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==Introduction==__NOTOC__[[File:Portrait_Bust_of_the_Emperor_Nero_by_Thomas_della_Porta,_the_Elder,_1520-1567,_gilded_bronze_and_marble_with_glass_stones_-_Museum_of_Fine_Arts,_Springfield,_MA_-_DSC04144.JPG |250px|thumb|left| Bust of Nero]]Roman history was noted for having very many ‘bad’ emperors. One of the most notorious of these is was Nero. He was the last of the Julian-Claudian dynasty and became infamous for his artistic pretensions, hedonism , and his great cruelty. There are many myths about Nero , and this often obscured the reality of his reign. The emperor  Nero was a very important crucial figure in the history of Rome. He was the last of his dynasty , and his death ushered in a period of instability. His death led to a period of civil war that was the first in almost one hundred years. Nero was the first to persecute Christians , and he set a precedent for that groups religion's persecution that was to last continue off and on and off for almost three centuries. [[File: Portrait Bust of the Emperor Nero by Thomas della Porta, the Elder, 1520-1567, gilded bronze and marble with glass stones - Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield, MA - DSC04144.JPG |200px|thumb|left|portrait bust of Nero]]====Background==Augustus had brought peace to the Roman Empire and during his reign he amassed a range of powers. He made himself in effect the first Emperor <ref> Tacitus. Annals of Rome. 1</ref>. Such was his prestige and the Roman’s fear of instability that they accepted his step-son, Tiberius as his successor <ref> Suetonius. Life of Tiberius. 4</ref>. This established the hereditary principle in regard to the Imperial succession and the Julian-Claudians were the de-facto royal house of the Empire. Tiberius, who is often portrayed as a depraved and bloody old man, was in fact a very capable leader. He reformed the system of governance and tax-collection and his rule was mild. By the time of his death the hereditary principle was successfully established and his nephew Gaius (Caligula) became Emperor <ref> Suetonius, Life of Caligula. 8</ref>. His four years in power were bizarre and bloody and after his assassination he was succeeded by Claudius. Often portrayed as something of a fool in fact he was another capable leader. He ordered the conquest of Britain and also annexed much of modern-day Morocco for his empire<ref> Suetonius, Life of Claudius, 8 </ref>. In the first-century AD the Empire was at its zenith. There had been peace for several decades and the borders were relatively secure. The majority of provincials were loyal to the Empire and they were increasingly Romanized. The economy of the Empire was generally good. There was also a great cultural flourishing and poets such as Ovid and writers such as Petronius, produced masterpieces of Latin literature that are still read to this day. This was the Empire that Nero inherited <ref> Griffin, Miriam T. Nero: The End of a Dynasty ( London: Yale University Press, 1985), p 12</ref> .==

==The life Augustus had brought peace to the Roman Empire, and during his reign , he amassed a range of Nero==It is important to note that there are no surviving contemporary records powers. He made himself in effect the first Emperor.<ref> Tacitus. <i>Annals of Nero and that many of the surviving accounts are possibly biasedRome</i>. Nero was born in 37 AD. His parents were Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus1</ref> Romans feared instability after his death, a member of one of the most powerful Roman families and Agrippina the Youngerand they accepted his step-son, Tiberius, sister of Emperor Caligulaas his successor. He was a grant-nephew of Augustus and therefore a member <ref> Suetonius. <i>Life of Tiberius</i>. 4</ref> This established the Julianhereditary principle for Imperial succession, and the Julian-Claudian family's became the de-facto royal house of the Empire. Nero Tiberius, who is often portrayed as a depraved and bloody old man, was not viewed as a future emperor at competent leader. He reformed the system of governance and tax-collection, and his rule was mild.  By the time of his birth <ref> Suetoniusdeath, Life of Nerothe hereditary principle was established, and his nephew Gaius (Caligula) became Emperor. 5</ref>. During the reign Suetonius, <i>Life of his uncle Caligula, his mother fell from favour </i>. 8</ref> Caligula's four years in power were bizarre and the family were persecutedbloody. His father died (of natural causes) and After his mother assassination, he was exiledsucceeded by Claudius. Nero’s fortunes changed with the assassination While often portrayed as something of his uncle Caligula. Claudius became Emperor and after a disastrous marriage fool, he married Agrippina showed at times that he was a capable leader. He ordered the Younger, conquest of Britain and also annexed much of modern-day Morocco for his niece empire.