' soldiers tells the Plebeians of Germanicus' death. He reveals that he was poisoned because he died in a fit and his hair would not burn in the crematory. Piso was responsible. When Piso enters, they all grab him, drag him indoors, and return with his limbs, having torn him apart.

Scene XIX: Tiberius and Sejanus enter from the cave. Sejanus has just saved Tiberius in the collapse. Tiberius says he is now assured of Sejanus' fidelity. Sejanus tells him that Julia is dead of the same poison that killed Asinius and Sabinus. As Julia died, however, she told him of a plot to kill the Emperor. Tiberius' son, Drusus Tiberius, means to poison his father and take the crown himself. It will be carried out by Spado, who will act as the Emperor's taster but taste the Emperor's food before secretly poisoning it. It was this news that Sejanus hurried to Campania to tell Tiberius (in time presumably to save him in the cave collapse).

Spado enters to announce the banquet. He draws the arras aside to reveal the table. After Spado tastes the wine, Tiberius bids his son Drusus Tiberius to drink it. When he does, the young man dies. With this confirmation, Tiberius goes on a murderous spree:

• first he stabs Spado for poisoning the wine;
• Next he stabs a messenger who enters with news of Julia's death;
• Next he stabs another messenger who enters with news of Germanicus' death;
• Next he stabs another messenger who enters with news of Piso's death;
• Next he stabs yet another messenger who enters with news of Asinius and Sabinus' deaths;
• He is on the verge of stabbing even Sejanus before Sejanus calls him to his senses.

He leaves for Rome to find the books Augustus wrote and left with Julia.

Sejanus, alone, glories in his success. He means now to eliminate Agrippina, Drusus, Nero, and Tiberius. Then he and Livia will rule Rome.

He plans first to tell the Germanici, Drusus and Nero, that Tiberius is responsible for Germanicus' murder. In the ensuing rebellion most or all of Sejanus' enemies will die.

Scene XX: Caligula enters alone and vows vengeance against Tiberius.

Scene XXI: Sejanus shows Drusus and Nero the pardon Tiberius had drawn up for Piso. With it, he hopes to show Tiberius' hand in Germanicus' death. The two Germanici mistrust Sejanus, however, and are on the point of drawing their swords when Julius Celsus enters. He tells Sejanus to run. Tiberius has found a letter among Julia's papers. It is from Sejanus and reveals his treachery. Julius Celsus runs away. The Germanici, fearing to be implicated, also run. Sejanus hears the arriving horses, but does not know where to run-out one door dogs will bark and give him away, out another geese will "gaggle." He considers suicide, rejects it, then flies after another moment's hesitation

Scene XXII: Sejanus is captured. In front of Tiberius' soldiers he recites Tiberius' villainies. Tiberius exults in them and accuses Sejanus along with himself. Sejanus agrees he was to blame as well. Realizing he is to die, Sejanus exacts his revenge by telling Tiberius that Drusus Tiberius was guiltless. The Emperor is hurt by the news that he killed his own son without cause.

Sejanus goes on to crow that the Germanici will avenge him in avenging Germanicus. Tiberius sends his guard to capture the two young men before they can reach their legions.

A flaming crown is brought in. Because Sejanus wished to have the crown, Tiberius places it on his head. Sejanus dies in a wonder of agony.

Scene XXIII: Agrippina is alone with the alabaster box that holds Germanicus' heart. She laments his death. Macro enters to announce that Tiberius will soon arrive. He quietly warns her that the Emperor bears with him a poisoned apple he intends to give her.

Tiberius arrives with Nerva, Caligula, Macro, and Spurius. Agrippina rails at him for the murder of Germanicus and the imprisonment of Drusus and Nero. He offers her the apple to refresh herself after the tirade. She refuses it. He threatens to banish her to Pandaturia. He tells her there will be little enough for her to eat there.

Agrippina laughs at the Emperor and informs him that she is in the process even now of starving herself to death. Tiberius orders Spurius to force-feed her. She spits out the food. Tiberius orders Spurius to try harder. Spurius accidentally strangles Agrippina to death in the attempt.

Tiberius stabs Spurius for his carelessness. Nerva is sickened by the sight, and Tiberius mutters that Nerva will soon die as well. They leave.

