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Nero
(courtesy of Daniel Voshart | voshart.com) |
Nero (Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus; 15 December 37 – 9 June 68 AD) was the fifth Roman emperor, ruling from 54 to 68. His infamous reign is usually associated with tyranny, extravagance and debauchery. Nero, originally named Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, belonged to the Julio-Claudian dynasty, and was adopted as heir by the emperor Claudius, his great-uncle and stepfather. Nero succeeded Claudius while not yet aged 17, and his mother, Agrippina, tried to dominate his early life and decisions, but Nero cast her off and had her killed five years into his reign. (Intro from Wikipedia)
December 15, 37 - Antium (Anzio, Italy) - Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus is born
January 1(?), 41 - Pyrgi (Santa Severa, Lazio) - His father, Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, dies at Pyrgi
March(?) 1(?), 41 - While at Pyrgi(?) - Shortly after his accession in 41, the emperor Claudius asked Gaius Sallustius Crispus Passienus to divorce his wife, and marry Agrippina
January 1, 49 - Rome - Emperor Claudius marries his niece Agrippina the Younger (approximate date) and most of the real power falls to Agrippina.
June(?) 1(?), 49 - Rome - Nero becomes engaged to Claudia Octavia, daughter of Claudius. Seneca the Younger becomes his tutor
February 25, 50 - Rome - Lucius Domitius becomes, by law of the Roman People, Tiberius Claudius Nero Caesar (or Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus)
January(?) 1(?), 51 - Rome - 13-year-old Nero assumes the "toga virilis", a year before minimum age - a public triumph over Britannicus
March 4, 51 - Rome - Nero is elected for Consul (to enter office when he would be 19)
June 9, 53 - Rome - Claudius adopts Nero as his son and accepts him as his successor, to the detriment of Britannicus, his son by his first wife, Valeria Messalina. Nero marries his Claudius' 14-year-old daughter Claudia Octavia.
October 13, 54 - Rome - Emperor Claudius dies, possibly after being poisoned by Agrippina, his wife and niece. 16-year-old Nero succeeds Claudius as Emperor adopting the name "Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus" =(START)
October 15(?), 54 - Rome - Immediately after his accession as emperor, Nero summons the leading citharode of the age and begins studying with him
December 1, 54 - Rome - Coins are issued on which the heads of Agrippina and Nero were shown facing each other and Agrippina’s titles appeared on the obverse, Nero’s being relegated to the reverse
December 17, 54 - Rome - Saturnalia of 54 (celebrating the Winter Solstice). In a role-playing game, Nero commands Britannicus to sing an extemporaneous song. Britannicus turns the laugh on Nero by hinting on his song that he had been expelled from his father's throne. Nero, who was worried about Agrippina's support for Britannicus, decides right there to get rid of him
January 1, 55 - Rome - Emperor Nero becomes Consul
February 11, 55 - Rome - Power struggle between Agrippina and her son Nero begins. Agrippina threatens Nero into submission by supporting Britannicus as the rightful heir to Claudius' throne, underestimating his son's response. The night before the coming of age of Britannicus, his 14th birthday, Nero has him poisoned at the children's table
June(?) 1(?), 56 - Rome - Roman coins still feature Agrippina’s head on the obverse, though now the two heads are parallel, with Nero’s in front and the position of the titles reversed
January 1, 56 - Rome - From 56, roman coins show only a portrait of Nero
January(?) 1(?), 57 - Rome - Agrippina is expelled from the Palace and goes to live in a estate in Misenum
January 1, 58 - Rome - Emperor Nero and Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus become Roman consuls.
December 21, 58 - Rome - Nero performs a piece called "Attis" or "The Bacchants" at the Juvenalia (or Ludi Juvenales) - scenic games instituted in commemoration of his shaving of beard for the first time, representing that 21-year-old Nero was now a man. The games were celebrated during the Winter Solstice of the Northern Hemisphere
January 1, 59 - Rome - In the end of 58 or beginning of 59, in a last attempt to grasp to power, Agrippina reportedly offers herself to her own son. Nero stops seeing her in private and she withraws to her estates
March 23, 59 - Misenum (Miseno, near Naples) - Encouraged by his mistress Poppaea, Nero orders the murder of his mother Agrippina the Younger, aged 43. He tries to kill her through a planned shipwreck, but when she survives, he has her executed and frames it as a suicide.
March 30(?), 59 - Baiae, Bay of Naples - Nero celebrates the festival of Minerva at Baiae
April 5, 59 - While at Baiae - The Arval Brothers (a priestly college composed of senators) sacrifice for the "safety" of Nero
June 20(?), 59 - Rome - Three months after Agrippina's death, Nero returns to a rapturous public welcome in Rome. He invites the people of Rome to watch him race chariots in the Vatican Gardens
June 23, 59 - Rome - The Arval Brothers again sacrifice for the "safety" of Nero and his return from Baiae
January(?) 1(?), 60 - Rome - Nero institutes a quinquennial festival in greek style which he called "Neronia", including chariot-racing, athletics, music and recitations
June 8, 62 - While in Rome - Claudia Octavia, aged 22, is forced to commit suicide at Pandateria (Ventotene Island) by orders of Nero
January 21, 63 - Antium (Anzio, Italy) - Daughter Claudia Augusta is born
May(?) 1(?), 63 - Rome - His daughter Claudia Augusta dies after 4 months
January(?) 1(?), 64 - Rome - Nero races chariots in public for the first time
June(?) 1(?), 64 - Rome(?) - Nero marries a freedman named Pythagoras (Spring or Early Summer). He dresses as the bride
July 18, 64 - Antium (Anzio, Italy) - Great Fire of Rome: Fire breaks out in the merchant area of Rome and soon spreads to the wooden structures of the city out of control. While at Antium, Nero sees the blaze in the horizon in the direction of Rome and rushes to the Capital
July 19, 64 - Rome - Nero runs about the city during the first night without escort, directing efforts to quell the blaze and relieve the suffering of the people. He reduces the price of grain, and opens the Campus martius and his own gardens to the romans, providing supplies and temporary shelters. Unfortunately, right then, a rumour arises accusing him of ordering the torching of the city and standing on the summit of the Palatine, playing the lyre while Rome burns.