<ref> Tacitus. Annals Suetonius, Life of Rome. 34Claudius, 8 </ref>. She was able to persuade Claudius to make her son Nero his heir and he married  In the daughter of Claudius from his first marriage. It is widely believed that Agrippinacentury AD, probably with the help of Nero poisoned ClaudiusEmpire was at its zenith. Nero became Emperor in 54 AD at There had been peace for several decades, and the age borders were relatively secure. The majority of seventeen <ref> Suetoniusprovincials were loyal to the Empire, and they were increasingly Romanized. Life The economy of Claudius. 62</ref>the Empire was generally good. His mother, There was also a domineering woman great cultural flourishing, and poets such as Ovid and it is believed writers such as Petronius produced masterpieces of Latin literature that she manipulated her young son to advance her own interestsare still read. This was the Empire that Nero inherited.<ref> Griffin, Miriam T. <i>Nero: The first five years End of Nero’s a Dynasty</i> ( London: Yale University Press, 1985), p 12</ref> ====The life and reign were seen as generally positive. The government was in the hands of two experienced ministers one Nero====It is important to note that there are no surviving contemporary records of Nero, and many of whom the remaining accounts are quite possibly biased. Nero was the writer Seneca the Youngerborn in 37 AD. His parents were Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, a member of one of the other Burrus <ref> Tacitusmost powerful Roman families, The Annals of Imperial Rome, 45</ref>. and Agrippina the Younger vied for control , sister of Emperor Caligula. He was a grant-nephew of the empire with Seneca Augustus and his colleague but they remained in control, therefore, a member of the Julian-Claudian family. In 55 B.C it seems that Nero wanted to control was not viewed as a future emperor at the Empire and he has Seneca and Burrus dismissedtime of his birth. Later he killed his mother<ref> Suetonius, he was tired Life of her constant efforts to dominate him and to become the power behind the throne <Nero. 5</ref> Griffin During his uncle Caligula's reign, his mother fell from favor, p 123</ref>. This apparently led to a great change in Nero’s character and according to the ancient sources he became a grotesque tyranthis family was persecuted. Nero began to murder any senator who opposed him. His personal life was bizarre His father died (of natural causes), and he married one of his male slavesmother was exiled. Nero was passionate about Nero’s fortunes changed with the games assassination of his uncle Caligula. Claudius became Emperor, and after a disastrous marriage, he personally participated in married Agrippina the Olympic games in Greece Younger, his niece.<ref> Suetonius, Life Tacitus. <i>Annals of NeroRome</i>. 34</ref>. The Emperor considered himself  She persuaded Claudius to be make her son Nero his heir and married the daughter of Claudius from his first and foremost an artistmarriage. He at first performed his work in private but then publicly performed his work in GreeceIt is widely believed that Agrippina, probably with the help of Nero, poisoned Claudius. Nero also acted on became Emperor in 54 AD at the stage. This scandalized the Roman elite who considered actors to be little better than prostitutes and the sight age of Nero acting was unacceptable to themseventeen. Nero was paranoid about plots and he killed anyone he suspected <ref> Suetonius. <i>Life of being a threatClaudius</i>. While Nero 62</ref> His mother was very unpopular with the elite he was popular with the poor. He reformed the judicial a domineering woman, and taxation system and made it fairer. Nero also built gymnasiums and baths in Rome it is believed that were open she manipulated her young son to ordinary Romansadvance her own interests.  The population first five years of Rome and elsewhere Nero’s reign were seen as generally positive. The government was in the Empire revered the Emperor and saw him as their protector. According to Suetoniushands of two experienced ministers, one of whom was the emperor was ‘carried away by a craze for popularity writer Seneca the Younger and he was jealous of all who in any way stirred the feeling of the mob’ the Burrus.<ref> Suetonius. Life of Nero. 53 Tacitus, </refi>. The emperor needed the acclaim as according to the philosopher EpictetusAnnals of Imperial Rome</i>, he was an insecure, immature and unhappy man’ 45</ref> Arrian. Sayings Agrippina the Younger vied for control of Epictetus. 56</ref>the empire with Seneca and his colleague, but they remained in control. Nero was a lavish builder In 55 B.C, Nero wanted to control the Empire, and some sources say that he left the treasury bankrupt but others believe that had Seneca and Burrus dismissed. Later, he killed his spending was part mother as he grew tired of a policy her constant efforts to revive a stagnant economydominate him and control the Empire. In 66 AD, a great fire destroyed much of Rome <ref> TacitusGriffin, Annals of Imperial Rome, 56p 123</ref>Nero’s changed after he murdered his ancient sources. The cause of the fire is not known and it may have been accidental or it may have been arson. Many blamed Nero for the fire He morphed into a grotesque tyrant.  