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When discussing court rivalries during the reign of Tiberius, Tacitus remarks that Tiberius gave preference to his natural son Drusus over his adopted son Germanicaus, but elsewhere he claims that, while Germanicus was alive, Tiberius did not indicate which if his two sons should be his successor. Since Tacitus gives no evidence for an apparent distinction between the two sons of Tiberius, the former statement, of Tiberius' preference for Drusus, appears incorrect. Should we simply ignore this criticism of Tiberius' lack of impartiality, assuming that Tacitus was speaking generally, since it is only natural that a father would live his natural son more than his adopted son, or is it possible that Tacitus is right in his assessment of the relationship between this father and his sons, and that Tiberius did show a preference for Drusus? I would like to examine some of the key points in the early life of Drusus to establish what his status was in the household of Augustus prior to AD14, and then I shall consider his position just after the death of Augustus. From this it may be determined whether there was a change in the imperial prospects of Drusus after AD14, and, if so, what caused this change. Finally, I shall determine what role Tiberius played in Drusus' career and if this might have been construed by Tacitus as preference.
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