You must have heard a saying that 'Rome was burning and Nero was playing a flute'. It must have crossed your mind that who was this Nero? Today in this blog we will know whether Nero was really a coward or a lazy person. In this article, you will get complete information about Nero. Please read the article till the end.
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Who was Nero?
Nero was a Roman emperor from 54 to 68 AD. The last of the Julio-Claudian emperors to rule the Roman Empire, his 14-year reign epitomizes everything about that period in Roman history. He was self-indulgent, cruel, and violent, as well as a cross-dressing demonstrator.
Their lavish parties, combined with the Burning of Rome, continued the economic chaos that had plagued Roman citizenry since the days of Tiberius (AD 14–37). The 1st-2nd century historian Suetonius, in his The Twelve Caesars, after hearing of the emperor's death by suicide, "... citizens ran through the streets wearing caps of liberty as if they were freed slaves."
Name of government |
Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus |
---|---|
Name1 | Nero |
Full Name | Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus (born),Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus (50 AD) |
Born 15 | December 37 AD |
Birthplace | Antium, Italy |
Died | 9 June 68 AD (aged 30) |
Place of death | Outside Rome, Italy |
Reign | 13 October 54 – 9 June 68 AD |
Predecessor | Claudius |
Later | Galba |
Spouse |
Claudia Octavia Poppea sabina Statilia messlina Sporous Pythagoras (Friedman) |
Children | Claudia Augusta |
Father- (adopted) | Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus Claudius |
Mother's Name | Agrippina the Younger |
Dynasty | Julio-Claudian |
Tomb |
Domitia Ahenobarbi, Pincian Hill, Rome |
Nero's early life
Nero was born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus on 15 December 37 AD but was named Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus when his mother, Agrippina, married Emperor Claudius in 49 AD. His mother Agrippina, who was the great-granddaughter of Augustus, the first emperor of Rome, was very ambitious. She later married her maternal uncle, the carefree Emperor Claudius I, and persuaded her new husband to accept Nero as his adopted son and declare him heir to the throne. Agrippina was eager to make Nero sit on the throne soon and Claudius was murdered by giving him poison.
Some believe that Nero's fate was inevitable. His father, Gnaeus Domitius, who died when Nero was three, was himself extremely violent and was described by his contemporaries as "a vile character". He once deliberately ran over a young boy with his chariot while he was passing through a local village. When his friends congratulated him upon hearing of his son's birth, Nero's father said that anything born to Agrippina and she would be unsuitable and a disaster.
Succession
However, by this time, Agrippina had taken the next step - the death of Claudius, placing Nero on the throne of the emperor. Claudius died in 54 AD after mysteriously eating a bowl of mushrooms, possibly poisoned. Some evidence exists that suggests Nero was aware of the poison when he later referred to the mushroom as "the food of the gods". There was also the fear that Britannicus (the legitimate son of Claudius) might be elected as emperor before Nero.
Suetonius wrote: "He [Nero] tried to poison Britannicus, who was not only jealous of his voice ... but feared that the common people would be less attached to the adopted son of Claudius than to his real son". " Nero's fears soon ended (temporarily) when he was elected as the new emperor in 54 AD. With her ascension to the imperial throne, Agrippina became the woman behind the man; but not for long.
One of Nero's first acts as emperor was to repeal many of Claudius' decrees and laws, referring to his predecessor as an "old fool". Nero was a welcome change for the general public. Like those before him, the early part of Nero's reign was considered by many to be a mini-Golden Age; The public considered him generous, kind, and accessible. There were grand games, plays, concerts, chariot races, and gladiatorial tournaments, and taxes were also reduced.
He restored much of the power of the Roman Senate that had been lost over the years, but this restoration had a hidden agenda; This was done only to enable the young emperor to pursue his worldly pleasures, to sing (he did not have a great voice) and to play his veena.
When he sang, no one in the audience was allowed to leave the performance. Suetonius wrote: "We read of women giving birth in the audience, and the men being so weary of the music and applause that they hurried down the back wall ... and were taken away for burial." "
The Romans welcomed and supported Nero at first because he was a descendant of Emperor Augustus not only from the paternal line but also from the maternal line. In the beginning, influenced by his Guru Seneca, he also ruled the state well, but soon his bad qualities started appearing.
Nero and Agrippina
Although Nero found time for his concerts and sports, he had major problems at home; His overly protective mother still believed herself to be the true power behind the throne. Agrippina had the courage to boast of her influence over others.
Nero, of course, found this interference intolerable and made plans to put an end to it. First, he kicked her out of the palace. Thereafter, he deprived her of the protection of her Praetorian Guard and banned her from all gladiatorial contests. Realizing she was losing her hold on Nero, she fought back by throwing her support behind Britannicus, Nero's half-brother and son of Claudius, but she mysteriously died at a family banquet—another poisoning victim. It didn't take long for Agrippina to understand that she was next.