Nero murdered any senator who opposed him. His personal life was bizarre, and he was accused married one of starting it in order to secure land for his building projectsmale slaves. It seemed that by 68 ADNero was passionate about the games, Nero had begun to raise taxes and there were many reports of growing discontent among he personally participated in the eliteOlympic games in Greece. While in the east there was a major Jewish Revolt and the Romans had been expelled from much of Judea<ref>Suetonius, Life of Nero. In 68 AD Vindex in Gaul revolted but was later put down, by the Roman legions 34</ref> Tacitus. The HistoriesEmperor also considered himself to be first and foremost an artist. 45</ref>. It seems that for whatever reason that the army had grown tired of He at first performed his work in private but then publicly performed his work in Greece. Nero even though he was a member of also acted on the House of Julius Caesar and Augustus <ref> Holland, Richardstage. Nero (The Man Behind This scandalized the Myth. Stroud: Sutton PublishingRoman elite, 2000), p 145 </ref> who considered actors to be a little better than prostitutes. In Spain Galba and the Spanish legions revolted The sight of Nero acting was appalling to them.  Nero was also paranoid about plots, and this was generally welcomed by many he killed anyone he suspected of the elite in Rome <ref> Suetoniusbeing a threat. Life of Galba While Nero was very unpopular with the elites, 7</ref>. Galba set sail for Rome and Nero tried to rally his forceshe was popular with the poor. However, he had alienated He reformed the elite judicial and taxation system and he was soon abandonedmade it fairer. Nero fled with some slaves but later committed suicide, by ordering a slave also built gymnasiums and baths in Rome that were open to cut his throat<ref> Suetonius, Life ordinary Romans. The population of Nero, 54</ref> Nero remained popular with Rome and elsewhere in the Empire revered the poor Emperor and after his death there were three pretenders who claimed they were actually the Roman Emperorsaw him as their protector. ==The Year of According to Suetonius, the Four Emperors emperor was ‘carried away by a craze for popularity, and he was jealous of all who in any way stirred the end feeling of the Julian-Claudian dynasty==It seems that Nero’s reign had destabilized the Empiremob.’ <ref> Suetonius. Life of Nero. His low tax policy combined with his lavish spending had led to 53 </ref> The philosopher Epictetus argued that Nero was an economic recessioninsecure, immature, and unhappy man and needed acclaim. He had also alienated the elites in Rome and elsewhere<ref> Arrian. He had also failed to provide strong government as is evident in the revolt <i>Sayings of Vindex in Gaul Epictetus</i>. 56</ref>  Nero was also a lavish builder, and some sources say that he left the Jewish Revolttreasury bankrupt. In the aftermath of his deathcontrast, unlike others argued that of his unstable uncle Caligula, there spending was no living male who was a member part of the Julian-Claudian line an economic policy to revive a stagnant economy. In 66 AD, a great fire destroyed much of Rome.<ref> HollandTacitus, Tom. Dynasty. The rise and fall of the house of Caesar (London<i>Annals of Imperial Rome</i>, Little Brown, 2015), p. 34756</ref>. The Julian-Claudian had killed many cause of their relatives and as a result after the death of fire is not known. It may have been accidental or arson. Elites blamed Nerofor the fire, who had no sons, there and he was no legitimate claimant to the throneaccused of clearing Rome for his building projects. This left  By 68 AD, Nero had begun to raise taxes, and there were many reports of growing discontent among the army as the power broker and elite. While in the year after east, a major Jewish Revolt and the suicide Romans were expelled from much of Nero the legions fought for control of the Empire<ref> Holland, pJudea. In 68 AD, Vindex in Gaul revolted but was later put down by the Roman legions. 349</ref>Tacitus. <i>The year 69 AD is often known as Histories</i>. 45</ref> Finally, the year Roman army grew weary of Nero even though he was a member of the ‘Four Emperors’. In that year four men, Galba, Otho, Vitellius House of Julius Caesar and Vespasian declared themselves emperorAugustus. Vespasian emerged as the victor and he established the Flavian dynasty <ref> Holland, Richard. Nero (The Man Behind the Myth. Stroud: Sutton Publishing, 2000), p. 406145 </ref>. Nero had killed  In Spain, Galba and the last male in the Julian-Claudian line and did not have his own sonSpanish legions revolted. This meant that with his death that his dynasty which had been so successful came to an endrevolted was welcomed by the elites in Rome. He left a power vacuum which was filled by competing generals and that led to a series of civil wars<ref> Suetonius. Nero’s reign was to see the re-emergence <i>Life of the Roman army into politics Galba</i>, 7</ref> Galba set sail for the first time in a centuryRome and Nero attempted to rally his forces. The year 69 AD was important as it showed that However, he had alienated the army could make elite, and unmake an emperor and this he was quickly abandoned. Nero was forced to be a destabilizing factor in Roman politics until the fall flee with some of the western Roman Emperor <ref> Holland, pslaves but later committed suicide. 