Germanicus Caesar [key], 15 b.c.–a.d. 19, Roman general, son of Drusus Senior. He was adopted (a.d. 4) by his uncle Emperor Tiberius. Germanicus fought (a.d. 8) in Pannonia and Dalmatia and in a.d. 14, when he was commander in Germany, put down the mutiny of the Roman legions after the death of Augustus. He took advantage (a.d. 15) of an opportunity to attack Arminius, and though not at first successful he eventually defeated the German leader. In a.d. 16 he attacked and defeated the Germans at the Weser River. Tiberius recalled Germanicus and sent him to the East, where he reduced (a.d. 18) Cappadocia and Commagene to the status of provinces. After a visit to Egypt, Germanicus died suddenly, supposedly of poison at the hand of Cneius Calpurnius Piso, governor of Syria. Germanicus was the brother of the Emperor Claudius I and the father of the Emperor Caligula and Agrippina II by his wife Agrippina I.
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