Macro and Caligula are left alone with the bodies. Macro upbraids Caligula for standing by, but Caligula reminds him that Germanicus (under whom Macro served) prized patience above all virtues. Macro swears allegiance to Caligula. Caligula offers to tell Macro his secret if he meets him at Fides Temple. Macro promises to meet him and leaves.

Caligula tenderly carries his mother's body away, lamenting that Aeneas did not carry so precious a burden.

Scene XXIV: The Germanici, starving in Tiberius' prison, take sustenance by eating one another's arms. It does no good and they both expire, but not before Caligula enters to see them commending one another to Elysium. Caligula again vow revenge for the outrage.

Scene XXV: Tiberius is in the prisons still looking for papers. He informs us that Nerva has starved himself to death. Julius Celsus cries out from prison to have his chains loosened. He calls upon Tiberius' "Geneus" (an apostrophe often employed by the Emperor). Tiberius grants his request, and Celsus repays him by hurling abuse upon him. Tiberius merely agrees that he is indeed responsible for all of the deaths laid upon him. Celsus finishes by using the loosened chains to strangle himself. Tiberius is annoyed that Celsus has deprived him of another killing.

Scene XXVI: At the Fides Temple Macro and Caligula have joined in oaths to topple Tiberius. Caligula has a mule's hoof filled with water from the river Styx, water that killed Alexander the Great, that he intends to give to Tiberius. Macro is entreated to go win the legions' hearts to Caligula.

Scene XXVII: Livia, lamenting the deaths of her father and mother, Germanicus and Agrippina, and of her brothers, Drussus and Nero, drowns herself in a well.

Scene XXVIII: Macro assures Caligula that the legions are up in arms to welcome him their new Emperor. Caligula goes to Tiberius, who is in a gastro-intestinal distress presumably brought on by the water in the mule's hoof. Caligula smothers him in a sheet and stabs him in revenge for his parents and brothers. Caligula ends the play with a long diatribe listing a number of other villainies enacted by Tiberius including the crucifixion of St. Peter. He concludes by stating that he played the fool to win the throne.

Sejanus, senator, is from the beginning in league with Tiberius. Julia sent him to Rhodes to free Tiberius from exile on the death of Augustus. He counsels the Emperor in his affairs but is actually planning to take the throne for himself. He begins an affair with Livia, the Emperor's daughter-in-law as a prelude to usurpation.

Asinius, senator, sees the corruption latent in Tiberius and advises him to go live in a remote area of the empire when Tiberius feigns that the imperial crown would be too great a weight. He is sent to Germanicus to tell him that Tiberius has become emperor and extended Germanicus' proconsulship another eight years. Later Germanicus entrusts his children and wife to Asinius, Nerva, and Sabinus should he die in Armenia. He is poisoned by Sejanus.

Sabinus, senator. He begs Tiberius to take the crown. Later Germanicus entrusts his children and wife to Sabinus, Nerva, and Asinius should he die in Armenia. He is poisoned by Sejanus/

Cocceius Nerva, a flamen, is first seen officiating Augustus' funeral. He is the first to offer Tiberius the imperial crown and ultimately places the crown on Tiberius' head. Later Germanicus entrusts his children and wife to Nerva, Sabinus, and Asinius should he die in Armenia. He starves himself to death after witnessing the strangulation of Agrippina.

Drusus Tiberius, son of the Emperor. He delivers a stately encomium at Augustus' funeral. Sejanus convinces the Emperor that Drusus Tiberius is ambitious and wishes to murder him. The Emperor gives his son a cup of poisoned wine and kills him. The Emperor only later learns that Drusus Tiberius was guiltless.

Asinius Gallus, (consul number 1 in the text). He appears in the opening funeral procession and encourages Tiberius to take the imperial crown. He must not be confused with Asinius the senator, who has a much larger part to play in the tragedy.

Titius Sabinus, (consul number 2 in the text). He appears in the opening funeral procession and encourages Tiberius to take the imperial crown. He must not be confused with Sabinus the senator, who has a much larger part to play in the tragedy.

Nero, son of Germanicus, pleads with Tiberius to take the imperial crown. He later upholds Tiberius' right to be Emperor under a theory of divine right of kings. He is sorry later not to have killed Tiberius when he and Drusus had the opportunity. The two of them are captured and imprisoned. They try to survive by cannibalizing one another's arms, but they ultimately die together of starvation.

