Tiberius Licinius Crassus

Tiberius is the son of Marcus Licinius Crassus, a Roman general and politician. He is tasked with helping his father defeat Spartacus and his rebel army, seeing this as an opportunity to gain his father's approval and favor.

Names	Tiberius Licinius Crassus, Boy
Gender	Male ♂
Race	Human
Occupation	Tribune
Origin	Spartacus: War of the Dammed Episode 1 (S3E1): "Enemies of Rome" (January 25, 2013)
Alignment	Evil
Age	14-15
Created By	Steven S, DeKnight,
Height	170cm (5ft 6in)
Weight	70kg (155lbs)
Personality Type	ESTJ, 3w4 (Enneagram)
Portrayed By	Christian Antidormi

Physical Appearance

Tiberius is a young Roman man with dark, cropped hair and a toned, athletic build. He has a clean-shaven face and wears the robes of the elite Roman class, along with a suit of armor and a sword bearing the emblem of the House of Crassus.

Personality

Tiberius is impulsive and prone to making rash decisions. He holds slaves in low esteem, particularly Spartacus, but seems to have a good relationship with Kore. Tiberius exhibits overconfidence and entitled behavior, typical of someone born into a prestigious family. He is desperate to prove himself to his father and will stop at nothing to gain his approval.

However, after being forced to battle Hilarus and witnessing the brutal decimation of his own unit, Tiberius begins to question his father's values and the true nature of his life. He becomes withdrawn and resentful, addressing his father as "Imperator" rather than "father." Although he later shows glimpses of his former self, his experiences have left a lasting impact on his personality.

Tiberius's contempt for others is evident in his willingness to use brutal and immoral methods to assert his dominance. He subjects Kore to rape and threats, disregarding her past care for him. Similarly, he attempts to intimidate Caesar, but is quickly intimidated himself and begs for help. These actions reveal Tiberius's shameless and ruthless nature.

Biography

War of The Dammed

Tiberius watches as his father, Crassus, spars with Hilarus, complaining that Crassus is wasting time and not focusing on the rebellion. When Crassus accepts command under Cossinius and Furius, Tiberius scolds him for serving under "lesser" Romans. Nonetheless, Crassus tasks Tiberius with assembling a military, which Tiberius delegates to Sabinus.

As Tiberius observes Crassus training with Hilarus, he criticizes his father's methods. Crassus responds by having Tiberius spar with Hilarus, who easily defeats him. Crassus notes that Tiberius' attitude is similar to that of those killed by Spartacus.

After Crassus defeats Hilarus, Tiberius looks at his father with newfound respect. When Metellus grants Crassus command of the new army, Tiberius realizes this was Crassus' plan all along. He questions Crassus, who responds, "The house of Crassus bows to no one."

Tiberius earns favor with Crassus by arranging for weapons merchants to supply the army. However, when Julius Caesar allies himself with Crassus, Tiberius becomes envious of Caesar's newfound influence. Sabinus advises Tiberius to ignore Caesar, but Tiberius becomes further enraged when he discovers Caesar making advances on Kore.

Crassus appoints Tiberius as a commander in his army, and Tiberius is tasked with leading troops alongside Mummius. When a deserting guard informs them of Spartacus' takeover of Sinuessa, Caesar kills the guard, infuriating Tiberius. Caesar justifies his actions, citing the guard's cowardice, and Tiberius asserts his authority as Caesar's commander, but Caesar dismisses him.

Upon learning of Spartacus' location, Tiberius considers launching a surprise attack, despite Sabinus' reservations. When Spartacus meets with the Cilician pirates, Tiberius seizes the opportunity to attack, ordering Mummius to mobilize the soldiers. Tiberius justifies his actions, believing his father would be disappointed if he didn't capitalize on the chance to defeat the enemy.

In the ensuing battle, Tiberius showcases unexpected fighting skills, besting several rebels and pirates. However, he is seriously wounded by a spear to the midsection during a confrontation with Totus. Sabinus arrives just in time to escort Tiberius away from the battlefield as the pirates launch fireballs, killing Mummius and others.

A disgraced Tiberius tends to his wounds, only to be reprimanded by Crassus for his humiliating defeat. Crassus informs Tiberius of Caesar's undercover mission as a slave and announces that decimation will be implemented to instill fear and respect in the army. Tiberius is stripped of his rank and position, and his name is included in the decimation lottery. With his future looking bleak, Tiberius paints the five white stones that will seal the fate of the chosen soldiers.

During the decimation, Tiberius receives a regular stone, but Sabinus is not so fortunate. As Sabinus is beaten to death, Tiberius is overcome with emotion and mercifully ends his friend's life. The experience leaves Tiberius an emotional wreck, filled with resentment towards his father, whom he now coldly refers to as "The Imperator."

At the soldiers' camp, Tiberius is consumed by grief and anger as he recalls the decimation that took Sabinus' life. He lashes out at fellow soldiers fighting over food, condemning their cowardice and the injustice of Sabinus' fate.

Later, Kore attempts to comfort Tiberius, but he's consumed by rage and a desire for revenge against his father. He brutally rapes Kore, using her as a means to lash out at Crassus.

Crassus, seeking to restore Tiberius to his good graces, tasks him with helping to prepare a celebration for Caesar. Tiberius is reluctant but accepts. When he encounters Kore again, he threatens her to keep the rape a secret, warning her of punishment from himself or Crassus.

Before the celebration, Tiberius meets with Caesar, who belittles him and mocks his failures. Seeking revenge, Tiberius secretly unshackles Donar, a captured rebel, to attack Caesar during the festivities. Although Caesar is injured, he ultimately defeats Donar, who takes his own life. Tiberius' plan fails to kill Caesar, but it does injure him and undermine his authority.

