The name Nero is one of the most recognizable throughout history, widely regarded as the Great Leader of the Roman Empire. His reforms impacted on the social, political and religious mechanisms used in the Roman Empire for centuries to come. Nero consolidated his position within Rome through many decisions which favored the people, enabling him to establish and maintain himself in the position as Emperor. Nero has been known as the emperor who ultimately ended the Julio-Claudian dynasty and jeopardized Rome’s authority, but through analyzing his work and achievements throughout his rule, many historians raise the question that Nero in fact shaped the society we live in currently and his actions in his time of power have had a chain effect throughout …show more content…
She was angered by the moderate advice of Nero’s advisors; his former tutor Seneca and the commander of Pretorian Guard, Burrus. Although Nero was the young emperor, Agrippina still had influence among the decisions he made and the actions he performed. Once Agrippina demanded Nero cease his affair with Claudia Acte, a former slave, he had no option but to banish his mother from the family place so her influence could not bother him any more (Richard A, 14-117 A.D.). In 55 A.D. Britannicus died, the day before he was to be proclaimed an adult (Thomas W, 1989). It is widely interpreted that Nero poisoned Britannicus, although Nero claimed that he died from a seizure (Pamela B, 1990). Nero’s murderous habit did not only stay with his non-immediate family. In 58 A.D. Agrippina was murdered at Nero’s command, as her influence towards his actions and her interference with his plans for Rome had become too much. This heinous display of power, ultimately highlights the immense anger and frustration Nero he felt towards his mother, and primary sources such as ‘The Annals, By Tacitus, Written 109 A.C.E., Book XIII’ confirm that once this act had been accomplished, Nero showed no remorse or …show more content…
Until the year 59 A.D., Nero was described as a generous and reasonable leader. He eliminated capital punishment, lowered taxes and allowed slaves to bring complaints against their masters (Tacitus, 109 A.C.E.). Nero supported the arts and athletics above gladiator entertainment, and gave aid to other cities in crisis. Although he was known for his nighttime frolicking, his actions were good-natured, albeit irresponsible and self-indulgent. Although Nero was a supportive man and contributed many assets to his empire, after his mother’s death, Nero fell into a hedonic lifestyle that was full of tyranny. He spent exorbitant amounts of money on artistic pursuits and began public performances as a poet and lyre player, a significant breach of etiquette for a member of the ruling class (Pamela B, 1990). Nero’s attitude at this time ultimately demonstrated that he was an unstable emperor, and his rain of power would come to an abrupt
The Flames of Rome by Paul Maier is a documentary-fiction that has not only brought to life the evolution of Christianity in Rome but has also painted a clear picture of what it was like to live in Rome at the time. Understanding the Roman’s way of life and reasoning behind their actions plays a major role in the reasoning for Maier writing this book. The Flames of Rome is equivalent to reading a textbook but Maier makes it much more enjoyable and intriguing by adding plausible details of his own. Maier’s portrayal of the death of Claudius Caesar, in chapter nine of the novel, closely follows the primary sources of Tacitus and Suetonius but also loosely follows that of the secondary sources. It is important to compare Maier’s version to other
Nero and Tiberius were two leaders who were liked by the public. Both starting their reigns young, Nero and Tiberius accomplished many things. Gaining the public’s eye, Nero gave Claudius a lavish funeral and personally delivered the oration in person. He founded a colony at Antium consisting of praetorian veterans, he gave the public an immense variety of entertainments, and even introduced his own style of architecture. These accomplishments all played a role in how the public adored him. Giving the public positive ideas will gain their trust, but unfortunately, he does not keep their trust. As Nero became older, his accomplishments became less and less, he began turning into someone who was in it for the money. His turning point was when he bankrupted Rome, once this happened Nero was neither trusted or liked.
