Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus was a Roman politician and military commander, also known as Drusus the Elder. The younger son of Livia Drusilla, Drusus was also the legal stepson of Emperor Augustus; he was the brother of Emperor Tiberius and the father of Emperor Claudius. Drusus is distinguished for launching the first major campaigns across the Rhine and beginning the conquest of Germania. Drusus spearheaded numerous successful campaigns against the Germanic tribes; his military success made him a favorite of Augustus. He died 29 years-of-age, tragically depriving the Roman Empire of one of its best generals. The descendants of Drusus would play major roles in the continuity of the Roman Empire.
Bust of Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus
Drusus was born in 38 BCE, the youngest son of Livia Drusilla and her first husband Tiberius Claudius Nero, a patrician. His original name was Decimus Claudius Drusus, though for reasons unknown Drusus chose the cognomen “Nero” to be his praenomen. Before the couple divorced, Nero was legally declared the boy’s father; Livia would divorce Nero in order to marry the triumvir and future first emperor Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus (later known as Augustus). There were rumors that Drusus was actually Augustus’ son, though this is highly unlikely. However, Claudius, during his reign as emperor, encouraged the rumors so as create the impression that he was more directly linked to Augustus. Drusus was raised in the house of Nero, along with his older brother Tiberius, until their father’s death. The relationship between Drusus and Tiberius was a famously close one, the brothers ever devoted to one another. Tiberius named his son after his brother, and Drusus did likewise with his son, the famed Germanicus.
Drusus was fast-tracked through the cursus honorum due to the patronage of his stepfather, holding the position of quaestor five years before he was legally able to do so. Augustus bestowed many honors on his stepsons, as in 15 BCE Drusus was assigned to the province of Gaul to serve as legatus Augusti pro praetore (“general of Augustus with the authority of a praetor”) after his previous military success. Likewise, a year earlier while Tiberius was away from Italy Drusus legislated in his place. That same year Drusus married Antonia Minor, a daughter of Mark Antony and Octavia Minor, sister of Augustus. Drusus gained a reputation of being completely faithful to Antonia, and the same was said of Antonia. They had several children, but only three survived to adulthood. Three emperors were direct descendants of Drusus: his son Claudius, his grandson Caligula, and his great-grandson Nero.
As governor of Gaul, Drusus established concilium Galliarum (“council of the Gaulish provinces”) and made the city of Lugdunum (modern Lyon) the headquarters of the province. The council would elect members as priests who oversaw celebratory games and venerated the goddess Roma as well as Augustus. His son Tiberius Claudius Nero (“Claudius”) was born in Lugdunum the same day the altar of the three Gauls was inaugurated in 10 BCE. Augustus annexed the Alps and the lands leading up to the Rhine and the Danube, so as to regulate the German frontier better, as he intended to annex Germania (Germany) beyond the Rhine. Augustus appointed Drusus, who was 23 years-old, to command the German campaign; Drusus was an inexperienced general at this point, but his experiences in the Alps would mold him into a great commander.
Northern Italy wasn’t completely under the domain of Rome, as a collection of Celtic tribes, specifically the Raeti, disturbed trade. In 15 BCE Drusus and his legions swept through the territory, making quick work of the Raeti. Augustus awarded the Drusus the title of praetor, encouraging Drusus to continue to campaign with unmatched success. Tiberius reinforced Drusus in the second phase of the campaign, leading legions against the Vindelici, a tribe located in modern-day Bavaria. Despite firm resistance, the Vindelici were crushed and Drusus established a new military base named Augusta Vindelicorum (modern-day Augsburg).Drusus and Tiberius marched eastward to the Kingdom of Noricum, in modern-day Austria. While Noricum was actually a trade ally of Rome, the brothers were given orders to annex it. They quickly achieved annexing Noricum without major struggle. Having completed his mission in a single campaign season, this is when Augustus gave him the authority of praetor and governorship of Gaul.
