Tiberius Withdraws to Capri

By the time of the crucifixion, Tiberius had been absent from Rome for several years, retreating to his villa on Capri. He governed through letters and trusted subordinates, most notably the ambitious prefect Sejanus, who wielded enormous power in the emperor's absence. This remote-control governance shaped the political climate in Judea — provincial governors like Pilate had to navigate both imperial authority and the schemes of Sejanus without clear, immediate oversight from the emperor himself.