Download Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus) 15 December 37 CE

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
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 selfindulgence.
• 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 End
Bibliography:
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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.romanempire.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>.