Nero, also known as Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, was born on 15th December A.D. His parents were Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus and Agrippina the Younger. His parents descended from power, making Nero eligible to be a powerful man. He became the fifth and final emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty of the Roman Empire after his father’s death when he was sixteen. Nero was the fifth emperor of Rome, known for his cruelty and murder cases. He reigned from 54 to 68 A.D. and is considered one of the most notorious and tyrannical Roman emperors.
Nero’s brutality can be traced to her mother’s actions. She poisoned her husband Claudius to make his son an emperor (Champlin, 2005). Agrippina made herself the manager of all of Nero’s businesses, which made her powerful. She received embassies and sent letters to other kingdoms and empires. Nero and his mother fell out of their relationship when he was caught cheating on his wife, a marriage that his mother had arranged. On noticing that she was conspiring to kill him, Nero ordered her execution.
Nero ruled at a time of great social and political change, overseeing momentous events such as the Great Fire of Rome and Boudica’s rebellion in Britain. Apart from murdering his mother, he allegedly killed his two wives since he only cared about his art and had little interest in ruling the empire. He executed his stepbrother Britannicus because he was worried that Britannicus, the son of the emperor Claudius, would challenge his claim to the throne.
Nero had a reputation for being ruthless in his pursuit of power and wealth and his treatment of his enemies. Nero’s cruelty was evident in how he treated the Roman Senate and his refusal to abide by the traditions and laws of the Republic. (Brirtish museum, 2018). Nero was known to be especially harsh and disrespectful to the Senate and often tried to strip it of its power and influence. He should have recognized the authority in several matters and made decisions without consulting it. Nero tried to limit the Senate’s control over the imperial finances and instead chose to spend money on his lavish projects.
Nero ignored the pleas of senators who opposed his tyrannical rule and used his vast powers to have them executed or exiled. He had several senators, including the highest rank, who were executed on trumped-up charges. Other senators were forced to commit suicide or flee the country in fear for their lives. (Jarus, 2013). Nero also used his power to oppress the Roman people. He increased taxes to unprecedented levels, which forced many citizens to suffer from poverty and hardship.
In addition, he imposed harsh punishments for those who failed to pay taxes. He forced many citizens to work on his grand public projects, such as the Domus Aurea, a massive palace complex, against their will. Furthermore, he ordered the destruction of many homes and businesses, leaving thousands of people homeless. Nero was known for his cruelty when punishing those who opposed him. He ordered the execution of anyone who spoke out against him, often tortured those who refused to comply with his orders, and even had citizens executed for minor wrongdoings or simply because they were perceived to be a threat to his rule.
Nero’s cruelty was also evident in his treatment of Christians. His persecution of Christians started in 64 A.D. during The Great. Fire in Rome destroyed much of the city. Nero was blamed for the disaster and accusations of starting the fire to clear the way for a personal project he wanted to build. Even though historians now know that Nero was not responsible for the fire, he blamed the Christians for it in order to divert attention away from himself. His cruel actions led to a massive crackdown on the Christian population of Rome.
Moreover, he had many Christians arrested, tortured, and killed (Gwyn, (1991). Those arrested were subjected to cruel and unusual punishments, such as being dressed in animal skins and thrown into the wild beasts. He also had them thrown to their deaths from high cliffs while others were burned alive to amuse the crowds. Believing that Christianity was a superstition, Nero persecuted the early Christian church. His persecution of Christians resulted in thousands of deaths, and many fled Rome to escape his tyranny, causing many to question the legitimacy of his rule.
Nero’s cruelty and tyranny eventually led to his downfall. He was eventually declared an enemy of the state and was forced to commit suicide in 68 A.D. His reign had been marked by violence, oppression, and cruelty towards his people and those who opposed him. Nero’s name has become synonymous with cruelty and despotism in the Western world, and his reign serves as a reminder of the dangers of excessive power and unchecked tyranny.
References
Champlin, E. (2005). Nero. Belknap Press Of Harvard University Press.
Gwyn, W. B. (1991). CRUEL NERO: THE CONCEPT OF THE TYRANT AND THE IMAGE OF NERO IN WESTERN POLITICAL THOUGHT. History of Political Thought, 12(3), 421–455. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26214011
Jarus, O. (2013, October 8). Emperor Nero: Facts & Biography. Live Science; Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/40277-emperor-nero-facts.html
The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. (2018c). Nero | Biography & Accomplishments. In Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nero-Roman-emperor
Who was Nero? (n.d.). The British Museum. Retrieved February 3, 2023, from https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/who-was-nero#:~:text=Rome%20had%20already%20been%20razed
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