Drusus, son of Germanicus, pleads with Tiberius to take the imperial crown. He later wishes to unseat the tyrant but is talked out of it by his brother Nero. He is angered by his brother's lack of action. Germanicus scolds him and makes them friends. He and Nero are captured and imprisoned as enemies to Tiberius. They try to survive by cannibalizing one another's arms, but they ultimately die together of starvation.

Caligula, son of Germanicus, tells Tiberius he ought to become Emperor. He foolishly refers to the imperial crown as gold worth the having. He plays the fool to divert suspicion from himself. He knows Tiberius is a tyrant, but pretends even to his siblings and mother that he thinks the Emperor is a "brave" man with a lovely crown. His apparent folly (and subsequent harmlessness) wins him invitations to dine with the Emperor. He witnesses the murder by strangulation of his mother, Agrippina, and by starvation of his brothers, Drusus and Nero. He joins forces with the soldier Macro in a righteous conspiracy against Tiberius. He gives the Emperor a mule's hoof full of water from the river Styx (which he says killed Alexander the Great) then smothers Tiberius in a sheet and stabs him to death. He becomes Emperor at play's end.

Germanicus, noble husband of Agrippina. He is father to Livia, Drusus, Nero, and Caligula. He is the hero of Germany and a true Roman. He is first seen crowning a Centurion with a woven-grass coronet in recognition of his bravery. When he learns the German mercenaries have chosen him as Emperor, he calls them mutinous and quells their revolt against Tiberius. He resents Tiberius' rule, however, and sees himself the far better man for Emperor. He returns from Germany triumphant, but before he is allowed to enjoy his triumph and popularity, Tiberius sends him to put down a rebellion in Armenia. When he defeats Vovones the Armenian, Piso places a poisoned garland of victory on his head and so kills him. His ghost then visits his wife and two elder sons.

Centurion of Germanicus. When he is honored for bravery, he delivers an encomium on all of the great Romans that came before him-Coriolanus, Marius, Scylla under Scipio-and claims to be only following their examples. After the war in Armenia, the Centurion steps in to stop an argument between Germanicus and Piso as to which should wear the laurel wreath of victory. Under Roman law, the Centurion reminds them, the soldiers are to decide who receives the wreath. The soldiers choose Germanicus.

Julia, mother of the Emperor, widow of Augustus. She has conspired with Tiberius to see that he, and not Germanicus, will become Emperor of Rome. Upon Augustus' death, she sent Sejanus immediately to Rhodes to free Tiberius from exile and so undermine Germanicus in Germany. When she tries to wield her son's power, Tiberius plots to have her murdered. When she learns of her son's plots, she plots to have him killed instead. Sejanus gives her poison in a pomegranate and so kills her.

Agrippina, Germanicus' wife. She admires her husband's virtues and sees them in her two elder sons, Drusus and Nero. She advises them to be politic with Tiberius until their father, Germanicus, can come to Rome in triumph. She despairs of her youngest son, Caligula, not realizing that he is merely playing the fool in order to win the Emperor's confidence. When Germanicus is sent to Armenia, she begs her husband to take her with him, but he will not. Tiberius tries to murder her with a poisoned apple, when she refuses it, she is strangled by Spurius as he tries to force-feed her.

Lucius Piso, praetor of Syria. He tells the Emperor of an uprising in Armenia led by Vonones. He is suborned by Tiberius and Sejanus to accompany Germanicus back to Armenia and there poison him. After the war with Armenia, Piso at first claims the wreath of victory for himself, but when Germanicus claims it Piso sprinkles it with poison before putting it on Germanicus' head. He returns to Rome only to be taken by an angry mob and torn to pieces for the murder of Germanicus.

Livia, Drucius Tiberius' wife; Tiberius' daughter-in-law; sister to Nero, Drusus, and Caligula (the Germanici); daughter to Germanicus and Agrippina. She is seduced by Sejanus in his bid to usurp her father-in-law's throne. She appears near play's end and drowns herself in a well.

Spado, Livia's attendant. He draws his rapier on Sejanus to defend his lady's honor, but Sejanus buys him off with a purse of money.

