the Roman emperor, A.D. 37–41, was the son of Germanicus and Agrippina, and was born A.D. 12. He began his reign with every appearance of becoming the real father of the people; but eight months after he assumed the purple, he was seized with a fever, which probably weakened his mental faculties; for his disposition totally changed, and he became a sanguinary and licentious tyrant. After having murdered many of his subjects with his own hand, and caused others to be put to death without trial, he was assassinated by a tribune of the people as he was leaving the amphitheatre. See ROMAN HISTORY.