Piso was appointed as the governor of Syria by the Emperor Tiberius in 17 A.D. and given command of four legions. It is probable he was sent to counteract and keep an eye on Germanicus, the popular nephew of Tiberius who turned down the Emperorship when the legions on the Rhine mutinied and declared him Emperor. Clashing with Germanicus on a number of occasions, Germanicus was poisoned in 19 A.D. The Roman populace demanded Piso be sent to Rome for trial. When Tiberius had no choice but to agree, Piso took his life first in 20 A.D., thereby allowing his property and possessions to stay in his family line.