Transcript Training - Swansea University

Nero
Dr David W.J. Gill
University of Wales Swansea
Introduction




The ancient sources
The modern
assessment
Career
Strengths and
weaknesses
Ancient Sources
Tacitus, Annals 13–16
 Suetonius, Nero

Modern sources

Griffin, M.T. 1984. Nero: the end of a
dynasty

Warmington, B.H. 1977. Suetonius’ Nero
Suetonius as a source
born c. AD 70, C. Suetonius Tranquillus
 grandfather appears to have been familiar
with the imperial court of Gaius

– freedman or praetorian guard

father: Suetonius Laetus
– equestrian tribune with Legio XIII on the side
of Otho
– may have had links with Hippo Regius in
Algeria (inscription)
Suetonius’ background
brought up in Rome
 familiar with Domitian
 friends with Pliny the Younger who became
his patron

– 111 probably on staff of Pliny in Bithynia
Suetonius’ background

probably worked at Rome on public
pronouncements
– 117: chief secretary to Hadrian
– 121 or 122: fell from office


too familiar with empress Sabina
130: still alive
Structure of Suetonius’ life
1-8 Life to accession
 9-10 Early life
 20-38 Follies and crimes
 39-50 Disasters, death and funeral
 51-56 Character
 57 Reaction

Tacitus’ background
born c. 56
 senator under Domitian
 97: consul
 governor of Asia
 friend of Pliny the Younger

– therefore likely to have known Suetonius

probably survived the emperor Trajan
Life of Nero

born 15 December 37
– son of Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus and Iulia
Agrippina (II)

consul AD 32
Links with the imperial family
His mother, Agrippina (II) had married
Claudius
 Betrothed to Claudius’ daughter Octavia (II)
in 49 - and his adoptive sister (Suet. Nero 7)

– married in 53
The youthful Nero

Tacitus, Ann. 13:
– ‘But from early boyhood Nero’s mind, though
lively, directed itself to other things — carving,
painting, singing, and riding. Sometimes, too,
he wrote verses, and thereby showed he
possessed the rudiments of culture’
Adoption

By Claudius in 50
– Ti. Claudius Nero Caesar
– Suet. Nero 7: ‘When he reached the age of 11,
Claudius adopted him and appointed Annaeus
Seneca, who was already a senator, as his tutor’
Seneca as tutor
Exiled by Claudius for adultery with Iulia
Livilla, daughter of Germanicus
 Tacitus, Ann. 12.8.3 has Seneca recalled in
49: ‘Agrippina … now secured the recall of
Lucius Annaeus Seneca from exile … She
also had designs on him as a distinguished
tutor for her young son Lucius Domitius
Ahenobarbus … Seneca’s advice could
serve their plans for supremacy …’

Accession
Claudius died 13 October 54 (Suet. Claud.
45)
 Claudius declared a god (Suet. Claud. 45)
 Agrippina became his priestess
 Papyrus from Oxyrhynchus [LR ii.9]

Acclamation

Suet. Nero 8: ‘After being acclaimed
Emperor on the Palace steps, he was taken
in a litter to the Guards’ Camp, where he
briefly addressed the troops. He then visited
the Senate House, where he remained until
nightfall, refusing only one of the many
high honours voted him, namely the title
“Father of the Country”, and this because of
his youth’.
Proclamation of Nero as
emperor

POxy 1021

‘Fulfilling the debt to his ancestors, the manifest god
Caesar has departed to them, and the expected and
hoped for imperator of the world has been
proclaimed: the good spirit of the world, the origin
of the greatest of all good things, Nero has been
proclaimed Caesar. For this reason, all of us ought to
wear wreaths and sacrifice oxen, to show all the
gods our gratitude. Year 1 of Nero Claudius Caesar
Augustus Germanicus, on the 21st of the month
New Augustus’ [17 Nov]
The ‘quinquennium’
A golden age for the first five years
 Trajan perceived it as a golden age of good
government (Aur. Victor, Epitome 5)

– ‘Trajan justifiably said quite often that all
emperors were far behind Nero’s
quinquennium’
Nero’s first speech to the
Senate

Suetonius, Nero 10
– to rule according to Augustan precedent

Tacitus, Ann. 13.4
– renunciation of the abuses of the Claudian
regime
– ‘From my house, bribery and favouritism will
be excluded’
– ‘these promises were implemented’
Ending administrative abuses
in Egypt
Edict of 68: Ti. Julius Alexander [LR
ii.295–98]
 reaction to requirements under Nero

Tacitus on the end of the
Golden Age

Tacitus, Ann. 13
– treason charge against Burrus, the emperor’s
tutor
– ‘Burrus’ death undermined the influence of
Seneca’
– linked in an attempt to discredit Agrippina
‘Follies and crimes’

Suetonius, Nero 19.3
– ‘I have separated this catalogue of Nero’s less
atrocious acts — some forgivable, some even
praiseworthy — from the others; but I must
begin to list his follies (probris) and crimes
(scelerribus)’.
Increasing debauchery

Tac. Ann. 13: ‘The year was a time of peace
abroad, but disgusting excesses by Nero in
Rome. Disguised as a slave, he ranged the
streets, brothels, and taverns with his
friends, who pilfered goods from shops and
assaulted wayfarers: indeed, as marks on his
face testified, Nero himself was struck’
– leads to an acceptance of disorder
– senator forced to commit suicide
Gang warfare

Tac. Ann. 13
– Nero encouraged gangs, enjoying the major
fights
– linked to theatre troops

dancers expelled from Italy
Nero remarries
divorced Octavia (in 62)
 married Poppaea Sabina

– wife of M. Salvius Otho (future emperor) who
was sent off to govern Lusitania
– a daughter, Claudia (died in infancy)
Introduction of Greek style
games
to be held every five years
 61 gymnasium established

Dissatisfaction

65 conspiracy to make C. Calpurnius Piso
emperor
– Tacitus, Ann. 15.54 ff
– Plutarch, Moralia 505C-D: ‘The talkativenesss
of a single person prevented the city of Rome
from becoming free after deliverance from
Nero. For it was just one night before the tyrant
was to die and everything had been readied …’
Safety of the emperor

Inscription from Luna in Etruria (ILS 233)
– ‘ … in fulfilment of a vow undertaken for the
safety of Imperator Nero, which he had vowed
for the Baliarians in the year in which Aulus
Licinius Nerva had been consul (AD 65) …’

no mention of Marcus Vestinus Atticus who was
killed in the aftermath of Piso plot (Tactius, Ann.
15.68-69)