Nero(Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus

Germanicus)

15 December 37 CE – 9 June 6 CE

Birth and Early Life:• Nero was born in Antium on December 15, 37• He was the only son of Gnaeus Domitius

Ahenobarbus and Agrippina the Younger (the sister of the Emperor Caligula).

• He went through an unstable childhood since Caligula banished his family into exile around 39 AD, taking its entire fortune.

• Furthermore, Nero’s father died when he was only 3 years old.

Early Life, Continued:

• When Caligula died, however, Agrippina was recalled from exile

• Later his mother remarried her uncle (Emperor Claudius) to help relieve their situation and secure a better life for Nero.

• Fun fact: as a kid, Nero was tutored by the famous philosopher Seneca.

Rise to Power• In 50 CE, Nero’s mother convinced the

Emperor Claudius to adopt Nero. • She then assassinated Claudius and his son

in order to clear Nero’s path to the throne.

• Thus, Nero became Emperor at the young age of 17 in 54 CE.

(You could say she swept away the competition)

As an Emperor…• Nero was concerned mostly with diplomacy,

foreign trade, and enhancing the cultural life of the Empire.

• Through his generals, namely Corbulo and Paulinus, Nero ran several successful campaigns in the Parthian Empire, Britain, and the Bosporan Kingdom.

• However, he also heavily persecuted the Christians, going as far as to kill many simply for entertainment.

Overall…• Nero was an extravagant and

tyrannical ruler. • He led many executions, including

that of his own mother.• He often neglected the Roman

people and shirked his duties in favor of self-indulgence.

• Therefore, beginning in 68 CE, a series of uprisings sparked up against him.

The Great Fire of Rome• In the midst of all this in 64 CE, Rome suffered a

major catastrophe.

• Over 6 days, ten of Rome’s districts would be destroyed by a devastating fire.

• Ostensibly, Nero did a lot to help aid those affected by the fire, but many believe he was the one who caused the incident in the first place, all in order to make room for his future palace.

Fall From Power• In 68 CE, following rebellions led both in

Gaul and Hispania, Nero was forced from the throne.

• Then, knowing his death to be imminent, he committed suicide on June 9, 68, (becoming the first Roman Emperor to do so).

• Following his death there came a short period of civil unrest, also known as: the Year of the Four Emperors.

The EndBibliography:

• Boeke, Karalin. "The Emperor Nero 54-68." Mediterranean Basin Chronology. N.p., 27 Oct. 1997. Web. 1 Mar. 2013. <www.thenagain.info/webchron/mediterranean/nero.html >.

• Chesser, Preston. "eHistory.com: The Notorious Nero." eHistory at OSU | Welcome to eHistory. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2013. <http://ehistory.osu.edu/world/articles/ArticleView.cfm?AID=29>.

• "Emperor Nero." The Roman Empire. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2013. <http://www.roman-empire.net/emperors/nero-index.html>.

• "The Roman Empire: in the First Century. The Roman Empire. Emperors. Nero | PBS." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2013. <http://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/empire/nero.html>.