The Reigns of Roman Emperors 

11.  The death of Germanicus 

    Josephus places Gratus' rule over Judea during the first eleven years of Tiberius' reign, so that the first year 

of Pilate's rule over Judea began in the 12th year of Tiberius' reign. Eusebius, a bishop and historian of the 

early Church, interprets Josephus to the same conclusion:  it was actually in the twelfth year of the reign of 

Tiberius that Pilate was appointed procurator of Judea by Tiberius. 

869

 Now Josephus places the death of 

Germanicus during the reign of Pontius Pilate.

870

 (Germanicus was a Roman general, at one time a Roman 

consul, and was the grand nephew of Augustus.) But Dio and Tacitus both place the death of Germanicus in 

the fifth year after the death of Augustus.

871

    The only way that Germanicus could have died during the reign of Pontius Pilate (following the 12th year of 

Tiberius' reign), and in the 5th year after Augustus died, is if the reign of Tiberius began long before the death 

of Augustus. In this revised chronology, the 5th year after the death of Augustus coincided with Pilate's rule 

over Judea because Pilate's reign began during the 2nd year after the death of Augustus, which was the 12th 

year of the reign of Tiberius (antedated). Josephus is correct in placing the death of Germanicus during Pilate's 

rule over Judea and sometime after Tiberius' 12th year, because the beginning of Tiberius' reign overlapped 

the end of Augustus' reign by about 10 years. The first full year of Tiberius' reign was 

A.D.

 1 (his first full year 

after adoption by Augustus), and Augustus died in 

A.D.

 10. Pilate ruled over Judea beginning about 

A.D.

 12. 

Germanicus died in 

A.D.

 15. 

    The generally accepted chronology for this time period cannot account for the timing of Germanicus' death. 

If the reign of Tiberius began with the death of Augustus, then Germanicus could not have died after Pilate 

began to rule Judea, that is, after the 12th year of Tiberius' reign, and yet have died in the 5th year after the 

death of Augustus. 

12.  Tiberius' death coincided with the end of Pilate's reign 

    According to Josephus, Tiberius died shortly after Pilate completed his ten year reign over Judea.  So 

Pilate, when he had tarried ten years in Judea, made haste to Rome, and this in obedience to the orders of 

Vitellius, which he durst not contradict; but before he could get to Rome, Tiberius was dead. 

872

 In The History 

of the Church, (also called Ecclesiastical History),Eusebius agrees with Josephus that Pilate's reign ended shortly 

before Tiberius died.

873

    Eusebius also concludes that Pilate's reign began in the 12th year  of the reign of Tiberius, which in my 

revised chronology would coincide with 

A.D.

 12. So Pilate's reign over Judea began in early 

A.D.

 12 (or 

possibly late 

A.D.

 11). The 15th year of Tiberius thus coincided with the 4th year of Pilate's reign over 

Judea.

874

 Since Pilate's reign lasted ten years, the end of his reign should be placed during the winter of 

A.D.

21 22. In this revised chronology, the 21st year of Tiberius' reign was 

A.D.

 21. 

    Now Josephus states that Pilate, after ten years rule over Judea, was relieved of his authority and recalled to 

Rome to answer to accusations of murder made against him by the Samaritans. But before Pilate could arrive 

in Rome, Tiberius was dead.

875

 Immediately after describing this situation, Josephus mentions the Passover 

feast in Jerusalem (which fell in early April in 

A.D.

 22). Also, Dio and Suetonius both place Tiberius' death in 

the month of March. So, if the trip to Rome from Jerusalem ended in March, Pilate must have left for Rome 

during the winter of 

A.D.

 21 22. 

    The Mediterranean Sea was difficult to travel during winter for the ships of that time period.

876

 However, 

such trips were certainly made during wintertime as is clear from Josephus,  The Wars of the Jews, where 

Petronius sent word to Rome and Rome replied twice (by ship), all during the winter time.

877

 The distance 

from Israel to Rome, traveling by sea and following the coastline, is roughly 2500 miles. (Ships during that 

time period followed the coastline for safety and to be able to stop at various ports for  supplies). A good 

voyage from Israel to Rome would take 1 to 2 months, but a typical voyage during wintertime, when the 

weather and seas were adverse to sailing, might take 3 months or longer (as explained in section 16 below). 

Pilate's voyage to Rome, in  winter of 

A.D.

 21 22, arrived in Rome after mid March of 

A.D.

 22, and so that 

voyage could have begun as early as Dec. of 

A.D.

 21, or as late as Feb. of 

A.D.

 22. Pilate would certainly have 

preferred to wait until mid February, when the Mediterranean was more easily and more safely traveled, to 

195