Nero (37-68AD) - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Nero (37-68AD)

Presentation by: Sam SweckSlide2

Born as Lucius Domitius

AhenobarbusOnly son of Gneaus

Domitius

Ahenobarbus and Aggrippina the YoungerGreat-grandson of Mark Antony and Octavia Minor on Gnaeus’ sideGreat-great-grandson of Mark Antony and Octavia Minor on Agrippina’s sideAgrippina married three times; poisoned her second and is postulated to have murdered her third, Emperor Claudius.

Family TiesSlide3

Father was employed by Caligula as a praetorEmperor Tiberius charged

Gneaus with treason, adultery, and incestGneaus died of edema when

Nero was

2Agrippina is exiled by Caligula after Gneaus’ death and Nero is raised by his aunt for 2 yrs.Claudius allows Agrippina to return from exile after Caligula’s murderYounger YearsSlide4

In 49 AD Claudius marries his niece Agrippina and adopts Nero, officially naming him Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus

GermanicusNero was proclaimed an adult at age 14In 51 Nero was made proconsul, entered and addressed the senate, and was featured on coins

2 years later he married his stepsister Claudia Octavia

Gearing up for the ThroneSlide5

In 54, Emperor Claudius died and rule was passed to Nero

Many say Agrippina murdered Claudius using poisonous mushrooms

Due to being only 17 when made Emperor, Nero was highly influenced by others

Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Sextus

Afranius

Burrus

, and Agrippina

Agrippina turns her support to

Britannicus

, Nero’s younger stepbrother

Early Years of ReignSlide6

Nero rid himself of his advisers and opponentsIn 58 AD, Nero became involved with future Emperor

Otho’s wife, Poppaea Sabina

Nero killed Agrippina in 59 AD

Burrus, Nero’s adviser, dies in 62 AD and Seneca retired after being charged with embezzlement againOctavia is exiled, and then killed, due to infertility and Nero marries PoppaeaNero’s Power BuildsSlide7

In 62 AD, accusations of treason were made against the Senate and Nero

Nero executes anyone who criticizes the Senate or himself in 62 and 63 ADFabricius Veiento

Pallas

Rubellius PlautusFaustus SullaNero gradually stole power from Senate while promising to give them powers equivalent to that of Republican ruleIssues in the GovernmentSlide8

Poppaea Sabina dies in 65

Some say Nero killed herMost blame it on childbirth complicationsNero gives her a state funeral and buries her in the Mausoleum of Augustus

Becomes involved with

Statilia Messalina in 65 and marries her in 66 AD Statilia’s husband was driven to suicide shortly before Statilia’s marriage to NeroIn 67, it’s said that Nero ordered a freedman, Sporus, to be castrated and then married him

Nero’s LossSlide9

Nero often aided the lower class throughout his reign due to their great number

The 1

st

yr., Nero ultimately ignored his dutiesEven forbidding people to refer to him about laws

Consul 4 times from 55 to 60AD

Positives for lower class:

Restricts bail and fines

Limits fees of lawyers

Prevents Senate from allowing patrons to revoke a freedman’s freedom

Taxes from the poor were collected from lower commissioners

Nero’s Domestic PoliciesSlide10

Many impeachments of gov’t officials and arrests for extortion and corruption

Tax cuts and tax records are made publicNero spent great amounts of money on the construction of gymnasiums and theatresEstablished the Quinquennial

Neronia-festival including games, poetry, and theatreConstructed the Domus Aurea, attempted to dig a canal at the Isthmus of Corinth, and filled the marshes of OstiaNero’s Domestic Policies Cont.Slide11

Erupted in the night of July 18-19 64 AD

Only account of the fire comes from Tacitus

3 of 14 districts were destroyed while 7 were severely damaged

No certainty of what caused the fire; many blamed Nero, but the Christians confessedNero organized a relief effort from his own funds, searched for survivors in the rubble, and opened his palaces to the homeless

To deflect blame, Nero targeted Christians

Great Fire of RomeSlide12

In 54 AD, Armenia received a Parthian prince

Nero sent the military under Gnaeus Domitius

Corbulo

In 58 AD, full-scale war broke outCorbulo repelled the Parthian army and was appointed gov. of Syria as a rewardNero installed Tigranes as the ruler of ArmeniaIn 62 AD, Tigranes invaded the Parthian province of Adiabene; Nero worked for peace

In 63 AD,

Tiridates

again became the Armenian king but was crowned in Rome by Emperor Nero

Parthian WarSlide13

British Revolt of 60-61 (

Boudica’s UprisingWhile gov. Paullinus was busy, the southeast tribes led by queen

Boudica

of the Iceni attacked the province of Britannia3cities were destroyed before rebellion was stoppedNero then replaced Paullinus with TurpilianusThe Pisonian Conspiracy of 65

Gaius

Calpurnius

Piso

led conspirators wishing to “rescue the state” and restore the Republic

A freedman,

Milichus

, told Nero’s secretaryNero killed all the conspirators and forced Seneca to commit suicide for discussing the plot

Other Major Power StrugglesSlide14

The First Jewish War of 66-70Jewish revolt in Judea from religious tensions

Nero sent Vespasian to resolve but never saw the results as the revolution ended in 70 ADThe Romans breached the walls of Jerusalem and destroyed the Second Temple of Jerusalem

More Major Power StrugglesSlide15

In March of 68, Vindex

-gov. of Gallia Lugdunensis-rebelled against Nero’s taxesVerginius

-gov. of Germania Superior-was ordered by Nero to stop the rebellion

Vindex called for help from Galba-gov. of Hispania TarraconensisBattle of VesontioGalba gained support so Nero fled RomeOriginally Nero was to flee to one of the eastern provinces but contemplated begging for mercy from both Galba and the people of Rome

Nero’s Final DaysSlide16

Nero returned to Rome to find the palace guard left in the night

Nero searched for anyone adept with a sword to kill him when he realized all his friends had abandoned him“Have I neither friend nor foe?”

4 loyal freedman took Nero to one’s villa

A courier reported that the Senate had declared Nero a public enemy and wished to execute him in the ForumThe Senate actually had not decided yetNero forced his private secretary to kill him“Too late! This is fidelity!”Nero FallsSlide17

Senate declared Nero a public enemy to pacify Galba and then proclaimed him the new emperor

The year of the Four Emperors followed this proclamation The upper class and Senate celebrated Nero’s death while the lower class mourned himSoldiers had mixed feelings

Many portraits of Nero were reworked to resemble someone else and some monuments had Nero’s name removed

After Death