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[[File: Portrait Bust of the Emperor Nero by Thomas della PortaPortrait_Bust_of_the_Emperor_Nero_by_Thomas_della_Porta, the Elder_the_Elder, 1520_1520-1567, gilded bronze and marble with glass stones _gilded_bronze_and_marble_with_glass_stones_- Museum of Fine Arts_Museum_of_Fine_Arts, Springfield_Springfield, MA _MA_- DSC04144_DSC04144.JPG |200px|thumb|left|portrait bust 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 religion's persecution that was to last continue off and on and off for almost three centuries.

====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. <i>Annals of Rome</i>. 1</ref> Romans feared instability after his death , and they accepted his step-son, Tiberius, as his successor.<ref> Suetonius. <i>Life of Tiberius</i>. 4</ref> This established the hereditary principle for Imperial succession , and the Julian-Claudians Claudian's became 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 competent 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 established and his nephew Gaius (Caligula) became Emperor.<ref>Suetonius, <i>Life of Caligula</i>. 8</ref> Caligula four years in power were bizarre and bloody and after his assassination he was succeeded by Claudius. Often portrayed as something of a fool, but he did at times show that he was a 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 By the first-century AD time of his death, the Empire hereditary principle was at its zenith. There had been peace for several decades established, and the borders were relatively securehis nephew Gaius (Caligula) became Emperor. The majority <ref>Suetonius, <i>Life of provincials Caligula</i>. 8</ref> Caligula's four years in power were loyal to the Empire bizarre and they were increasingly Romanizedbloody. The economy of the Empire After his assassination, he was generally goodsucceeded by Claudius. There While often portrayed as something of a fool, he showed at times that he was also a great cultural flourishing capable leader. He ordered the conquest of Britain and poets such as Ovid and writers such as Petronius, produced masterpieces also annexed much of Latin literature that are still read to this modern-day. This was the Empire that Nero inheritedMorocco for his empire.<ref> GriffinSuetonius, Miriam T. Nero: The End Life of a Dynasty ( London: Yale University Press, 1985)Claudius, p 128 </ref>

===The life and reign of Nero===It is important to note that there are no surviving contemporary records of Nero and that many of In the first century AD, the surviving accounts are possibly biased. Nero Empire was born in 37 ADat its zenith. His parents There had been peace for several decades, and the borders were Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, a member of one relatively secure. The majority of provincials were loyal to the most powerful Roman families Empire, and Agrippina they were increasingly Romanized. The economy of the Younger, sister of Emperor CaligulaEmpire was generally good. He There was also a grant-nephew of Augustus great cultural flourishing, and poets such as Ovid and therefore a member writers such as Petronius produced masterpieces of the Julian-Claudian familyLatin literature that are still read. Nero This was not viewed as a future emperor at the time of his birthEmpire that Nero inherited.<ref> SuetoniusGriffin, Life Miriam T. <i>Nero: The End of Nero. 5a Dynasty</i> ( London: Yale University Press, 1985), p 12</ref>

During the ====The life and reign of his uncle CaligulaNero====It is important to note that there are no surviving contemporary records of Nero, his mother fell from favour and his family were persecutedmany of the remaining accounts are quite possibly biased. Nero was born in 37 AD. His father died (parents were Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, a member of one of natural causes) and his mother was exiled. Nero’s fortunes changed with the assassination of his uncle Caligula. Claudius became Emperor most powerful Roman families, and after a disastrous marriage, he married Agrippina the Younger, his niece.<ref>Tacitus. <i>Annals sister of Rome</i>Emperor Caligula. 34</ref> She He was able to persuade Claudius to make her son Nero his heir a grant-nephew of Augustus and he married the daughter , therefore, a member of Claudius from his first marriage. It is widely believed that Agrippina, probably with the help of Nero poisoned ClaudiusJulian-Claudian family. Nero became Emperor in 54 AD was not viewed as a future emperor at the age time of seventeenhis birth.<ref> Suetonius. <i>, Life of Claudius</i>Nero. 625</ref> His mother, was a domineering woman and it is believed that she manipulated her young son to advance her own interests.

