Iron Imperator: Roman Grand Strategy Under Tiberius

A fantastic volume for anyone interested in the growing field of the applied history of international relations, especially as it relates to antiquity.On its face, the subject of this book is perplexing. Tiberius' reign is fairly understudied in the history of the Principate and what is said of the man is seldom good. At the forefront of these histories is usually Tiberius' purported lechery and his near-deposition by Sejanus. But Iskander Rehman takes a different tack - he focuses on Tiberian grand strategy and the foreign policy of the Empire. But again, this is perplexing on its face. Wouldn't students of history prefer to hear about the great conquerors? The Caesars with notable military exploits like Augustus and Trajan. The men who expanded the boundaries of the empire make for good storytelling but perhaps, Rehman argues, Tiberius' reign is a more useful touchstone for our present moment. This isn't the story of how Rome climbed to hegemony. Rather, Rehman examines how Tiberius preserved that hegemony.Tiberius' foreign policy was a sort of managerial hegemony, one that sought to hold true to the (maybe apocryphal) admonition Augustus gave his successor before he died to keep the borders of the Empire as they were. Tiberius did that. Despite being loathed by his death in 37 AD, Tiberius had presided over a period of unprecedented peace, security, and internal stability. Under his aegis there were no Carrhaes, no Teutoburg Forests. He never had to beg any of his fallen legates to "give me back my legions!" Rehman makes it clear that for all his flaws, Tiberius' strategic managerialism was unparalleled in the early Principate and avoided many of the calamities that came before and would come after.This book offers important lessons for today. How to manage hegemony is the question on everyone's lips in the Washington beltway, especially as the world moves closer to multipolarity. Could the U.S. do as Tiberius did? Can we in America be satisfied with the power we have? Can we, as George Kennan said in 1966, "show ourselves a little more relaxed" in the face of a complex world? Or will we run the risk of overextension? Rehman's unique history ultimately shows us that the more things change, the more they stay the same. If you're a student of antiquity, international relations or (like me!) both, this is a must-own.

In this detailed literary portrait, Dr. Rehman delivers a fresh perspective on Emperor Tiberius, often overshadowed by his predecessor Augustus. His analysis provides a nuanced, multidisciplinary exploration of Tiberius' political, military, and philosophical influences, positioning him as both a complex and overlooked figure in Roman history. Of particular interest for me was the examination on the evolution and adaptability of the Roman Legionnaire and military tactics under Tiberius's Rome. Dr. Rehman also provides relevant analysis key foreign policy decisions and strategic conflicts during Tiberius' reign, drawing parallels to our modern geopolitical issues.