Nero Flashcards
Nero
54-68 AD
son of Agrippina, adopted son of claudius
presentation by sources
given Quinquennium Aureum (Five Golden years) by most sources
Tacitus: no less foul enthusiasm to sing to the lyre as if at the games
Suetonius: declared that he would rule in line with Augustan precedent … let slip no opportunity to display his generosity
-began to long appear on the stage
Pliny: was prepared to furnish the requisite gold and silver (in reference to colossal statue of himself- Suetonius)
Early reign and Agrippina
Tacitus: -‘toga was prematurely granted to Nero … kickstart his political career’ result of Agrippina
-‘he decided to kill her’
Aureus of Nero, AD 54 displayed Nero and Agrippina on a coin, suggestive of her influence at the time
Her death coincided with end of golden years in 59AD
Seneca and Burrus’ involvement in her removal led to their removal- he loses his advisors
wives
Octavia- first wife, used to legitimise his reign, had her killed- Tacitus
Poppaea
Josephus- says she is competent political figure
Tacitus and Dio- present her less well but talk of her council etc…
Messalina- Suetonius- killed her husband to marry her
Pisonian conspiracy 65 AD
Tacitus- highlights the vast number of ‘Senators, Equestrians soldiery and even females’ that decided to become involved
-waited till festival, tried to kill him
highlights the speed at which those who were arrested gave up the other conspirators
also notes a long list of people (senators) killed as a result of the conspiracy, likely just taking advantage of the situation to remove those he disliked from the senate
Great fire Rome 64AD
Tacitus- ‘Rome is divided into fourteen regions, four of which remained intact’
-‘opened a number of gardens for refuge’
-used fire to clearr ground for his domus aurea (also pliny)
Suetonius- ‘singing of the fall of Troy’
-blames him directly
revolt of vindex
Dio- talks of discontent across empire, ‘While Nero was in Greece, the Jews revolted … also the inhabitants of Britain and Gaul … infuriated by taxes’
-led to vindex revolt
Dio, speech by vindex- ‘liberating the world’
Denarius of Vindex AD 68 presenting Vindex’s rebellion as beneficial for the entire world
Relationship with PLEBS
Tacitus- ‘crowds, hungry for amusement’
-notes people flocking to impersonator in the east years after his reign
Suetonius- variety of entertainment noted
-notes general resentment of profiteering of corn (later in reign)
Sesterces 64- Commemorate corn dole
Relationship with EQUESTRIANS
Tacitus- gives scathing account, encouraging his every depravity, and then abandoning him upon his downfall
Suetonius- specially trained sect of equestrians that would applaud for Nero, being specially trained and being paid 40,000 sesterces for it
Relationship with SENATE
Tacitus- stories about the descendants of nobles being humiliated and forced to perform on stage
made a point of standing and leaving the senate upon Agrippina’s death
Religion
Not much evidence, contemporary poets such as Calpurinus Siculus praise him as a God
