emperor nero wives

[72][73] Lucius Verginius Rufus, the governor of Germania Superior, was ordered to put down Vindex's rebellion. Tacitus mentions that Nero's death was welcomed by Senators, nobility and the upper class. [33] After Agrippina's exile, Burrus and Seneca were responsible for the administration of the Empire. Sources describe Acte as a slave girl (Shotter) and a freedwoman (Champlin and Scullard). When she complained that he had returned home late from the races, Nero kicked his pregnant wife - and her unborn baby - to death. She gave him no heir, and the two were estranged by A.D. 62. She was also able to convince Claudius to replace with a single commander, Burrus, two prefects of the Praetorian guard who were suspected of supporting Britannicus. On 9 June in AD 68, he committed suicide, becoming the first Roman Emperor to do so, after learning that he had been tried in absentia and condemned to death as a public enemy. At the end of 66 AD, conflict broke out between Greeks and Jews in Jerusalem and Caesarea. Agrippina followed in 59BC, and finally, in 62 AD, Nero murdered first wife Octavia and her elder sister. [120] He makes a few passing negative comments on Nero's character in his work, but makes no remarks on the nature of his rule. These sources contradict one another on a number of events in Nero's life including the death of Claudius, the death of Agrippina, and the Roman fire of 64, but they are consistent in their condemnation of Nero. During the early years of his reign, Nero was content to be guided by his mother Agrippina, his tutor Seneca, and his Praetorian prefect Afranius Burrus. In Histories Tacitus writes that the affair began while Poppaea was still married to Rufrius Crispinus, but in his later work Annals Tacitus says Poppaea was married to Otho when the affair began. Scullard writes that "he promised to follow the Augustan model in his principate, to end all secret trials intra cubiculum, to have done with the corruption of court favorites and freedmen, and above all to respect the privileges of the Senate and individual Senators. "[14], After Burrus' death, Nero appointed two new Praetorian Prefects: Faenius Rufus and Ofonius Tigellinus. All the arrows landed in the city. This has led some persons of extravagant imagination to suppose that, having been conveyed to a distant region, he is still reserved alive; and to him they apply the Sibylline verses." and ran out as if to throw himself into the Tiber.[77]. [115] Nonetheless, these lost primary sources were the basis of surviving secondary and tertiary histories on Nero written by the next generations of historians. No need to register, buy now! It is not surprising that Seneca (c. 4 BC–65 AD), Nero's teacher and advisor, writes very well of Nero. [25]:53[38] He also executed his rivals Cornelius Sulla and Rubellius Plautus. NeroClaudius Caesar (37-68) is one of the most notorious Roman Emperors.As a megalomaniac, he was convinced that he was a fantastic ruler, lover, athlete, actor, poet and singer. [30]:257 One of the earliest coins that Nero issues during his reign shows Agrippina on the coin's obverse side; usually, this would be reserved for a portrait of the emperor. [13]:215 A number of modern historians have noted that Agrippina's death would not have offered much advantage for Poppaea, as Nero did not marry Poppaea until 62 AD. ", A Companion to the Neronian Age edited by Emma Buckley, Martin Dinter, Ch 19: Buildings of an emperor - How Nero transformed Rome, Heinz-Jurgens Beste, H.Hesberg, Warden reduces its size to under 100 acres (0.40 km. Rethinking Nero. Scholars generally credit Nero's advisors Burrus and Seneca with the administrative successes of these years. [14]:16 H.H. Pliny the Elder, Suetonius and Cassius Dio all wrote that Nero was responsible for the fire. With the supposed intention of diverting attention away … Caligula's beloved sister Drusilla had recently died and Caligula began to feel threatened by his brother-in-law Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. Think about historical characters, and you’ll see that they’re basically attached to one of their deeds or traits, either good or bad. This caused a rift with his mother, Agrippina the Younger. Nor do I wonder at such as have told lies of Nero, since they have not in their writings preserved the truth of history as to those facts that were earlier than his time, even when the actors could have no way incurred their hatred, since those writers lived a long time after them. Sporus was then taken by Poppaea Sabina’s first husband, Otho, who became emperor of the Roman Empire. [68] Nero went into deep mourning; Poppaea was given a sumptuous state funeral, divine honors, and was promised a temple for her cult. By the 4th century, a number of writers were stating that Nero killed Peter and Paul. Around 57 AD and 58 AD Domitius Corbulo and his legions advanced on Tiridates and captured the Armenian capital Artaxata. Now, there are many theories