The first five years of Nero’s During his uncle Caligula's reign were seen as generally positive, his mother fell from favor, and his family was persecuted. The government His father died (of natural causes), and his mother was in exiled. Nero’s fortunes changed with the hands assassination of two experienced ministers one of whom was the writer Seneca his uncle Caligula. Claudius became Emperor, and after a disastrous marriage, he married Agrippina the Younger and the Burrus, his niece.<ref>Tacitus, . <i>The Annals of Imperial Rome</i>, 45</ref> Agrippina the Younger vied for control of the empire with Seneca and his colleague but they remained in control. In 55 B.C it seems that Nero wanted to control the Empire and he had Seneca and Burrus dismissed. Later he killed his mother as he grew tired of her constant efforts to dominate him and control the Empire.<ref>Griffin, p 12334</ref> Nero’s changed after he murdered his and according to the ancient sources he morphed into grotesque tyrant.

She persuaded Claudius to make her son Nero murdered any senator who opposed him. His personal life was bizarre his heir and he married one the daughter of Claudius from his male slavesfirst marriage. It is widely believed that Agrippina, probably with the help of Nero, poisoned Claudius. Nero was passionate about the games and he personally participated became Emperor in 54 AD at the Olympic games in Greeceage of seventeen.<ref>Suetonius, . <i>Life of NeroClaudius</i>. 3462</ref> The Emperor also considered himself to be first His mother was a domineering woman, and foremost an artist. He at first performed his work in private but then publicly performed his work in Greece. Nero also acted on the stage. This scandalized the Roman elite who considered actors to be little better than prostitutes. The sight of Nero acting was appalling it is believed that she manipulated her young son to themadvance her own interests.

Nero was also paranoid about plots and he killed anyone he suspected The first five years of being a threatNero’s reign were seen as generally positive. While Nero The government was very unpopular with in the eliteshands of two experienced ministers, he one of whom was popular with the poor. He reformed writer Seneca the judicial Younger and taxation system and made it fairer. Nero also built gymnasiums and baths in Rome that were open to ordinary Romansthe Burrus. <ref>Tacitus, <i>The population Annals of Imperial Rome </i>, 45</ref> Agrippina the Younger vied for control of the empire with Seneca and elsewhere his colleague, but they remained in control. In 55 B.C, Nero wanted to control the Empire revered the Emperor , and he had Seneca and saw him as their protectorBurrus dismissed. According to SuetoniusLater, the emperor was ‘carried away by a craze for popularity and he was jealous killed his mother as he grew tired of all who in any way stirred her constant efforts to dominate him and control the feeling of the mobEmpire.’ <ref> Suetonius. Life of Nero. 53 Griffin, p 123</ref> The philosopher Epictetus argued that Nero was an insecure, immature and unhappy man and needed acclaimNero’s changed after he murdered his the ancient sources.<ref> ArrianHe morphed into a grotesque tyrant. <i>Sayings of Epictetus</i>. 56</ref>

Nero murdered any senator who opposed him. His personal life was also a lavish builder bizarre, and some sources say that he left the treasury bankrupt while others argued that married one of his spending male slaves. Nero was part of an economic policy to revive a stagnant economy. In 66 ADpassionate about the games, a great fire destroyed much of Romeand he personally participated in the Olympic games in Greece.<ref>TacitusSuetonius, <i>Annals Life of Imperial Rome</i>, 56Nero. 34</ref> The cause of Emperor also considered himself to be first and foremost an artist. He at first performed his work in private but then publicly performed his work in Greece. Nero also acted on the fire is not knownstage. It may have been accidental or arsonThis scandalized the Roman elite, who considered actors to be a little better than prostitutes. Elites blamed The sight of Nero for the fire and he acting was accused of clearing Rome for his building projectsappalling to them.

