Germanicus had meanwhile survived a little over a year in the East before dying, accusing Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, the governor of Syria, of poisoning him.

The Pisones had been longtime supporters of the Claudians, and had allied themselves with the young Octavian after his marriage to Livia, the mother of Tiberius; Germanicus's death and accusations indict the new Princeps.

Piso is placed on trial and, according to Tacitus, threatens to implicate Tiberius.

Whether the governor actually could connect the Princeps to the death of Germanicus is unknown; rather than continuing to stand trial when it becomes evident that the Senate is against him, Piso commits suicide, though it is rumored that Tiberius, fearing incriminating disclosures, had put him to death.

Tiberius and his mother Livia are able to avoid incrimination of Piso’s wife Plancina.