Y12 Ancient History Roman/Julio-Claudian Points Test 18 Pisonian Conspiracy FP Administration

Question 1

1. Describe the origins of the Pisonian conspiracy? (any relevant point for 3 marks).

Answer 1

• A plot involving 41 senators was formed to assassinate Nero and replace him with C. Calpurnius Piso, a member of one of the remaining republican families.
• Piso himself was not the originator of the conspiracy, which included such people as Lucan the Poet and Faenius Rufus (one of the 2 PG prefects) and the consul-designate Plautius Lateranus.
• There were also a number of officers of the Guard involved.
• Individual motives for joining the conspiracy varied, but most were probably disgusted with Nero’s criminal record, his abolition of the Senate’s rights and the way in which he had lowered the tone of the imperial position.
• Given his excesses, there was unsurprisingly opposition to Nero, the most significant being that of the Pisonian Conspiracy of 65.
• Our fullest account is by Tacitus (annals, 15.48-74) who is very clear about the motivations of the different conspirators.
• The figurehead was Gaius Calpurnius Piso.
• Tacitus makes it clear that the conspiracy was widespread, and even females were involved (annals, 15.48, 15.54).
• To call it Piso’s conspiracy is, however, a misnomer. Tacitus’ description portrays an affable character rather than a political firebrand, suggesting that Piso was exploited by his co-conspirators.
• It seems that the initial conspirators were looking more to capitalise on circumstances than engineer them themselves, and that ‘agitation about the time and place for the slaughter’ (15.50) only took place once Faenius Rufus, the Praetorian co-Prefect came on board.
• This historian proceeds to indicate a variety of motives for joining among the leading figures: some are credited with patriotism, most with personal animosity or ambition.
• Most reached the point where they found Nero’s behaviour intolerable, the poet Lucan being motivated apparently by his rivalry with Nero.

Question 2

2. Describe why the Pisonian conspiracy failed? (any relevant point for 3 marks).

Answer 2

• However, the conspirators were prone to indecision, suggesting that many were not inclined to bloodshed at first.
• There were also concerned about who would follow Nero’s removal.
• The turmoil of 69 showed how valid these concerns were.
• One issue also was that Piso’s party was not the only faction: Tacitus mentions the worry that another senator, Lucius Silanus, might ‘assume a command which would be readily offered to him by people whom the conspiracy had not touched.’ (15.52).
• From first to last, aside from a few individual acts of honour and heroism, the conspiracy of Piso is shown by Tacitus to have been characterised by the cowardice and self-interest of most of its participants.
• There was little that was uplifting about the choice of Nero’s successor, as Tacitus shows in 15.48-49.

“As soon as next year’s consuls took office, a conspiracy was hatched and instantly gained strength. Senators and other gentry, officers, even women, competed to join. They hated Nero; and they liked Gaius Calpurnius Piso. His membership of the aristocratic Calpurnian house linked him, on his father’s side, with many illustrious families. Among the masses too he enjoyed a great reputation for his good qualities, real or apparent. For he employed his eloquence to defend his fellow citizens in court; he was a generous friend – and gracious and affable even to strangers; and he also possessed the accidental advantage of impressive stature and a handsome face. But his character lacked seriousness or self-control. He was superficial, ostentatious, and sometimes dissolute. But many people are fascinated by depravity and disinclined for austere morals on the throne. Such men found Piso’s qualities attractive. However, his ambitions were not what originated the conspiracy. Who did, who initiated this enterprise which so many joined, I could not easily say.”