Vonones, leader of the Armenians. He revolts against Roman rule in Armenia. He is valiant in his struggle against Rome and honorable in seeing Germanicus as his "enemy friend." He fights the Romans and loses. He offers a challenge of single combat and is defeated and slain at the hands of Germanicus.

Vovones' son, a non-speaking part. He engages the Romans during the war in Armenia, fighting alongside his father. We learn from Germanicus that he was killed while defending the keep.

Maximus, Germanicus' messenger. He brings the cremated remains of Germanicus back to Agrippina. He reports that Germanicus' dying words were that Piso had poisoned him.

Soldier of Maximus. He tells the mob of Germanicus' murder and leads them in their murderous assault upon Piso.

Julius Celsus, Sejanus' friend. He enters to inform Sejanus that Tiberius has found letters from Sejanus to Julia that reveal Sejanus' treachery. He is next seen in prison where he hurls abuse at the Emperor and strangles himself to death with his own chains.

Spurius, a servant of the Emperor. A non-speaking role, he is sent to fetch in the burning crown that Tiberius uses to execute Sejanus. He is ordered to force-feed Agrippina and while attempting it accidentally strangles her to death. Tiberius stabs him for his clumsiness.

Macro, officer of the Emperor. He warns Agrippina that Tiberius means to poison her with an apple. He stands by helplessly while she is strangled to death. He joins forces with Caligula, the son of his commander Germanicus. Macro speaks to the legions and raises them in support of Caligula after the death of Tiberius.

• Caligula murders Tiberius while pushing him behind the Arras:
• The Arras must be drawn aside to reveal the banquet Drusus Tiberius has set for his father;
• Caligula is given a line as he carries Agrippina off thus clearing the stage.

• He brings in characters "aloft" and "below" in several scenes with effect;
• He includes two large processions for spectacle;
• He indicates certain doors at certain places for entrances and exits.

However, there is no evidence of this play ever having been performed. Additionally, there are several scenes that simply may not be played on a live stage, to-wit:

• Drusus and Nero eating one another's arms;
• Sejanus scalding to death under a flaming crown;
• Piso, Germanicus, and their armies climbing the façade to the "aloft" areas during the Armenian scenes;
• Insufficient characters are on stage during some of the massacre scenes to clear off all of the bodies before the next scene commences.

Most of the play is in verse. The verse quality is middling at best and changes to quatrain-couplet rhyming verse (ABABCC) for Livia's suicide scene.

The author, relying on Tacitus, apparently adopts the rumor as truth that Augustus Caesar was the actual father of Nero Claudius Drusus, making Germanicus the direct grandson of Caesar. In scene five, Germanicus claims that he should be emperor by nature while Tiberius is merely emperor by adoption. There is another possibility. Germanicus could trace his line back through Antonia (Marc Antony's daughter) to Octavia (Augustus' sister) and through her back to Caius Julius Caesar, the father of Julius Caesar. This is what Germanicus apparently means when he says "My father was Caius, [Tiberius'] father Claudius / I am of Caesar, he of Claudius [Julia's husband before Augustus]"

Julia was granted that name by virtue of her marriage to Augustus. The author indiscriminately calls her Augusta in the course of the play apparently expecting his audience to know that detail. In history, she was also known as Livia.

The author takes many liberties with the history of Rome. Agrippina was sent to Pandaturia in exile, for example. In the play she is only threatened with exile before being strangled to death. Sejanus died in the putsch Tiberius led against Rome as opposed to the author's desire to see him scalded to death under a burning crown. Very little is done with the well-documented spy network developed under Tiberius by Sejanus. Other glaring inconsistencies abound.

It is interesting to see Caligula portrayed as a cross between Hamlet and Prince Hal, the foolish child playing the antic in order to reveal himself when occasion best serves. Caligula makes an interesting choice for hero-revenger and again points to the author's lack of in-depth understanding of Roman history.

The author refers twice to Caligula's being born on one of his father's campaigns. It is rumored that he was called Caligula ("little boots") because of his wearing a tiny version of the military dress when he was a lad.

Shakespeare's Hamlet for the echo in Caligula's antic disposition.

Shakespeare's 1 Henry IV for another echo of Caligula's modus operandi.