412</He ordered one of his slaves to cut his throat.<ref>. ==Suetonius, <i>Life of Nero and </i>, 54</ref> Nero remained popular with the Christians==Nero was poor, and after his death, Rome became incredibly unstable because three separate pretenders who claimed to be the first Roman Emperor to actively persecute . <dh-ad/> ====The Year of the Four Emperors and the small sect end of Christians. They had grown greatly since the crucifixion of Jesus. They had established themselves in Rome Julian-Claudian dynasty====Nero’s reign and they had managed to attract many followershis death destabilized the Empire. They were not popular His low tax policy, combined with other groups and their beliefs were treated with suspicionhis lavish spending, had led to an economic recession. They were after all self-confessed followers of Jesus who He had been lawfully executed by also alienated the governor of Judea <ref> Tacitus. Annals of Imperial elites in Romeand elsewhere. 67</ref>. In 69 AD He had also failed to provide a great fire swept through Rome and cause great unrest strong government, as is evident in the city. It is widely believed that Nero made scapegoats out revolt of the Christians Vindex in Gaul and the city <ref> HollandJewish Revolt. In the aftermath of his death, unlike that of his unstable uncle Caligula, pthere was no living male member of the Julian-Claudian line. 334</ref>Holland, Tom. Dynasty. According to Tacitus, he was very eager to quell rumours that he was responsible for the fire ‘ consequently, to get rid The rise and fall of the reporthouse of Caesar (London, Little Brown, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations2015), called "Christians" by the populace’ p. 347</ref> Tacitus.  The Annals Julian-Claudian family had killed many of their relatives, and after the death of Imperial Rome. 15. 44</ref>. Nero established a precedent whereby an Emperor could declare , who had no sons, there was no legitimate claimant to the Christians to be public enemiesthrone. Nero’s and later persecutions were to shape This left the army as the nature of Christianity but it did not stop its spread. The many martyrs created by the persecutions only strengthened the faith power broker, and it eventually became in the state religion year after Nero's deaths, legions fought each other for control of the Empire in the later 4th century AD. ==Nero’s policies in <ref> Holland, p. 349</ref> The year 69 AD is often known as the East==Nero was a far more active Emperor than many gave him credit for at year of the time and since‘Four Emperors. He was particularly interested in the East. His record here was mixed’ In that year, four men, Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian, declared themselves emperor. Nero attempted to permanently annex Vespasian emerged as the Bosphoran Kingdom in victor and established the Crimea but his successors reversed this and were content to have it as a client kingdom. Nero fought a war with Parthia. He appointed a commoner to lead the Roman armies and he managed to inflict several defeats on the Parthians <ref> Suetonius. Life of Nero. 43</ref>. Nero was able to turn the strategic kingdom of Armenia into a client kingdom and this allowed him to secure the borders with Parthia. He also obliged the Parthians to hand over some legion ‘eagles’ or standards that had been captured. Nero’ s success against the Parthians meant that the Eastern frontier was at peace for several decades <ref> Tacitus. The Annals of Imperial Rome, 56</ref>. However, during his reign the administration of Judea was poor and this contributed to the great Jewish Revolt (66-71 AD). The Jewish historian stated that the Jews believed him to be a ‘tyrant’ <ref> Josephus. History of the Jewish War, ii</ref>. Perhaps his most lasting legacy was his generally pro-Greek policies in the Eastern half of the Empire. He granted ‘liberties’ to many Greek cities in the eastern portion of his empire. This led them to become economically successful and culturally vibrant Flavian dynasty. <ref> Holland, p. 324406</ref>. This partly explains why unlike the west that the east did not succumb to Romanization but remained very much influenced by Hellenic culture. Later emperors such as Hadrian imitated Nero’s policies towards the Greek cities.

==Conclusion=={{Contributors}}Nero is regarded as either a mad or outright evil EmperorUpdated Nov. He was undoubtedly cruel and committed many crimes. However19, he was also an important figure in the history of Rome. Nero was the first Emperor to persecute Christians and many other Emperors were to follow his example. He also had some successes in the east especially against the Parthians and he did much to promote Hellenic culture in the eastern provinces. He was the last of the Julian-Claudian dynasty and his death led to a series of bloody civil wars. This period of instability led to the army determining who should be emperor. This was one of the most important legacies of Nero the re-emergence of the legions as a political force, something that Augustus and his heirs had prevented for several decades.==References==2020