Nero carefully planned his mother's death, even bringing experts from Alexandria to Rome to assist in the planning. He had an elaborate device built for the ceiling of her bedroom that would fall and crush her in her sleep; However, this proved too complicated to manufacture and set up.
Next, he tried a specially designed boat that would capsize and sink, but proved too clever and swam to shore. In the end, his last attempt was the simplest and easiest: he stabbed her to death, but her death would haunt him for the rest of his life.
Nero's personal life
Nero's marriages and affairs also proved troublesome. He was married to the very popular Octavia, daughter of Claudius and Messalina (a marriage arranged at his mother's insistence), but also had an affair with the pregnant Poppaea Sabina (his mother loathed her). In order to marry her, he accused Octavia of adultery and exiled her, later to be murdered (but made to look like a suicide). Poppaea, whose first husband was Rufius Crispinus (a Roman soldier), was married to the future emperor Otho at the time of her affair with Nero. On the orders of the emperor, Otho was sent to distant regions of the empire.
Their escape and Octavia's death opened the door for Nero's second marriage. It was also suspected that Poppaea was behind the deaths of Octavia and possibly Agrippina. The historian Tacitus wrote in his History:
At length, the power had matured his courage, and his passion for Poppea grew more and more strong from day to day. As the lady had no hope for herself or for Octavia's divorce while Agrippina was alive, she rebuked the emperor with frequent insults ... 'Why,' she asked, 'was her marriage broken? '
Nero's second marriage was not a happy one. Poppaea and Nero's child died shortly after his birth. Poppea's next pregnancy ended in tragedy for both. After Nero and she had an argument late one night (Nero liked to stay out late), he allegedly kicked her in the stomach, killing both her and the unborn child.
Troubles and Disasters: The Great Fire
Although he had good advisors in Burruss and Seneca, the emperor's reign saw one disaster after another. First, there was the Piso Conspiracy, a failed plot to kill Nero, involving at least 19 senators as well as other prominent citizens. Due to its failure, 41 persons were executed. Although it failed, it made Nero forever paranoid and untrustworthy. Following this, Boudicca's rebellion failed in Britain as well as several outlying provinces, including both Judea and Gaul; The latter two were a response to increased taxes.
However, the greatest threat to Nero's rule was the Great Fire, which began on 19 July 64 CE and lasted six days. Ten of the city's 14 districts were destroyed, hundreds were killed, thousands were left homeless, and looters ravaged the city.
Many questions have arisen since the fire. When the city was burning, did Nero play his lyre (not a flute that had not been invented) in the safety of the palace complex?
did he start it? Historians differ in their answers to these questions. Was he in the city or did he see it burn? Suetonius wrote:
"Nero watched the fire from the tower of Maecenas, which he called 'the beauty of the flames'; then put on the costume of his tragedy and sang..."
Tacitus remained neutral when he wrote: "A disaster ensued, whether accidentally or treacherously developed by the emperor, is uncertain, as the authors have compared the violence of the fire with anything that ever happened to this city." Even worse, more horrifying accounts have been given. Of course, the blame fell squarely on the persecuted Christians, who always saw Nero as the Antichrist.
While the fire was burning like smoke, Nero was standing in one place watching its destruction and playing the violin. Although some people think that the fire was started by Nero himself, there is really no basis for such an understanding.
Although he had to raise taxes to finance the rebuilding of Rome, the city was in some ways better off than before: residential districts, wide streets, brick buildings, and colonnades at street level to shelter residents from the sun. Rebuilt.
Of course, the new Rome also included Nero's Golden Palace (later to be buried by Emperor Trajan), with gold-plated roofs, a lake, and exotic animals. Those who believe that Nero destroyed his palace point to the fire as the underlying cause.
Suicide and the end of Nero
Fires, conspiracies, numerous rebellions, and an empty treasury led to Nero's death. The Senate declared him an enemy of the people and named Galba as the new emperor. Realizing that his days as emperor were over, Nero attempted suicide at his freedman Faon's villa but failed and needed help to take his own life. His last words were: "What artist in me dies."
Frequently Asked question
Q-What was Nero's full name and what was his reign?
Nero's full name was Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, but after his mother, Agrippina married Claudius, he became Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus and ruled from 54 to 68 CE.
Q-Who was Agrippina?
Agrippina, daughter of Agrippina the Elder and great-granddaughter of Emperor Augustus, was Nero's mother.
Q-What were some of the major disasters of Nero's reign?
One of the major disasters of Nero's reign was the Piso Conspiracy, a failed plot to kill Nero. The failed Boudicca rebellion and the Great Fire in Britain began on 19 July 64 AD and lasted for six days.
Q-What did Nero do after the fire?
After the fire, Nero had to raise taxes to finance the rebuilding of Rome by building residential districts, wide streets, brick buildings, and colonnades to protect residents from the sun. Nero's Golden Palace was also included in the new Rome.
Q-How did Nero die?
Nero committed suicide. The senate declared him an enemy of the people and named Galba as the new emperor. Realizing that his days were numbered, Nero attempted suicide in his villa but failed and needed help to take his own life.