Question 3

3. Describe the main events of the Pisonian conspiracy (any relevant point for 3 marks).

Answer 3

• Piso and his associates waited about 4 months until the festival of Ceres (12-19 April).
• Flavius Scaevinus emerged as the would-be primary assailant.
• He was to stab Nero, with a specially procured dagger, while Piso readied himself with Antonia, Claudius’ surviving daughter.
• Tacitus acknowledges that the details surrounding Antonia’s involvement are somewhat suspect, citing the elder Pliny as his source (15.53). However, if true it is demonstrative of the importance of blood legitimacy, and the use of imperial women to acquire it.
• Yet the extent that this conspiracy was a serious threat to Nero is somewhat undermined by the ease with which it was dealt.
• A freedman of Scaevinus, Milichus, betrayed the plot (15.54).
• Scaevinus’ rapid arrest led to others being named, including Seneca, although there is no real evidence of his involvement: he was perhaps included to please Nero (15.56).
• The speed with which those arrested gave up their comrades is condemned by Tacitus (15.57) but may simply indicate that events had escalated beyond the capabilities of those involved.
• Despite being urged by some to make a play for power by heading for the Praetorian Camp and attempting to win their loyalty, Piso actually locked himself in his house, eventually taking his own life when soldiers arrived to arrest him (15.59).

Question 4

4. Describe the consequences of the Pisonian conspiracy? (any relevant point for 3 marks).

Answer 4

• However, the plot was soon discovered and many distinguished senators were executed or forced to commit suicide, innocent or guilty.
• Among those who died were Seneca (although Nero had no proof of Seneca’s complicity (Annals)’, his nephew Lucan, the Consul M. Junius Vestinus Atticus (against whom there was no charge) and the consul-designate, Lateranus.
• As a result of the conspiracy and the growing fear of Nero for his life, there were 19 deaths and many exiles.
• Nero used the conspiracy as an excuse to execute dozens of senators and equestrians.
• Not only was this a highly visible means of reasserting his authority, the confiscated property provided much-needed funds.
• Tacitus lists the victims of the purge (15.60-64) of these, Seneca is particularly notable.
• He was Nero’s guiding hand for a long time, and his death symbolises Nero’s entire Principate, revealing the emperor’s inconsistencies and declining morality.
• In his fear and frustration Nero ordered savage reprisals which, if anything, heightened the impression of his progress towards tyrannical absolutism.
• His escape was due, it was argued, to divine intervention: sol invictus ‘the unconquerable sun’ had shed the light which had revealed the plot, while Jupiter Vindex (Jupiter the Avenger) sanctioned the emperor’s revenge.
• As we have seen, contemporary coinage displayed the princeps as under Jupiter’s guardianship and as the vice regent of the sun.
• Tacitus’ account suggests that Nero was almost paranoid as he suspected involvement on the part of all his enemies; as we have seen Seneca was required to commit suicide and other deaths followed which might indicate either that the emperor’s suspicions were now out of control, or that in the wake of the failed conspiracy, other, perhaps more serious attempts were made to bring the Julio-Claudian Dynasty to an end.
• The loss of Tacitus’ account of the final two years of Nero’s reign makes it difficult to reconstruct the events of the period.

Question 5

5. Describe the general principles behind Nero’s imperial/provincial/foreign policy? (any relevant point for 3 marks).

Answer 5

• It appears that Nero had little interest in the provinces apart from Greece, which interested him because of the artistic accomplishments of its people.
• He had no real interest in his troops and never visited them and his only involvement in the provinces seems to have been his choice of governors for those that were armed.
• Some areas were fortunate enough to experience good government, while others suffered from incompetent administrators – as is evidenced by the outbreaks of revolt.
• He reversed Claudius’ policy with regards to client kingdoms.

Question 6

6. Describe Nero’s policy in the Rhine/West Frontier? (any relevant point for 1 marks).

Answer 6

• There appeared to be no problems at all along the Rhine frontier, but although nothing much is recorded of events in the western provinces, it was from here that the movement to eliminate Nero came.