Julius Caesar is perhaps the most well known in the history of Roman Emperors, yet there is no denying that his reign was filled with controversy, no reason more so than his devious rise to power and his mischievous ways of suppressing the senate. There is no doubt that in ruling as a Dictator; Caesar lost the support of the Roman people, who had fought for freedom against an Etruscan King, a role in which Caesar was playing. His death in 44BC coincided with what many believe to be the year in which the Republic completely its eventual ‘fall’ that it had been plummeting to since 133BC, and it is only by looking at the differences in the end of his reign to that of Augustus’ in 27BC that
Have you ever waged war against your wife? Caesar Octavian Augustus did. Augustus was a great leader. Leaders are necessary because they need to show leadership amongst the people and unite the people as one doing anything to keep them safe. Caesar Octavian Augustus was one of Rome’s greatest leaders by showing that at the age of 19, he can rule one of the most powerful nations by any means including war (http://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/empire/augustus.html)
Nero was a good ruler, his first years were known as a golden age. Some examples are that he reduced-taxes, improved the economy, and was kind hearted toward people in general. Many people had mixed feeling about the emperor, but most of them disliked him. I’m a 16 year old female girl, I live in Rome, Italy. My house is located about 12 miles
Tiberius was a significant Julio-Claudian emperor who applied a great deal of contributions to the Roman Empire during his reign… The Julio-Claudian dynasty refers to the first five Roman Emperors: Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula (also known as Gaius), Claudius, and Nero and the family to which they belonged. They ruled the Roman Empire from its formation, in the second half of the 1st century 27 BC, until AD 68, when the last of the line, Nero, committed suicide. The ancient historical writers, Suetonius and Tacitus, write from the point of view of the Roman senatorial aristocracy, and
Nero, who took the throne after his mother poisoned Claudius, the current emperor, ruled from 54 to 68 AD. At first, Nero was the picture-perfect emperor. He lowered taxes, allowed more freedom to the Senate, granted permission to slaves who wanted to sue their unfair owners, and rid Rome of capital punishment. Eventually, Nero
Such acts were unheard of among previous emperors and granted him a power among the general popluace that most emperors would not in see. While largely popular early on, Nero would also use his power to pursue his own accords, including being overly involved in theatrical performances, agreeing to the death sentence of his own mother and taking advantage of the Roman fire to build his own palace and
Suetonius wrote The Twelve Caesars as a biography about twelve Roman Caesars. This essay will compare and contrast two of them, Divus Julius and Nero. Even though the two men both became Emperors who ruled Rome, they could not have been more different. Both had certain authority and public powers during each of their reigns. Their lives were also scattered with times of virtue and scandal. This was a different time from today. Human behavior and morals played a significant role in those ruling over others. Some had them and some not so much. In the end, their stories will ultimately give the reader an illustration of these two men and what their stories tell us about the lives of Roman emperors in the first century.
Nero’s rise to power was a “long road full of treachery.” (T.V.) It was also full of change such as his name he was not always know as Nero his name was Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus until his dad had died and his mom married her widowed uncle, who was the emperor of the time, and they changed it to Nero Claudius Divi Claudius Filius Caesar Agustus Germanicus. Later she convinced him to name Nero heir to the throne and allow him take his daughter Octavia as his wife. His adopted brother was reaching age to take the throne but he mysteriously died, “Many suspect that Nero poisoned him.” (biograpy.com, 2017) So, as one can see Nero was a very shady character who would stop at nothing to seize and hold the throne.
As Emperor Nero continued to rule new speculation formed that his mother was planning to overthrow him with his brother Britannicus who was the actual son of Emperor Claudius. This is because as his mother
Many of Agrippina’s strengths were also her greatest weaknesses. Her political ability and ambition were great strengths of character, as was her determination, but at times she aimed too high and was ultimately brought down by the very traits that had enabled her to achieve positions of power. Agrippina was able to become one of the most significant women of the Ancient Roman World, but at the same time she was considered manipulative, and was despised by many, including eventually her son - the Emperor Nero, who had her killed in the year 59 CE. Despite holding no official political status, and being limited by her gender, Agrippina reached unprecedented heights and helped stabilise the Claudius Regime, demonstrating her strength as a
“the events that led to her downfall, which happened alongside that of her son Nero, are extremely difficult to disentangle and contradictory versions have come down in the sources” Barrett
Two of the more memorable emperors to the Romans were Augustus Caesar (27 BC to 14 AD), and Caligula (37 AD to 41 AD). Although only having ruled the empire by a separation of 23 years and belonging to the same family (through marriage and adoption), their empires couldn’t have been more different. It is possible to determine the impact of an emperor’s rule based on their many vices and virtues, as well as the choices that they make in relation to them. The author Suetonius expressed in his writings the many vices and virtues that put into perspective the kind of leaders that these emperors appeared as to their polis. As we explore the concept of vices and virtues, as well as what kind of ideals these two rulers represented, we will begin to be presented with a clearer picture of what an ideal emperor would have looked like. A vice can be described as an immoral or wicked behavior; while a virtue can be described as a behavior showing high moral standards. Suetonius and the Roman people had a high interpretation of the concept of virtue and vice, as well as their role in the ruler’s life.
"Let Nero be ever before your eyes, swollen with the pride of a long line of Caesars… an Emperor condemned by his own people… Nero will always be regretted"