Emperor Nero Research Paper

Claudius was the third emperor of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty. He was born on 1 August 10 BC at Lagdunnum in Gaul. He was the son of Drusus Cladius Nero and Augustus’s wife Livia. But, he was then adopted by his uncle Tiberius. Claudius was born with defects that led him to limping, drooling, stuttering, and always being ill. His family members kept him out of the public so, there was no embarrassment. His whole childhood and teenage years was spent indoors, hidden away from everyone. He spent every day reading, which led him to learning liberal arts and history which helped him when he had more power.

Claudius, as emperor, was told it was politically necessary to have a partner, upon Messalina’s death, to help function and protect the Principate, one of few reasons for his marriage to Agrippina. It was Pallas who presented Agrippina’s case (as she was an eligible woman) convincingly. Claudius could not ignore her ambitious nature, the fact she was politically skilled, and importantly; a woman of the Julian bloodline. Agrippina’s motives were concentrated solely on herself, and her son, Nero. Agrippina married her uncle in hope that Nero would inherit the Principate. She wanted to promote her son to become emperor (Suetonius), and aspired for political power for herself in regards to the Principate and Claudius. The power gave her the ability to dispose of any enemies who got in her way.

Many of Agrippina’s strengths were also her greatest weaknesses. Her political ability and ambition were great strengths of character, as was her determination, but at times she aimed too high and was ultimately brought down by the very traits that had enabled her to achieve positions of power. Agrippina was able to become one of the most significant women of the Ancient Roman World, but at the same time she was considered manipulative, and was despised by many, including eventually her son - the Emperor Nero, who had her killed in the year 59 CE. Despite holding no official political status, and being limited by her gender, Agrippina reached unprecedented heights and helped stabilise the Claudius Regime, demonstrating her strength as a

Nero, even today, is renowned for allegedly setting fire to his own kingdom (for his

“the events that led to her downfall, which happened alongside that of her son Nero, are extremely difficult to disentangle and contradictory versions have come down in the sources” Barrett

Tiberius was a significant Julio-Claudian emperor who applied a great deal of contributions to the Roman Empire during his reign… The Julio-Claudian dynasty refers to the first five Roman Emperors: Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula (also known as Gaius), Claudius, and Nero and the family to which they belonged. They ruled the Roman Empire from its formation, in the second half of the 1st century 27 BC, until AD 68, when the last of the line, Nero, committed suicide. The ancient historical writers, Suetonius and Tacitus, write from the point of view of the Roman senatorial aristocracy, and

three of Rome’s district were on fire, starting off with Circus Maximus and spreading out with seven districts severely damaged. At the time Nero was accused of playing the fiddle and singing the Greek epic “The Sack of Ilium” and rumors were passed around that that the emperor had set the city ablaze. When he was confronted about it, he “pointed the finger at the Christians, still a new and underground religion. With this accusation, persecution and torture of the Christians began in Rome” (Bio.com). This event was the decline and fall of the infamous Nero as he tried to rebuild Rome that was burnt down. Soon, there was an assassination plot about him and when he found out it, he executed many senators and officers. Even his closest friends were plotting against him, including Seneca, who committed suicide after being caught. Nero decided to take an extended tour of Greece, so he would not be troubled by all the events happening at home. After taking a tour of Greece, he was a public enemy of his people because of several higher raining officers trying be allies and overthrow him. He tried to escape and find friends and family, but he had none in the end, eventually committing suicide. With the help of a senate to kill him on June 9, 68 A.D., his last words were “What an artist dies in me!” He was the last emperor of the Julio-Claudian

Nero and Tiberius were two leaders who were liked by the public. Both starting their reigns young, Nero and Tiberius accomplished many things. Gaining the public’s eye, Nero gave Claudius a lavish funeral and personally delivered the oration in person. He founded a colony at Antium consisting of praetorian veterans, he gave the public an immense variety of entertainments, and even introduced his own style of architecture. These accomplishments all played a role in how the public adored him. Giving the public positive ideas will gain their trust, but unfortunately, he does not keep their trust. As Nero became older, his accomplishments became less and less, he began turning into someone who was in it for the money. His turning point was when he bankrupted Rome, once this happened Nero was neither trusted or liked.

Born on 1 August 10 BC in Gaul, Claudius had a reign that would always represent a turning point. Claudius Nero Germanicus had been the third emperor for the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Claudius stuck out from other Roman Emperors because of the things that he'd decided to do during his reign. Claudius had promoted administrators who he knew did not deserve senatorial classes. For a man with such high powers, Claudius did not seem to mind the fact that his relationships with his wives and children were not he best. It was very simple to tell how many difficulties Claudius had faced during his reign. Although, Claudius had faced mant hardships his reign had been mixed with success and failure which had lead into the end of the Julo-Claudian line.

On March 15, 44 BCE, Julius Caesar was attacked by a group of conspirators and died within minutes due to multiple stab wounds. Before he was murdered, he was an adored consul of Rome, though some people believed he was gaining too much control and had to be stopped. While there were many conspirators and it is difficult to pin the blame on any specific person, the Casca brothers delivered the fatal blow. Therefore, they are responsible for the death of Julius Caesar.

Nero, who took the throne after his mother poisoned Claudius, the current emperor, ruled from 54 to 68 AD. At first, Nero was the picture-perfect emperor. He lowered taxes, allowed more freedom to the Senate, granted permission to slaves who wanted to sue their unfair owners, and rid Rome of capital punishment. Eventually, Nero

Nero’s rise to power was a “long road full of treachery.” (T.V.) It was also full of change such as his name he was not always know as Nero his name was Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus until his dad had died and his mom married her widowed uncle, who was the emperor of the time, and they changed it to Nero Claudius Divi Claudius Filius Caesar Agustus Germanicus. Later she convinced him to name Nero heir to the throne and allow him take his daughter Octavia as his wife. His adopted brother was reaching age to take the throne but he mysteriously died, “Many suspect that Nero poisoned him.” (biograpy.com, 2017) So, as one can see Nero was a very shady character who would stop at nothing to seize and hold the throne.

Nero was born on december 15,37. His father Domituis Ahenobrbus was not in the best health when he was born so his mother Agrippina told her brother Caligula to give him a name. They thought he should have the name Claudias first name Tiberius or his cognomen Nero. Caligula was very upset at the name Nero because he would not be able to succeed as much as his uncle did. His mother didn’t care what they said his name should be she thought she should name him in tradition of her father's side of the family. She also didn't care what the emperor said either. She later decided to name his Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus. But later on in his life in 50 he would be adopted by Claudias. His mother side of the family, her father was the most liked prince of the town. Agrippina kept a very low key life. All they know about her is her marriage and the birth of her son. Neros grandparents were caught up in the wealth, gladiator games. His grandfather was admonish by Augustus because it was so gruesome. Neros father was also very short tempered and brutal. These traits were already becoming of Neros in his early life. They would follow him. Domitus almost got himself killed because he got all wrapped up in the political affair but he didn't die because it was after the rule and death of Tiberius.When Caligula was reign Aprippina was the lady of the ruling house. Her two sisters Drusilla and Julia Livilla were the vestal virgin. Aprippina was caught in a scandal a year before her husband's

leader in the Roman Empire. He made Rome what think of it as and what we study today.

As Emperor Nero continued to rule new speculation formed that his mother was planning to overthrow him with his brother Britannicus who was the actual son of Emperor Claudius. This is because as his mother