Lindsay Powell

As emperor, Tiberius adopted an approach of strategic patience, preferring to conduct proxy war through Rome’s Germanic allies, rather than direct intervention, in order to keep potential threats to her interests in check. Had he acceded to Germanicus’ wishes, Tiberius’ forces could – some say would– have retaken Germania. That outcome would have changed the course of world history. Instead, the Rhine became Rome’s de facto north-western frontier and the legionaries withdrew to camps along the left bank to guard against incursions of Germanic warriors from the other side.