on why Sporus looked so much like the late empress, and one of them says that her father had had an affair with Sporus's mother. [92] Many portraits of Nero were reworked to represent other figures; according to Eric R. Varner, over fifty such images survive. Upon going to their chambers personally, he found them all abandoned. [16]:32[30]:254 Under Boudica the towns of Camulodunum (Colchester), Londinium (London) and Verulamium (St Albans) were burned and a substantial body of legion infantry destroyed. [20]:231, Claudius died in 54 AD; many ancient historians claim that he was poisoned by Agrippina. He also thought that existing writing on them was unbalanced: The histories of Tiberius, Caius, Claudius and Nero, while they were in power, were falsified through terror, and after their death were written under the irritation of a recent hatred. Only fragments of these books remain and what does remain was abridged and altered by John Xiphilinus, an 11th-century monk. Nero (Nerō Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus; 15 December 37 AD – 9 June 68 AD) was the fifth and last Roman Emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty.He was born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus. [116] A few of the contemporary historians are known by name. In Apocolocyntosis, Seneca the Younger does not mention mushrooms at all. [21] Shotter has written that "Claudius' death in 54 AD has usually been regarded as an event hastened by Agrippina because of signs that Claudius was showing a renewed affection for his natural son," but he notes that among ancient sources Josephus was uniquely reserved in describing the poisoning as a rumor. [36] [37], In 62 AD, Nero's adviser Burrus died. He then asked a passing child to repeat the verse he had learned that day. Italics indicates a junior co-emperor, while underlining indicates a usurper. Chaos would ensue in the year of the Four Emperors. Various plots against Nero's life developed, and Nero had many of those involved put to death. [18]:53 Contemporary sources differ in their accounts. Upbringing. After sleeping, he awoke at about midnight to find the palace guard had left. Five years into his reign, Nero had his mother killed. A year's importation of incense was burned at the funeral. His marriage to Octavia was not a happy one. Lactantius maintains that it is not right to believe this. Suetonius reports that the text of this speech was later found in Nero's writing desk, but that he dared not give it from fear of being torn to pieces before he could reach the Forum. [57], In the wake of the fire, he made a new urban development plan. Now, this could be seen just as a consequence of her asphyxiating attempts to control him, but still, it’s just the beginning of a long list of victims of his power and cruel manners. However, it could be said that this resemblance became his curse. Nor is the Bible explicit, calling Aquila of Pontus and his wife, Priscilla, both expelled from Italy at the time, "Jews" (Acts 18:2). Failed conspiracy against Nero led to tragic death of 26 year old Great Roman poet, This page was last edited on 15 April 2021, at 03:29. But our most detailed images of homosexual marriages come from the descriptions of Roman emperors. A newly deciphered, ancient Greek poem deifies the murderous Roman emperor Nero and his wife. But he never fiddled, and now some scholars say he wasn’t all bad. Travelling in disguise, Nero and four loyal freedmen, Epaphroditos, Phaon, Neophytus, and Sporus, reached the villa, where Nero ordered them to dig a grave for him. A coronation ceremony was held in Italy 66 AD. Although he rejects the theory, Augustine mentions that many Christians believed Nero was the Antichrist or would return as the Antichrist. Of the Twelve one will be delivered into his hands"; this is interpreted as referring to Nero. His wife Bruriah is one of the few women cited in the Gemara. [144], The Sibylline Oracles, Book 5 and 8, written in the 2nd century, speak of Nero returning and bringing destruction. Brown, Raymond E.; Fitzmyer, Joseph A. and Murphy, Roland E. eds. 1988). [59] Nero also built a new palace complex known as the Domus Aurea in an area cleared by the fire. [49] This Golden House or Domus Aurea included lush artificial landscapes and a 30-meter-tall statue of himself, the Colossus of Nero. Nero succeeded Claudius while not yet aged 17, and his mother, Agrippina, tried to dominate his early life and decisions, but Nero cast her off and had her killed five years into his reign.