Fall of Sejanus

Lucius Aelius Sejanus had steadily accumulated power as commander of the Praetorian Guard, consolidating all nine cohorts into a single barracks outside Rome. By 31 CE, Tiberius finally turned on him — Sejanus was arrested, condemned by the Senate, and executed the same day. His fall sent shockwaves through the empire. For Pontius Pilate, who may have been a Sejanus appointee, this was potentially devastating — he suddenly lost his political patron and had to prove his loyalty to Tiberius directly.