Changing relationship Nero and Agripp

Question 1

why was Nero’s succession speech written by Seneca a threat to A?

Answer 1

attacked various aspects of Claudius’ reign and clearly challenged her

Question 2

Senecca’s expounding principate of separation between imperial domus and the state?

Answer 2

threat as A can only wield power when decision making was focused in the domus

Question 3

How did Nero show displeasure of his mother?

Answer 3

• removed military escort and took away her German guards
• removed her from palace and sent to Antonia’s former palace
• sent “ppl to pester her with lawsuits”-Suetonius

Question 4

why was Nero moving away from A?

Answer 4

• realised the sly manoeuvring of Senecca to consolidate his power
• natural evolution of gov, seperation of domus and state
• or just young man sick of interfering mother as Suetonius describes A as a “overwatchful, critical eye”.

Question 5

Role of Acte in relation between nero and A?

Answer 5

• although married to Octavia, became infatuated with freedwoman Acte.
• Agg furious as having ex-slave as rival of his affection, rage and violently scold him.
• Nero openly disobeyed and remobed freddman Pallas to lessen A’s infleuence,
• Agg held secret meetings with officers and noblemen to try gain support against son
• response to this was to displeasure her mother in series of actions

Question 6

Role of Poppaea Sabina

Answer 6

• achieved detruction of A
• realised that nero would never divorce Octavia and marry her along as A alive
• with combo of tears and seduction, eventually won him over to “dealing with A” once and for all
• in response, sources make reference of A efforts to lure Nero into an incestuous relationship with her (some sources disagree)

Question 7

Death and murder of Agripp?

Answer 7

• Anicetus, Nero’s former tutor, form idea of building a collapsible boat to hurl A into sea and kill her.
• March 59AD, plan conducted by fail, she jumped into water and swam away, rescued
• Nero fear A may arm her slaves and uprise of army to gain access to senate
• The new plot was to accuse A’s messenger to Nero of attempting to kill Emperor on A’s orders.
• death no justified -> ppl forced way into her villa and killed her

Question 8

what was reason of her death?

Answer 8

• to punish her precious actions
• to marry poppaea Sabina?= unlikely as married only 3 years after

A’s birthday declared day of ‘ill-omen’