By 68 ADNero was also paranoid about plots, Nero had begun to raise taxes and there were many reports he killed anyone he suspected of growing discontent among the elitebeing a threat. While in Nero was very unpopular with the east there elites, he was a major Jewish Revolt and popular with the Romans had been expelled from much of Judeapoor. In 68 AD Vindex in Gaul revolted but was later put down, by He reformed the Roman legionsjudicial and taxation system and made it fairer.<ref>TacitusNero also built gymnasiums and baths in Rome that were open to ordinary Romans. <i>The Histories</i>. 45</ref> Finally, population of Rome and elsewhere in the Roman army grew weary of Nero even though he was a member of Empire revered the House of Julius Caesar Emperor and Augustussaw him as their protector.<ref> HollandAccording to Suetonius, Richard. Nero (The Man Behind the Myth. Stroud: Sutton Publishing, 2000)emperor was ‘carried away by a craze for popularity, p 145 </ref> In Spain, Galba and he was jealous of all who in any way stirred the Spanish legions revolted. This revolted was welcomed by feeling of the elites in Romemob.’ <ref> Suetonius. <i>Life of Galba</i>, 7Nero. 53 </ref> Galba set sail for Rome and The philosopher Epictetus argued that Nero attempted to rally his forces. Howeverwas an insecure, immature, he had alienated the elite and he was quickly abandoned. Nero was forced to flee with some of slaves but later committed suicide. He ordered on of his slaves to cut his throatunhappy man and needed acclaim.<ref>Suetonius, Arrian. <i>Life Sayings of NeroEpictetus</i>, 54. 56</ref> Nero remained popular with the poor and after his death Rome became incredibly unstable because three separate pretenders who claimed to be the Roman Emperor.

===The Year of the Four Emperors Nero was also a lavish builder, and some sources say that he left the end of the Julian-Claudian dynasty===Nero’s reign and his death destabilized the Empiretreasury bankrupt. His low tax policy combined with In contrast, others argued that his lavish spending had led to was part of an economic recession. He had also alienated the elites in Rome and elsewhere. He had also failed policy to provide strong government as is evident in the revolt of Vindex in Gaul and the Jewish Revoltrevive a stagnant economy. In the aftermath of his death, unlike that of his unstable uncle Caligula66 AD, there was no living male who was a member great fire destroyed much of the Julian-Claudian lineRome.<ref> HollandTacitus, Tom. Dynasty. The rise and fall of the house of Caesar (London, Little Brown, 2015), p. 347</refi> The Julian-Claudian family had killed many Annals of their relatives and after the death of Nero, who had no sons, there was no legitimate claimant to the throne. This left the army as the power broker and in the year after Nero's deaths, legions fought each other for control of the Empire.Imperial Rome<ref/i> Holland, p. 34956</ref> The year 69 AD cause of the fire is often not known as the year of the ‘Four Emperors’. In that year four men, Galba, Otho, Vitellius and Vespasian declared themselves emperorIt may have been accidental or arson. Vespasian emerged as Elites blamed Nero for the victor fire, and established the Flavian dynastyhe was accused of clearing Rome for his building projects. <ref> Holland, p. 406</ref>

By 68 AD, Nero ended had begun to raise taxes, and there were many reports of growing discontent among the Julian-Claudian dynastyelite. His death left While in the east, a power vacuum which destabilized major Jewish Revolt and the Empire and led to competing generals to fight a series Romans were expelled from much of civil warsJudea. Nero’s reign forced In 68 AD, Vindex in Gaul revolted but was later put down by the re-emergence of Roman legions.<ref>Tacitus. <i>The Histories</i>. 45</ref> Finally, the Roman army into state politics for the first time in grew weary of Nero even though he was a century. The year 69 AD was important as it showed that member of the army could both make House of Julius Caesar and unmake an emperorAugustus.<ref> Holland, Richard. Nero (The Man Behind the Myth. Stroud: Sutton Publishing, 2000), p. 412145 </ref>

===Nero In Spain, Galba and the Christians===Nero Spanish legions revolted. This revolted was welcomed by the first Roman Emperor to actively persecute the small sect of Christians. They had grown greatly since the crucifixion of Jesus. They had established themselves elites in Rome and attracted many adherents. They were not popular with other groups and their beliefs were treated with suspicion. They were after all self-confessed followers of Jesus who had been lawfully executed by the Roman governor of Judea.<ref> TacitusSuetonius. <i>Annals Life of Imperial Rome.Galba</i>Holland, 677</ref> In 69 AD, a great fire swept through Galba set sail for Rome and caused general unrest in the city. Nero accused Christians of starting the fire attempted to shift blame away from himselfrally his forces. <ref> HollandHowever, p. 334</ref> According to Tacitushe had alienated the elite, and he was very eager to quell rumours that he quickly abandoned. Nero was responsible for the fire ‘ consequently, forced to get rid flee with some of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures slaves but later committed suicide. He ordered on a class hated for their abominations, called "Christians" by the populaceof his slaves to cut his throat.’<ref>Tacitus. Suetonius, <i>The Annals Life of Imperial Rome.Nero</i>Holland, 15, 4454</ref> Nero established a precedent whereby an Emperor could declare remained popular with the Christians poor, and after his death, Rome became incredibly unstable because three separate pretenders who claimed to be public enemies. Nero’s and later persecutions were to shape the nature of Christianity but it did not stop its spread. The many martyrs created by the persecutions only strengthened the faith and it eventually became the state religion of the Empire in the later 4th century ADRoman Emperor.

