Postumus's banishment has ensured Tiberius's priority as Augustus's heir.

Tacitus (Ann.

1.3) reports a rumor that Augustus paid a highly covert visit to the island in CE 1 to apologize to his adopted son and give him notice of plans to return him to Rome.

Augustus was accompanied by a trusted friend, Fabius Maximus, and swore him to secrecy about the matter; Maximus then told his wife, Marcia, who mentioned it to Livia.

Maximus was soon found dead, and Marcia subsequently claimed she was responsible for his death.

Dio's version (56.30) reports the island visit as fact, though the brief account is likely based on Tacitus' account (Ann.

1.1) and does not mention Fabius and Marcia.

It is dubious whether this tale has any veracity.