Question 7

7. Describe Nero’s policy in SE Europe/Danube/North Africa? (any relevant point for 3 marks).

Answer 7

• In 67, Nero responded to a flattering delegation from Greece (Achaea) by freeing this province from the authority of the governor of Macedonia and granting it immunity from taxation.
• To compensate for the loss of the province, he gave the senate Sardinia.
• The Danube frontier caused no trouble at this time.
• There is very little information on affairs in Africa during Nero’s reign.
• The alpes Cottiae were turned into a small procuratorial province in 58.
• Latin rights were given to the inhabitants of Alpes Maritimae, and Pontus was annexed in 64.
• Nero was said to have had ambitious campaign plans for the Caucasus region and in Africa, but they did not mature.

Question 8

8. Describe Nero’s policy in the East? (any relevant point for 4 marks).

Answer 8

• Nero faced his greatest dangers in the East.
• The Roman nominee on the throne of Armenia was replaced by the Parthian King’s brother.
• Nero was advised to use force in Armenia, and the Roman Commander Corbulo crossed the Euphrates river in 57 and captured Tigranocerta.
• When the new king of Armenia fled to join his brother in Parthia, Corbulo placed Tigranes on the throne, and this move provoked the Parthians.
• The king of Parthia made sure that the Roman province of Syria was prevented from sending help to the Romans, and Corbulo began negotiations.
• However, Nero decided to annex Armenia.
• This was unsuccessful, since the Roman commander Paetus was defeated by the Parthians and Armenia reverted to their control.
• The Romans and Parthia reached a compromise: Tiridates (the brother of the Parthian King) was restored to the throne, but the Parthians agreed to allow the Romans to install him as king and he was crowned in a ceremony in Rome.
• This marked the beginning of approximately 50 years of peace between Parthia and Rome.
• Another trouble spot was the province of Judaea. The Jews were always difficult to govern, and the post of Governor of Judaea was not popular.
• There was continued strife between Jews and Greeks, jews and Christians, and the two Jewish Priesthoods, the Pharisees and the Sadducees.
• The Jewish desire for national independence, misgovernment by the Roman officials in Judaea between 62 and 64 and the Roman Preoccupation with Armenia and Parthia led to rebellion in 66.
• In the following year Jerusalem was heavily fortified by the Jews and Josephus raised a force of 60,000, with which he defended Galilee.
• The future Roman Emperor, Vespasian, was given the command against the Jews and in 67 and 868 he gradually overran the country; the death of Nero interrupted his task.
• It was not until the following year that Jerusalem was finally captured, after a heroic defence.
• Vespasian’s son, Titus, totally destroyed the city.

Question 9

9. Describe Nero’s policy in Britain? (any relevant point for 4 marks).

Answer 9

• South-East Britain was peaceful, but Rome had to fight to push its influence and defend frontiers: the Silures had to be checked, and Queen Cartimandua restored in Brigantia as a Roman ally.
• In 59 Suetonius Paulinus was sent as governor, and struck at the Druid base of Mona (Angelsey).
• In 61, it was crushed, but then news came of the Iceni revolt.
• When Prasutagus had died he had left half the kingdom to Rome, half to his daughters.
• The Romans decided not to recognise Boudica his widow, nor British rights.
• When Roman officials began to seize land that Claudius had granted to tribal nobles, this, combined with the horrendous treatment of Boudica and her daughters, led to the revolt of the whole tribe.
• They were joined by the Trinovantes, smarting from land confiscation and the cost of keeping up the Claudius’ temple and cult.
• Camulodunum unwalled, and nearest legion a hundred miles away. 2 days it was overwhelmed and all Roman survivors butchered.
• 9th legion defeated, only commander and the cavalry escaping.
• Suetonius tried to get to London ahead of his troops, but neither his own legions of the 2nd from the south-west had arrived, so he had to abandon it and Verulamium to Boucida’s fury.
• Despite the fact that the 2nd legion’s commander had disobeyed orders and wasn’t coming, Suetonius decided to fight at Watling street: he defeated Boudica comprehensively.
• He was beginning to inflict savage reprisals, but a new governor Turpillanus was sent out by Nero to be conciliatory, and Britain settled down to peace so that by 67 Nero was actually able to withdraw the 14th legion for service in the East.