NERO, THE EMPEROR OF ROME

Roman Emperor Nero committed suicide on 09 June 68 Current Era. He prayed his secretary Epaphroditos to slit his throat to evade Senate-imposed death by whipping. 

Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, Roman emperor from 54 to 68 Current Era, was born on December 15, 37 CE in Antium, an ancient coastal town in the Latium region, in which Rome was built, in Italy. He was the last emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, ascending to the throne at age 16 after the death of his adoptive father, Claudius. His mother, Agrippina the Younger, played a significant role in securing his rule, though their relationship later deteriorated. Nero’s early reign, guided by advisors like Seneca and Burrus, was marked by relative stability and popular policies like tax reductions and public entertainment. He fancied himself an artist, performing as a poet, musician, and actor, which scandalized the Roman elite who viewed such behavior as beneath an emperor’s dignity. His passion for chariot racing and theatrical performances earned him both admiration from the masses and contempt from the aristocracy. The Great Fire of Rome in 64 CE, which destroyed much of the city, is one of the most infamous events of his reign. Rumors persisted that Nero started the fire to clear land for his grand palace, the Domus Aurea. But there is no definitive evidence. He scapegoated Christians, leading to brutal persecutions, which further tarnished his reputation. His lavish spending on projects like the Domus Aurea, coupled with economic mismanagement, strained Rome’s finances. Nero’s later years saw increasing paranoia and tyranny. He executed rivals, including his mother Agrippina in 59 CE, and forced Seneca to commit suicide. His erratic behavior and neglect of governance alienated the Senate and military. In 68 CE, revolts broke out, and the Senate declared him a public enemy. Abandoned by his allies, Nero fled Rome and took his own life on June 9, 68 CE, reportedly saying, “What an artist dies in me!” His death ended the Julio-Claudian dynasty, plunging Rome into civil war (the Year of the Four Emperors). Ancient sources like Tacitus, Suetonius, and Cassius Dio portray Nero as cruel and self-indulgent, though some modern historians argue these accounts are biased, and exaggerated by his enemies. Archaeological evidence, like the remains of the Domus Aurea, and surviving coinage suggest that he maintained some popular support, particularly among the lower classes.