The Roman Series: Roman Emperor Nero

Most people know Roman Emperor Nero due to its bad reputation and his role in the Great Fire of Rome. But how did he become as he was? What's his background? You'll read it in this post of the Roman Series. 

Was Nero a bad guy? 

Family

Nero was born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus on 15 December 37 AD in Antium. He was the only son of Gnaeus Domitius Ahnobarbus and Agrippina the Younger.

His maternal grandparents were Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder. Nero was thus a great-great grandson of Augusts and he descended from  the first Emperor's only daughter Julia. 

Early Life

in 40 AD Nero's father Domitius died. A few years before his death Domitius had been involved in a political scandal. The next year Nero's mother Agrippina had been caught up in a scandal on her own.
She was suspected of adultery with her brother-in-law Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. Agrippina and her sister Julia Livilla were banished by Caligula to a remote island in the Mediterranean Sea. Nero's
inheritance was taken and he was sent to live with his paternal aunt Domitia Lepida the Younger. 

In  January 41  Caligula died from multiple stab wounds. See the post about Caligula on this link. 

Claudius succeeded Caligula as Emperor. In 49 AD, Agrippina married Claudius and she persuaded him to adopt her son Nero. After Nero's adoption, Claudius became a part of his name. 

A young adult

In 51 AD Nero entered the public life - then he was around 14 years old. When he turned 16, Nero married Claudius' daughter (his  step-sister) , Claudia Octavia. 

In 54 AD Claudius died, some historians claim that he was poisoned by Agrippina. 

Reign

In 54 AD Nero became emperor at the age of 16! Agrippina, Nero's mother meant to rule through her son. She murdered her political rivals: Domitia Lepida the Younger, Nero's aunt, Marcus Junius
Silanus, a great grandson of Augustus and Narcissus. 

In 55 AD Nero removed Agrippina's ally Marcus Antonius Pallas from his position in the treasury. At that time Nero had an affair with Claudia Acte - a slave girl. Then he exiled Agrippina from the palace when she began to cultivate a  relationship with Octavia, Nero's wife.

On 23 March 59 AD Agrippina the Younger died under unclear circumstances.

The same year Nero married Poppaea Sabina. She died in the summer of 65.

Love and marriage

Nero would marry at least 5 times. 

1/ Claudia Octavia (his step sister) (was accused of adultery and assassinated on  Nero's order).

2/ Poppaea Sabina - Nero trapped her till she was dead. 

3/ Statilia Messalina - she was not often in public and she could survive the decline and the death of Nero. 

4/ Sporus (a young boy) - He looked like Poppaea Sabina, Nero's second wife. He was dressed as a woman. 

5/ Pythagoras - a Freedman  He married in a public ceremony in 64. Nero took the role of the Bride.

The fire of Rome

On the night of 18 to 19 July 64 AD, the Great Fire of Rome started. It started on the slope of the Aventine overlooking the Circus Maximus. Nero accused Christians of starting the fire to remove suspicion from himself. Many Christians were arrested and brutally executed by being thrown to the beasts, crucified and being burned alive.

After the fire, Nero opened his palaces to provide shelter for the homeless and arranged for food supplies to be delivered in order to prevent starvation among the survivors. 

Afterwards, Nero made a new urban development plan. Houses built after the fire were spaced out, built in brick, and faced by porticos on wide roads. The cost to rebuild Rome was immense, requiring
funds the state treasure did not have. Nero devalued the Roman  currency for the first time in Roman history.

Revolt

In March 68, Gaius Julius Vindex, the governor of Gallia Lugdunesis rebelled against Nero's tax policies. Lucius Verginius Rufus, the governor of Germania Superior was ordered to put down the rebellion.

In May 68, Verginius' forces easily defeated those of Vindex and the latter committed suicide. 

Death

Nero died on 9 June 68 and he was buried in the Mausoleum of the Domitii Ahenobarbi in what is now the Villa Borghese area of Rome. The people of Rome celebrated the death of Nero. His death also was welcomed by Senators, nobility and the upper class.  Nero's name was erased from some monuments and many portraits were reworked.  A civil war broke out, but finally Galba became the new emperor. 

Source pictures: Wikipedia