<dh-ad/> ====The Year of the Four Emperors and the end of the Julian-Claudian dynasty====Nero’s reign and his death destabilized the Empire. His low tax policy, combined with his lavish spending, had led to an economic recession. He had also alienated the elites in Rome and elsewhere. He had also failed to provide a strong government, as is evident in the revolt of Vindex in Gaul and the Jewish Revolt. In the aftermath of his death, unlike that of his unstable uncle Caligula, there was no living male member of the Julian-Claudian line.<ref> Holland, Tom. Dynasty. The rise and fall of the house of Caesar (London, Little Brown, 2015), p. 347</ref>  The Julian-Claudian family had killed many of their relatives, and after the death of Nero, who had no sons, there was no legitimate claimant to the throne. This left the army as the power broker, and in the year after Nero's deaths, legions fought each other for control of the Empire.<ref> Holland, p. 349</ref> The year 69 AD is often known as the year of the ‘Four Emperors.’ In that year, four men, Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian, declared themselves emperor. Vespasian emerged as the victor and established the Flavian dynasty. <ref> Holland, p. 406</ref>  Nero ended the Julian-Claudian dynasty. His death left a power vacuum that destabilized the Empire and led to competing generals to fight a series of civil wars. Nero’s reign forced the Roman army's re-emergence into state politics for the first time in a century. The year 69 AD was important as it showed that the army could both make and unmake an emperor.<ref> Holland, p. 412</ref> ====Nero and the Christians====Nero was the first Roman Emperor to persecute the small sect of Christians actively. They had grown greatly since the crucifixion of Jesus. They had established themselves in Rome and attracted many adherents. They were not popular with other groups, and their beliefs were treated with suspicion. After all confessed followers of Jesus, they were lawfully executed by the Roman governor of Judea.<ref> Tacitus. <i>Annals of Imperial Rome.</i>Holland, 67</ref> In 69 AD, a great fire swept through Rome and caused general unrest in the city. Nero accused Christians of starting the fire to shift blame away from himself. <ref> Holland, p. 334</ref>  According to Tacitus, he was very eager to quell rumors that he was responsible for the fire ‘ consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called "Christians" by the populace.’<ref>Tacitus. <i>The Annals of Imperial Rome.</i>Holland, 15, 44</ref> Nero established a precedent whereby an Emperor could declare the Christians to be public enemies. Nero’s and later persecutions were to shape Christianity's nature, but it did not stop its spread. The many martyrs created by the persecutions only strengthened the faith, and it eventually became the state religion of the Empire in the later 4th century AD. ====Nero’s policies in the East====<div class="portal" style='float:right; width:35%'>====Related Articles===={{#dpl:category=Roman History|ordermethod=firstedit|order=descending|count=8}}</div>

Nero was a far more active Emperor than many gave him credit for at the time and since. He was particularly interested in the East. Still, his record -was mixed. Nero attempted to permanently annex the Bosphoran Kingdom in 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 turned the strategic kingdom of Armenia into a client kingdom and this , which 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 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 , Judea's administration of Judea was poor and contributed to the great Jewish Revolt (66-71 AD). The Jewish historian stated that the Jews believed him to be Nero was a ‘tyrant.’<ref> , Josephus. <i>History of the Jewish War</i>, 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. <ref> Holland, p. 324</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====Nero is regarded as either a mad or outright evil Emperor. He was undoubtedly cruel and committed many crimes. However, 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.