Drusus’ next assignment was to build a string of military bases along the Rhine, in preparation for the official annexation of Germania, though the Germanic tribes would not settle easily, and so methods of conquest were considered. In two years the massive military project of the age was completed, and in 12 BCE Drusus and his legions crossed the Rhine and began the campaign against the Germanic tribes. He first engaged the Sugambri and Usipete tribes, swiftly nullifying the opposition, and then continued on with an amphibious campaign to further the subjugation of the Germanic peoples. There were a few naval encounters between Drusus and the Bructeri, all ending in Roman victory. Drusus ordered some of his fleet to discover a route to the Caspian Sea, though they eventually had to turn back due to bad weather. Meanwhile, Drusus contended with the Chauci, who were defeated and sued for peace. After this Drusus returned to Gaul to winter until the forthcoming campaign season, though he used his new tribal alliances to navigate the North Sea.
“Drusus invades Germany”
Drusus was rewarded with the title of praetor urbanus by Augustus in 11 BCE; news of Drusus’ achievements caused great excitement in Rome. Drusus did not have it in him to stay in Rome, preferring to continue with his German campaign. So, Drusus took five legions and crossed the Rhine once again to subdue the Germanic tribes, ascending the Lippe and conducing military engagements against the Tencteri and Usipetes, in which he was victorious. Forts were then established in the region; on their way to the Weser Drusus came upon the Chatti, who fiercely fought the Romans but were eventually subjugated. Drusus then ordered the construction of forts in the Taunus Mountains, deciding to winter there. This was the first time a Roman army had spent a river on the right bank of the Rhine. On the return journey Drusus and the legions were ambushed by the Cherusci at Arbalo, quickly devolving into a hard-strung battle where the Cherusci failed to capitalize on their initial advantage and the Romans managed to defeat the German attackers. The soldiers then proclaimed Drusus as imperator.
To secure his position Drusus garrisoned men at multiple outposts, deciding again to winter in Germania. He rejoined his wife and children for a time at Lugdunum before returning to Rome. Drusus reported directly to Augustus to divulge his achievements, in which Augustus honored him with an ovation and, for a second time, closed the doors of the Temple of Janus, signifying that the Roman world was at peace. Drusus was then granted the office of proconsul for 10 BCE. In 9 BCE Drusus was easily elected consul, though he left Rome before assuming the office in order to trounce more Germanic tribes. Drusus’ consulship gave him the chance to gain the spolia opima, the most honorable of any war trophy a Roman commander could gain. Drusus eagerly returned to the field, but not before stopping in Lugdunum to confer with the council and dedicate a temple to Augustus. Drusus led his army through the territories of the Marsi and Cherusci until he crossed the Elbe. It is said that Drusus encountered an apparition of a German woman who demanded he leave her homeland immediately and that his days were numbered. Drusus turned back, but not before erecting a trophy to commemorate his reaching of the Elbe. Sources agree that Drusus sought at least three Germanic chieftains during his campaigns, engaging in “dazzling displays of singe combat”. The sources, while ambiguous, do imply that Drusus did take the spolia opim from a Germanic king, making him the fourth and last Roman to have this honor.
“Drusus and the Germanic Woman”
On his return Drusus fell from his horse, mortally injuring him as he lingered on for a month. Tiberius joined Drusus after hearing of this injury, and soon after Tiberius arrived Drusus died. Interestingly, before his death Drusus wrote to Tiberius complaining about Augustus’ rule, implying he may have had republican sentiments, and that he refused to return to Rome for an unknown reason. Drusus was cremated and his ashes were placed in the Mausoleum of Augustus. The Senate declared Drusus fecundi ingeni (“fecund genius”). Legionaries erected a monument (the Drususstein) to him in Mogontiacum (modern Mainz). Drusus’ family was gifted the hereditary victory title of Germanicus (“Victor of Germania), which his eldest son inherited as his byname. Augustus decreed that festivals were to be held in Mogontiacum on Drusus’ death day and birthday. Augustus also wrote a biography of Drusus, but it has not survived. Livia, his mother, was greatly affected by his death, requiring the help of the philosopher Areus who convinced her to put up statues and images of Drusus, also instructing her to speak often about him.
Upon Claudius accession Drusus received new public honors as well as celebratory games in the Circus Maximus to be held on his birthday. Claudius also constructed a road from Italy into Raetia, following Drusus’ route, where road-markers were stationed commemorating Drusus’ campaign achievements. Drusus was revered as a national hero, fondly looked back on as one of Rome’s greatest generals. All accounts refer to Drusus being of good character and sorely missed.
Recommended Reading:
Eager for Glory: The Untold Story of Drusus the Elder, Conqueror of Germania, Lindsay Powell
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