The Roman Army, 31 BC–AD 337: A Sourcebook

The officers 67
because he had a cunning mind he found it difficult to make a decision;
for he did not seek out the exceptionally talented, but he also hated the
corrupt, since he feared that the meritorious would be a threat to him
and that the bad would bring about public disgrace.
Here Tacitus characteristically summarizes the dilemma faced by all emperors
in trusting and controlling talented men who might be ambitious and use their
army command to raise revolt (cf. Dio, 52. 8). Moreover, the expectations of
the upper classes also had to be satisfied, as Tacitus (Annals 4. 6) illustrates in
his comments on Tiberius’ appointments in the early part of his reign – ‘birth,
military excellence, distinction in civilian pursuits, everyone agreed that he
chose the best people’. See also chapter 7.