Changes

<youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v==Introduction==6klHvO4EPG8</youtube>  __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 |200px|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 of Nero and that many of powers. He made himself in effect the surviving accounts are possibly biasedfirst Emperor. Nero was born in 37 AD<ref> Tacitus. His parents were Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, a member <i>Annals of one of the most powerful Roman families Rome</i>. 1</ref> Romans feared instability after his death, and Agrippina the Youngerthey accepted his step-son, Tiberius, sister of Emperor Caligulaas his successor.<ref> Suetonius. He was a grant-nephew <i>Life of Augustus and therefore a member of the Julian-Claudian family. Nero was not viewed as a future emperor at the time of his birth Tiberius</i>. 4</ref> SuetoniusThis established the hereditary principle for Imperial succession, Life and the Julian-Claudian's became the de-facto royal house of Nerothe Empire. 5</ref>. During the reign of his uncle CaligulaTiberius, his mother fell from favour who is often portrayed as a depraved and bloody old man, was a competent leader. He reformed the family were persecuted. His father died (system of natural causes) governance and his mother tax-collection, and his rule was exiledmild. Nero’s fortunes changed with  By the assassination time of his uncle death, the hereditary principle was established, and his nephew Gaius (Caligula. Claudius ) became Emperor and after a disastrous marriage he married Agrippina the Younger, his niece .<ref> Tacitus. Annals of Rome. 34Suetonius, </refi>Life of Caligula</i>. She 8</ref> Caligula's four years in power were bizarre and bloody. After his assassination, he was able to persuade succeeded by Claudius to make her son Nero his heir and . While often portrayed as something of a fool, he showed at times that he married was a capable leader. He ordered the daughter conquest of Claudius from Britain and also annexed much of modern-day Morocco for his first marriageempire. It is widely believed that Agrippina<ref> Suetonius, probably with the help Life of Nero poisoned Claudius. Nero became Emperor in 54 AD at the age of seventeen <ref> Suetonius. Life of Claudius. 62, 8 </ref>. His mother In the first century AD, the Empire was a domineering woman at its zenith. There had been peace for several decades, and it is believed that she manipulated her young son to advance her own intereststhe borders were relatively secure. The first five years majority of Nero’s reign provincials were seen as generally positive. The government was in loyal to the hands Empire, and they were increasingly Romanized. The economy of two experienced ministers one of whom the Empire was generally good. There was the writer Seneca the Younger, the other Burrus also a great cultural flourishing, and poets such as Ovid and writers such as Petronius produced masterpieces of Latin literature that are still read. This was the Empire that Nero inherited.<ref> TacitusGriffin, The Annals Miriam T. <i>Nero: The End of Imperial Romea Dynasty</i> ( London: Yale University Press, 1985), 45p 12</ref>. Agrippina the Younger vied for control  ====The life and reign of the empire with Seneca and his colleague but they remained in control. In 55 B.C it seems Nero====It is important to note that there are no surviving contemporary records of Nero wanted to control the Empire , and he has Seneca and Burrus dismissedmany of the remaining accounts are quite possibly biased. Later he killed his mother, he Nero was tired of her constant efforts to dominate him born in 37 AD. His parents were Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, a member of one of the most powerful Roman families, and to become Agrippina the power behind the throne <ref> GriffinYounger, p 123</ref>sister of Emperor Caligula. This apparently led to He was a great change in Nero’s character grant-nephew of Augustus and according to , therefore, a member of the ancient sources he became a grotesque tyrantJulian-Claudian family. Nero began to murder any senator who opposed him. His personal life was bizarre and he married one was not viewed as a future emperor at the time of his male slavesbirth. Nero was passionate about the games and he personally participated in the Olympic games in Greece <ref> <ref> Suetonius, Life of Nero. 345</ref>. The Emperor considered himself to be first  During his uncle Caligula's reign, his mother fell from favor, and foremost an artisthis family was persecuted. He at first performed his work in private but then publicly performed His father died (of natural causes), and his work in Greecemother was exiled. Nero also acted on Nero’s fortunes changed with the stageassassination of his uncle Caligula. This scandalized Claudius became Emperor, and after a disastrous marriage, he married Agrippina the Roman elite who considered actors to be little better than prostitutes and the sight of Nero acting was unacceptable to themYounger, his niece. Nero was paranoid about plots and he killed anyone he suspected <ref>Tacitus. <i>Annals of being a threatRome</i>. While Nero was very unpopular with 34</ref>  She persuaded Claudius to make her son Nero his heir and married the elite he was popular daughter of Claudius from his first marriage. It is widely believed that Agrippina, probably with the poorhelp of Nero, poisoned Claudius. He reformed the judicial and taxation system and made it fairerNero became Emperor in 54 AD at the age of seventeen.<ref> Suetonius. Nero also built gymnasiums and baths in Rome that were open to ordinary Romans<i>Life of Claudius</i>. The population of Rome and elsewhere in the Empire revered the Emperor and saw him as their protector. According to Suetonius, the emperor 62</ref> His mother was ‘carried away by a craze for popularity domineering woman, and he was jealous it is believed that she manipulated her young son to advance her own interests.  The first five years of all who Nero’s reign were seen as generally positive. The government was in any way stirred the feeling hands of two experienced ministers, one of whom was the mob’ <writer Seneca the Younger and the Burrus.<ref> Suetonius. Life Tacitus, <i>The Annals of Nero. 53 Imperial Rome</i>, 45</ref>. The emperor needed Agrippina the acclaim as according to Younger vied for control of the philosopher Epictetusempire with Seneca and his colleague, he was an insecure, immature and unhappy man’ <ref> Arrianbut they remained in control. Sayings of Epictetus. 