Rome: Nero Flashcards
1
Q
Evidence the failings of Nero’s reign were the result of bad advice from Agrippina
A
- Nero is taunted by Senators for how much power his mother has over him, namely that her face is on the obverse of his coin as though they are equals
- Suetonius 44, claims Agrippina poisoned Claudius so promote Nero so that she might control Rome from behind her son
- Agrippina reportedly held Britannicus over Nero’s head, saying that she could use him to rule Rome if he didn’t listen to her. Britannicus died quickly in 55AD and Agrippina followed 4 years later
- Nero never co-ruled with Britannicus mainly due to Agrippina, who had him held at the palace while Nero went to address the Senate
2
Q
Evidence the failings of Nero’s reign were NOT the result of bad advice from Agrippina
A
- Many sources are biased against Agrippina due to her being a woman and being a powerful and public political figure: frowned upon
- Good advice: she presented Nero to the Praetorian cohort before the Senate, understanding that military support came above all
- The “quinquennium” or golden age of Nero’s reign ended in 55AD when Agrippina became marginalised by the death of Britannicus, indicated how her advice had made a good reign
3
Q
Evidence the failings of Nero’s reign were NOT due to his own inability/mistakes
A
- Completed Claudius’s building projects, such as aqueducts and Ostia port
- Threw many games and theatre shows for the plebs, including chariot racing as he was a fan of Greek culture
- Replenished treasury with 40,000,000 sesterces of his own money and replaced the quaestors with imperial prefects (officers)
- Colonies established in 57 and 60AD, governors charged with extortion punished more readily
- Abolished harbour dues to promote trade across the empire
4
Q
Mistakes and inability of Nero’s reign
A
- His abolishment of harbour tax was blocked by the Senate (which was controlled by Agrippina) due to the practical difficulties with implementation
- Despite bringing the price of corn down to 1/4 sesterce per pound, he was not rewarded with gratitude possibly bc many thought it was not his policy
- The Great Fire caused a new building programme which greatly benefitted Rome: however, many found it suspicious it cleared an area already being considered for Nero’s Golden palace and many claim they saw him setting it alight himself (fake but still shows distrust)
5
Q
Sources and quotes on the Great Fire of 64AD
A
- Tacitus p.364, “he rebuilt all the structures with his own money”
- Suetonius Nero 38, “pretending to be disgusted with the old buildings […] he set the city on fire so openly”
- Tacitus 15.38-44, “food was brought from Ostia […] and the price of corn was cut to less than 1/4 sesterce […] yet these measures, for all their popular character, earned no gratitude”
6
Q
How did the Great Fire of Rome make Nero unpopular
A
- Only returned to Rome when he heard the fires grew near the edges of his own property
- Allegedly sang about Troy’s destruction
- Many believed Nero wanted to replace Rome with a city named after him and caused the fire
- Attempted to scapegoat the Christians, making him seem even more suspicious
- Many found it too convenient this humanitarian crisis gave Nero the opportunity to display himself in such a good light
7
Q
How did the Great Fire of Rome show Nero was a capable emperor
A
- Cutting the price of corn to 1/4 sesterce per pound
- Opened the fields of Mars to the homeless
- Opened Agrippa’s public buildings and his own houses
- Erected new buildings at his own expense greatly improving the quality and ensuring this was not likely to happen again
8
Q
Evidence the failures of Nero’s reign were due to bad advice from his tutors: Burrus, Seneca and Tigellenus
A
- Seneca critical of emperorship, and was exiled by Gaius only to be brought back by Agrippina
- Seneca aimed to alienate Nero from his mother so that he might exert his own influence over the child
- Nero promises not to encroach on the Senate’s authority and said freedmen would not interfere with state affairs (“high mind of Seneca” gets credit)
- Tigellenus was equestrian, and Burrus was a military advisor: All three worked hard to make sure the orders ran smoothly around the emperor
- Nero declared he designed to govern according to the model of Augustus- always showing clemency and complaisance (undoubtedly under his tutor’s advice as this helped further their careers)
9
Q
Evidence the failings of Nero’s reign were due to his wilful rejection of good counsel
A
- Nero murdered his mother, brother, tutor and wife rather publicly. This alienated the elite and verified Nero’s paranoia towards those near to him
- Popular support was not enough to save him, as he sought to install more fear rather than trust; Executing huge amounts of senators and equestrians
- Senators wore “festive garb” after Agrippina;s death (Tacitus 14.13)
- Murders Seneca despite no link between him and the Pisonian conspiracy
10
Q
Evidence the failings of Nero’s reign was NOT due to his rejection fo good counsel
A
- Those nearest to Nero had always sought to use him as a puppet to power due to his young age when he took the throne (17)
- First his mother held Britannicus above his head and implored he was disposable if he didn’t listen
- His mother was also suspected to have murdered Claudius, so he was obviously distrusting
- His tutors sought to alienate him from his mother but in doing so only made him suspicious towards their motivations
- Tutor’s advice was all to be complacent so that the other branches of the Roman orders might latch onto power
- It could be argued by eliminating those closest to him, Nero was being safe rather than paranoid, he just didn’t realise how this reflected on the other Roman noble orders
11
Q
“Nero’s reign, while hectic, improved conditions for the Roman people” HFDYA?
A
- Tacitus, on the ascension of Galba “the senators were happy and at once used their new freedom of speech […] but the base plebs, addicted to the circus and theatre […] were resentful”