[iii][3][4]. He describes Nero as a spoiled, angry and unhappy man. In 62 AD, Burrus died and Seneca retired, removing the key restraining influences on Nero. The story says that when Nero saw him, he fell immediately in love with him due to his uncanny resemblance to his late wife, Poppaea Sabina, who, by the way, was beaten to death by Nero himself when she was pregnant. A Roman army under Paetus surrendered under humiliating circumstances and though both Roman and Parthian forces withdrew from Armenia, it was under Parthian control. [114] The original sources were also said to contradict on a number of events. [14]:18, Scullard writes that Nero's mother, Agrippina, "meant to rule through her son". The first of these spouses, Sporus, became Nero’s wife, but the second, known as either Doryphorus (‘spear-bearer’) or Pythagoras, he took as a husband. He writes of peace and prosperity under Nero in contrast to previous war and strife. Roman Emperor from 54-68. So Nero had him castrated and took him as his bride. [11][24]:417, Most of what we know about Nero's reign comes from three ancient writers: Tacitus, Suetonius, and Greek historian Cassius Dio. [132] There is also no record of Nero having any offspring who survived infancy: his only recorded child, Claudia Augusta, died aged 4 months. Tigranes was chosen to replace Tiridates on the Armenian throne. Of other historians, he said: But I omit any further discourse about these affairs; for there have been a great many who have composed the history of Nero; some of which have departed from the truth of facts out of favour, as having received benefits from him; while others, out of hatred to him, and the great ill-will which they bore him, have so impudently raved against him with their lies, that they justly deserve to be condemned. Poppaea became his second wife - but not for long. He describes the policies that are explicitly attributed to Nero as "well-meant but incompetent notions" like Nero's failed initiative to abolish taxes in 58 AD. [25]:84[34], He began to build a new palace, the Domus Transitoria, from about AD 60. [84] According to Tacitus, this instability was rooted in the fact that emperors could no longer rely on the perceived legitimacy of the imperial bloodline, as Nero and those before him could. [25]:99[40], In 64 AD during the Saturnalia, Nero married Pythagoras, a freedman. His infamous reign is usually associated with tyranny, extravagance, and debauchery. He passed the greater part of his life in public service. Her private life was chaste—unless power was to be gained. For example, Nero promoted the exploration of the Nile river sources with a successful expedition. [14]:19, The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece and Rome cautiously notes that Nero's reasons for killing his mother in 59 AD are "not fully understood". [66], Nero was said to have kicked Poppaea to death in 65 AD, before she could have his second child. Although this might sound quite nice, this was far from being something to envy. Following Nero’s death, he was taken by Nymphidius Sabinus, a member of the emperor’s guard, who wanted a taste of the late emperor’s life. Houses built after the fire were spaced out, built in brick, and faced by porticos on wide roads. [121], Although more of a poet than historian, Lucanus (c. 39–65) has one of the kindest accounts of Nero's rule. He never loved Nero back. [citation needed]. ", Suetonius wrote "It is commonly agreed that Claudius was killed by poison. The size of this complex is debated (from 100 to 300 acres). "[13]:215 According to Suetonius, Nero had his former freedman Anicetus arrange a shipwreck; Agrippina survived the wreck, swam ashore and was executed by Anicetus, who reported her death as a suicide. [84], In Britannia (Britain) in 59 AD, Prasutagus, leader of the Iceni tribe, and a client king of Rome during Claudius' reign, died. He took Sporus as his wife and even made him keep the name he was given by Nero. Most Roman sources, including Suetonius and Cassius Dio, offer overwhelmingly negative assessments of his personality and reign; likewise, Tacitus claims that the Roman people thought him compulsive and corrupt. Anthony Barrett writes that Tacitus' account in Annals "suggests that Poppaea's challenge drove [Nero] over the brink". Nero focused much of his attention on diplomacy and trade, as well as the cultural life of the empire, ordering theatres built and promoting athletic games. Malitz writes that in later years, Nero panicked when he had to make decisions on his own during times of crisis. Bronze. According to Suetonius, Nero abandoned the idea when some army officers openly refused to obey his commands, responding with a line from Virgil's Aeneid: "Is it so dreadful a thing then to die?" He cried, "Have I neither friend nor foe?" Most of the accounts we have of Nero are hostile; ancient writers loved to … Returning, Nero sought a place where he could hide and collect his thoughts. Pliny described Nero as an "actor-emperor" (scaenici imperatoris) and Suetonius wrote that he was "carried away by a craze for popularity...since he was acclaimed as the equal of Apollo in music and of the Sun in driving a chariot, he had planned to emulate the exploits of Hercules as well. Sporus became emperor Nero’s formal wife in the eyes of everyone, and he had to be addressed as “empress.” He would wear all the luxurious attires worthy of the Roman aristocracy and had an entourage of servants at his disposal. Still, there are several references to Nero in Pliny's Natural Histories. It was then that the infamous same-sex marriage took place. [11] According to Tacitus, the source of conflict between Nero and his mother was Nero's affair with Poppaea Sabina. [17] Claudius succeeded Caligula as Emperor. After Emperor Nero allegedly kicked his second wife Sabina to death in 65 A.D., he met a slave boy named Sporus who looked like her. Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (15 December AD 37 – 9 June AD 68), born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, also called Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus, was the fifth and last Roman emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. [99] It was said that the common Roman hailed Otho as Nero himself. During the games Nero sang and played his lyre on stage, acted in tragedies and raced chariots. [28], Nero became emperor in 54 AD, aged sixteen years. A handful of other sources also add a limited and varying perspective on Nero. Nero (37 AD-68 AD). Suetonius wrote that Nero started the fire because he wanted the space to build his Golden House. However, all his plans were shattered, since there was already a candidate to take the job. Nero then toyed with the idea of fleeing to Parthia, throwing himself upon the mercy of Galba, or appealing to the people and begging them to pardon him for his past offences "and if he could not soften their hearts, to entreat them at least to allow him the prefecture of Egypt". Classicianus advised Nero to replace Paulinus, who continued to punish the population even after the rebellion was over. [140], Bishop Eusebius of Caesarea (c. 275–339) was the first to write explicitly that Paul was beheaded and Peter crucified in Rome during the reign of Nero. Fine Jewelry. [57][58] 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. Nero was the adopted son of his grand-uncle Claudius.He became emperor on … Rabbi Meir was considered one of the greatest of the Tannaim of the third generation (139–163). [119], Epictetus (c. 55–135) was the slave to Nero's scribe Epaphroditos. Plutarch (c. 46–127) mentions Nero indirectly in his account of the Life of Galba and the Life of Otho, as well as in the Vision of Thespesius in Book 7 of the Moralia, where a voice orders that Nero's soul be transferred to a more offensive species. [98], Otho overthrew Galba. However, in order to do so, he had him castrated, as it was customary with puer delicatus, so that his boyish looks wouldn’t change. [19]:119 Classics professor Josiah Osgood has written that "the coins, through their distribution and imagery alike, showed that a new Leader was in the making. [30]:26 According to Tacitus, Nero divorced Octavia on grounds of infertility, and banished her. Despite his terrible life next to the most depraved emperor in history, he would soon find that this episode would be the happiest he'd experience. Upon hearing news of the fire, Nero returned to Rome to organize a relief effort, providing for the removal of bodies and debris, which he paid for from his own funds. [130] Vespasian was then dispatched to put down the rebellion. While Nero had retained some control of the situation, support for Galba increased despite his being officially declared a public enemy ("hostis publicus"[76]). Claudius (/ ˈ k l ɔː d i ə s / KLAW-dee-əs; Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus; 1 August 10 BC – 13 October AD 54) was Roman emperor from AD 41 to 54. [125], Suetonius (c. 69–130) was a member of the equestrian order, and he was the head of the department of the imperial correspondence. Nero, a depraved first-century emperor, married at least two men. May 22, 2016 - Explore Magistra Michaud's board "Nero", followed by 1015 people on Pinterest. An imperial freedman, Phaon, offered his villa, located 4 mi (6.4 km) outside the city. Caligula then banished his two surviving sisters, Agrippina and Julia Livilla, to a remote island in the Mediterranean Sea. Suetonius and Cassius Dio alleged that Nero sang the "Sack of Ilium" in stage costume while the city burned. In response, Nero fled Rome with the intention of going to the port of Ostia and, from there, to take a fleet to one of the still-loyal eastern provinces. Modeled on Greek style games, these games included "music" "gymnastic" and "questrian" contents. [47]:288, The history of Nero's reign is problematic in that no historical sources survived that were contemporary with Nero. Wikimedia Commons Emperor Nero took the young boy Sporus as his bride in 67 A.D. "[47]:53, In 67 AD Nero participated in the Olympics. The first, who sang and played the cithara or lyre and whose face was similar to that of the dead emperor, appeared in 69 during the reign of Vitellius. Prasutagus' will leaving control of the Iceni to his daughters was denied, and, when Catus Decianus scourged Boudica and raped her daughters, the Iceni revolted. The Romans, however, soon