After the celebrations, Crassus reinstates Tiberius to his former position, promising a brighter future, including Kore's promotion to a villaca in Sinuessa. Tiberius delights in the news and watches with glee as Caesar learns of his promotion and demotion.

In the snowy mountains, Tiberius camps with Crassus and the Roman army, awaiting their next move on Spartacus. When Caesar appears, despite being ordered to stay in Sinuessa, Tiberius confronts him. However, Kore's presence worries Tiberius, until she slips away to join Spartacus' army.

As Crassus, Caesar, and Tiberius scout the frozen corpses of rebels, Tiberius is disgusted by the 'savages.' However, Spartacus launches a surprise attack, and the trio barely escapes.

Pursuing Spartacus, Tiberius repeatedly questions and contradicts Caesar, supporting his father instead. Caesar blackmails Tiberius over Kore's rape, revealing he knows the truth. The two engage in a heated argument, and Caesar reveals his knowledge of the rape. Tiberius attacks Caesar, who easily bests him. However, the Praetorian Guard intervenes, restraining Caesar, and Tiberius rapes him, threatening to reveal the encounter if Caesar exposes his secret.

During the battle against Crixus, Tiberius leads a cavalry charge, breaking the rebels' flank. He incapacitates Agron and stabs Crixus in the back, denying him a warrior's end. Tiberius is granted the final kill via Crixus' decapitation, reclaiming his sword and supposedly defeating the Undefeated Gaul.

Tiberius is sent by Crassus to meet with Pompey, who supposedly wants to aid in the hunt for Spartacus. However, Tiberius discovers too late that it's a trap set by Spartacus, and he's captured and beaten along with his men.

The rebels take Tiberius to an abandoned arena, where they arrange executions as a form of revenge against the Romans. Tiberius, still defiant, commands his men to accept death rather than be used as entertainment for the rebels.

Kore appears, and Tiberius shamelessly tries to persuade her to free him, appealing to her loyalty to his father. However, Kore coldly rejects him, telling him she'll return to watch him die and take pleasure in it.

Tiberius is forced to watch as his men are killed by the rebels for sport. When it's his turn, Naevia, seeking revenge for Crixus, fights him in the arena. Tiberius demands his sword back, but Naevia taunts him, provoking him into charging at her.

The battle is intense, but Naevia eventually gains the upper hand, slashing Tiberius and crippling him. Just as she's about to deliver the final blow, Spartacus intervenes, revealing that Crassus has offered a bargain: spare Tiberius, and Crassus will release 500 rebel prisoners. Naevia beats Tiberius, vowing to take his life someday.

Spartacus delivers Tiberius to Caesar, who takes pleasure in Tiberius' battered state. As they prepare to hand Tiberius over, he accuses Caesar of setting him up and threatens to expose him to his father. Caesar taunts Tiberius, promising revenge for his past injustices.

Just as they're about to leave, Kore appears and fatally stabs Tiberius in the stomach. As he lies dying, Kore smirks, and Tiberius' face contorts in humiliation and horror.

Tiberius' corpse is later seen at the Roman camp, where his father mourns. Crassus reflects on the face mold made of Tiberius, saying it captures a false image of peace, unlike the boy he knew, who always wore a furrowed brow, much like himself.

When Crassus meets with Spartacus, he learns that Spartacus didn't order Kore to kill Tiberius. Crassus returns to his tent, confronting Kore and Caesar, and the truth finally comes to light. Kore confesses that Tiberius raped her, and Caesar explains that they didn't want to cause Crassus further pain.

Crassus is shocked, horrified, and infuriated by his son's actions. He destroys the face mold, seeing his own twisted and grotesque reflection in it. Kore reassures Crassus that he is not his son, and Crassus begs forgiveness for his son's crimes, acknowledging that he feels responsible for Kore's suffering. The two share a warm embrace, and Crassus vows that his quest for vengeance against Spartacus will bring an end to the suffering.

Historicity

In the TV series War of the Damned, Tiberius is portrayed as the son of Marcus Licinius Crassus. However, historically, Crassus had two sons, Marcus and Publius, with no record of a son named Tiberius.

If Tiberius is intended to represent the real-life Marcus, Crassus' firstborn son, then his birth year would have been around 86 BCE. This would have made him 14 or 15 years old in 71 BCE, consistent with the series' portrayal of him as a "boy."

In ancient Roman society, boys became legally recognized as adult men at 15 years old. They were not eligible to join the Roman army until they reached this age. The series takes creative liberties with Tiberius' character, but his age and portrayal as a novice soldier are consistent with historical context.

Trivia

• Historically, Crassus had no son named Tiberius; his actual sons were Marcus and Publius.
• Tiberius' rank as a military officer is uncertain, but possibilities include Tribunus Laticlavius (broad-striped tribune), Praefectus Cohortis (cohort prefect), or Tribunus Rufulus (officer picked by the commander).
• Before his commission, Tiberius might have been referred to as an Adulescens (young man).
• Tiberius is the 17th main character to die and the last main antagonist to be killed.
• Tiberius and his family belong to the Gens Licinia, an Etruscan dynasty with notable ancestors like Gaius Licinius and Publius Licinius Crassus Dives.
• Latin terms related to Tiberius' relationships include Filius (son), Frater and Germanus (brother), and Amicus (friend).
• Although implied, a romantic relationship between Tiberius and Sabinus has been denied by Christian Antidormi.