56</ref> In 55 B. C, Nero was a lavish builder 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>. The cause of Nero’s changed after he murdered his the fire is not known and it may have been accidental or it may have been arsonancient sources. 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 <ref>Suetonius, Life of JudeaNero. In 68 AD Vindex in Gaul revolted 34</ref> The Emperor also considered himself to be first and foremost an artist. He at first performed his work in private but was later put down, by then publicly performed his work in Greece. Nero also acted on the stage. This scandalized the Roman legions <ref> Tacitus. elite, who considered actors to be a little better than prostitutes. The Historiessight of Nero acting was appalling to them. 45</ref> Nero was also paranoid about plots, and he killed anyone he suspected of being a threat. It seems that for whatever reason that the army had grown tired of While Nero even though was very unpopular with the elites, he was a member of popular with the poor. He reformed the House of Julius Caesar judicial and Augustus <ref> Holland, Richardtaxation system and made it fairer. Nero (also built gymnasiums and baths in Rome that were open to ordinary Romans. The Man Behind population of Rome and elsewhere in the Empire revered the MythEmperor and saw him as their protector. Stroud: Sutton PublishingAccording to Suetonius, 2000)the emperor was ‘carried away by a craze for popularity, p 145 </ref> . In Spain Galba and the Spanish legions revolted and this he was generally welcomed by many jealous of all who in any way stirred the feeling of the elite in Rome mob.’ <ref> Suetonius. Life of Galba, 7Nero. 53 </ref>. Galba set sail for Rome and The philosopher Epictetus argued that Nero tried to rally his forces. Howeverwas an insecure, immature, he had alienated the elite and he was soon abandonedunhappy man and needed acclaim. Nero fled with some slaves but later committed suicide, by ordering a slave to cut his throat<ref> Suetonius, Life Arrian. <i>Sayings of Nero, 54Epictetus</i>. 56</ref>  Nero remained popular with the poor was also a lavish builder, and after his death there were three pretenders who claimed they were actually some sources say that he left the Roman Emperortreasury bankrupt. ==The Year of the Four Emperors and the end In contrast, others argued that his spending was part of the Julian-Claudian dynasty==It seems that Nero’s reign had destabilized the Empire. His low tax an economic policy combined with his lavish spending had led to an economic recessionto revive a stagnant economy. He had also alienated the elites in In 66 AD, a great fire destroyed much of Rome and elsewhere. He had also failed to provide strong government as is evident in the revolt <ref>Tacitus, <i>Annals of Imperial Rome</i>, 56</ref> The cause of Vindex in Gaul and the Jewish Revoltfire is not known. In the aftermath of his death, unlike that of his unstable uncle CaligulaIt may have been accidental or arson. Elites blamed Nero for the fire, there and he was no living male who was a member accused of the Julian-Claudian line <ref> Hollandclearing Rome for his building projects.  By 68 AD, Nero had begun to raise taxes, Tom. Dynasty. The rise and fall there were many reports of growing discontent among the house of Caesar (Londonelite. While in the east, Little Brown, 2015), p. 347</ref>. The Julian-Claudian had killed many of their relatives a major Jewish Revolt and as a result after the death Romans were expelled from much of NeroJudea. In 68 AD, who had no sons, there Vindex in Gaul revolted but was no legitimate claimant to later put down by the throneRoman legions. This left <ref>Tacitus. <i>The Histories</i>. 45</ref> Finally, the Roman army as the power broker and in the year after the suicide grew weary of Nero even though he was a member of the legions fought for control House of the EmpireJulius Caesar and Augustus.<ref> Holland, p. 349</ref>Richard. Nero (The year 69 AD is often known as Man Behind the year of the ‘Four Emperors’Myth. In that year four menStroud: Sutton Publishing, Galba2000), Otho, Vitellius and Vespasian declared themselves emperorp 145 </ref>  In Spain, Galba and the Spanish legions revolted. Vespasian emerged as This revolted was welcomed by the victor and he established the Flavian dynasty elites in Rome.<ref> HollandSuetonius. <i>Life of Galba</i>, p. 4067</ref>. Galba set sail for Rome and Nero had killed attempted to rally his forces. However, he had alienated the last male in the Julian-Claudian line elite, and did not have his own sonhe was quickly abandoned. This meant that Nero was forced to flee with some of the slaves but later committed suicide. He ordered on of his death that slaves to cut his dynasty which had been so successful came to an endthroat. He left a power vacuum which was filled by competing generals and that led to a series of civil wars. Nero’s reign was to see the re-emergence <ref>Suetonius, <i>Life of Nero</i>, 54</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 army into politics for the first time in a century. The year 69 AD was important as it showed that the army could make and unmake an emperor and this was to be a destabilizing factor in Roman politics until the fall of the western Roman Emperor <ref> Holland, p. 412</ref>. ==Nero and the Christians==Nero was 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 in Rome and they had managed to attract many followers. 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 governor of Judea <ref> Tacitus. Annals of Imperial Rome. 67</ref>. In 69 AD a great fire swept through Rome and cause great unrest in the city. It is widely believed that Nero made scapegoats out of the Christians in the city <ref> Holland, p. 334</ref>. According to Tacitus, he was very eager to quell rumours 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. The Annals of Imperial Rome. 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 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 AD. ==Nero’s policies in the East==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. His record here 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 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 EmpireEmperor. 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 <dh-ad/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