tired of being locked in theatres, forced to listen to Nero's ceaseless verses and songs. [11] Nero's inheritance was taken from him and he was sent to live with his paternal aunt Domitia Lepida the Younger, the mother of Claudius' third wife Valeria Messalina. [30]:258 However, Nero's "conduct became far more egregious" after his mother's death. [122], Philostratus II "the Athenian" (c. 172–250) spoke of Nero in the Life of Apollonius Tyana (Books 4–5). [143] The account ends with Paul still alive and Nero abiding by God's command not to persecute any more Christians. Nerva (/ ˈ n ɜːr v ə /; originally Marcus Cocceius Nerva; 8 November 30 – 28 January 98) was Roman emperor from 96 to 98. [88], Eastern sources, namely Philostratus and Apollonius of Tyana, mention that Nero's death was mourned as he "restored the liberties of Hellas with a wisdom and moderation quite alien to his character"[89] and that he "held our liberties in his hand and respected them". They longed for his rule once he was gone and embraced imposters when they appeared: Indeed the truth about this has not come out even yet; for so far as the rest of his subjects were concerned, there was nothing to prevent his continuing to be Emperor for all time, seeing that even now everybody wishes he were still alive. [41][42][43][44], The Great Fire of Rome erupted on the night of 18 to 19 July, AD 64. He wanted to ridicule him in public and all he represented, the past depraved emperors (although he was far from being a benevolent and righteous being). [133], Christian writer Tertullian (c. 155–230) was the first to call Nero the first persecutor of Christians. [citation needed], The history of Nero by Pliny the Elder (c. 24–79) did not survive. Pliny has one of the worst opinions of Nero and calls him an "enemy of mankind".[123]. This is fidelity! [citation needed], Books 61–63 of Dio's Roman History describe the reign of Nero. He wrote that, "in saying, 'For the mystery of iniquity doth already work,'[149] he alluded to Nero, whose deeds already seemed to be as the deeds of Antichrist."[103]. Some sources, though, portray him as a competent emperor who was popular with the Roman people, especially in the east. He entered his political life as a senator after Nero's death and, by Tacitus' own admission, owed much to Nero's rivals. [111], Nero studied poetry, music, painting and sculpture. [23]:589, Before Claudius' death, Agrippina had maneuvered to remove Britannicus' tutors and replace them with tutors that she had selected. 1987) and The African Emperor Septimius Severus (2nd ed. Nero divorced his wife, Octavia, who was the daughter of his predecessor, the Emperor Claudius. When Otho died, Vitellius, the one who had defeated Otho, took the role of emperor, and so, all the former emperor’s possessions including, of course, Sporus. Biographies >> Ancient Rome. She was born in early 40 at the latest, but perhaps a year or two earlier, because her younger brother Britannicus was born in February of 41. Dating. On the contrary, most of the famous Roman Emperors had a particular way of seeing life that makes us grateful for not having lived during that period. [104] Sometime during the reign of Titus (79–81), another impostor appeared in Asia and sang to the accompaniment of the lyre and looked like Nero but he, too, was killed. [127], Tacitus was the son of a procurator, who married into the elite family of Agricola. They were joined by the Trinovantes tribe, and their uprising became the most significant provincial rebellion of the 1st century AD. [67] Modern historians, noting the probable biases of Suetonius, Tacitus, and Cassius Dio, and the likely absence of eyewitnesses to such an event, propose that Poppaea may have died after miscarriage or in childbirth. [9][10] There is evidence of his popularity among the Roman commoners, especially in the eastern provinces of the Empire, where a popular legend arose that Nero had not died and would return. His maternal grandparents were Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder; his mother, Caligula's sister. An agreement was thereafter reached with the Parthians: Rome would recognize Tiridates as king of Armenia, only if he agreed to receive his diadem from Nero. Coins. [137] These expelled "Jews" may have been early Christians, although Suetonius is not explicit. The child responded, "I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel" (Ezekiel 25:14). In order to avoid that public humiliation and to end with his miserable life, young Sporus, who –according to the records– was not even 20 years old, killed himself. In fact, when he died, he gave the body a ring with a motif of the Rape of Proserpina, the goddess who was forced by Pluto, god of the Underworld, to lived with him as his wife. [138], The first text to suggest that Nero ordered the execution of an apostle is a letter by Clement to the Corinthians traditionally dated to around AD 96.

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