August(?) 1(?), 64 - Rome - After the fire of Rome, Nero proposes a new urban planning program based on the creation of buildings decorated with ornate porticos, the widening of the streets and the use of open spaces. He holds a private "spectaculum" in his gardens at which the Christians convicted of burning the city were executed in various dramatic ways
January(?) 1(?), 65 - Rome - Nero participates in the second "Neronia" as a competitor in oratory. The public demands to hear the "divine voice" and goes wild when Nero sings
April 19, 65 - Rome - A conspiracy to murder Nero in the Circus Maximus is uncovered when freedman Milichus betrays his master, tribune Flavius Scaevinus, and all the other conspirators. Of the 32 people involved in the conspiracy, 13 are exiled and 19 are executed or forced to commit suicide, including the leader, Senator Gaius Calpurnius Piso.
June 5(?), 65 - Rome - In the early Summer of 65, Poppaea Sabina, the love of his life, dies during a miscarriage, aged 34/35, reportedly from Nero kicking her stomach in a fit of anger
March(?) 1(?), 66 - Rome - Nero marries Statilia Messalina (in the first half of 66)
May(?) 1(?), 66 - Neapolis (Polignano a Mare, SE of Bari) - Nero meets Tiridates, King of Armenia, and both depart to Rome together
May 10(?), 66 - On his way to Rome - Insurrections erupt in Judaea
May 25(?), 66 - Rome - Nero receives the homage of Tiridates in the forum and crowns him King of Armenia. The Theater of Pompey is all painted with gold and at the center of the stage, Nero appears in his "chariot of the Sun"
July(?) 1(?), 66 - Rome - Nero marries Sporus, a freedman with remarkable resemblance to Poppaea. He has him castrated and makes him appear in public as his wife
August 15(?), 66 - Rome - Nero departs to Greece to throw himself into the festival circuit as a competitor in playing the lyre, acting in tragedies and racing chariots. His entourage includes future emperor Vespasian, Tigellinus, Sporus, Pythagoras and his wife Statilia Messalina
September(?) 1(?), 66 - Brundisium (Brindisi, SE Italy) - Nero and his entourage sail to Greece
September(?) 4(?), 66 - Corcyra (Corfu, Greece) - Arrival in Corcyra after 3 days
September 22, 66 - Nicopolis, Greece(?) - Emperor Nero creates the Legio I Italica. He appoints Titus Flavius Vespasian legate of the army of Judea, which gives him command of three legions — V Macedonica, X Fretensis and XV Apollinaris
October 1(?), 66 - Nicopolis, Greece - Takes part in the Actian Games, in competitions of Drama and Music
October(?) 15(?), 66 - Patras, Greece - Nero lands in Patras
November(?) 1(?), 66 - Olympia, Greece - Participates in Olympic games racing chariots. In a race of 4-horse chariots, Nero uses a 10-horse chariot and is almost killed in an accident. The jury decides to award him the laurels anyway
April 1(?), 67 - While at Isthmia(?) - Vespasian lands at Ptolemais to subjugate Galilee with legions X Fretensis and V Macedonica. There he is joined by his son Titus (also a future Emperor), who arrives from Alexandria with Legion XV Apollinaris
June 3, 67 - While at Isthmia(?) - Vespasian lays siege to Yodfat in Galilee
July 20, 67 - While at Isthmia(?) - Yodfat falls after a siege of 47 days. Vespasian's son and future emperor Titus and a group of romans scale the walls of the city, kill the watchmen and open the gates to the entire roman army
August 15(?), 67 - Isthmus of Corinth - Nero initiates the project of digging a canal through the Isthmus of Corinth. He personally breaks the ground with a pickaxe and removes the first basket-load of soil. The workforce for the enterprise, consisted of 6,000 jewish prisoners of war
October 12, 67 - While in Corinth - Vespasian lays siege to Gamla, on the Golan Heights
November 5(?), 67 - Corinth, Greece - Nero arrives at Corinth
November 28, 67 - Corinth, Greece - Nero speaks to an assembly of greeks, proclaiming their freedom: "I bestow upon you, men of Hellas, a gift such as you never hoped for, even though my generosity knows no bounds, a gift so great that it never occurred to you to ask for it. All Greeks living in Achaea and what until now has been known as the Peloponnesus, receive your liberty and freedom from taxation, a freedom which you never had even in your most glorious days, for you were subject either to foreigners or to one another. Would that I could have conferred this boon when Hellas was in her prime, that greater numbers might enjoy this favor ; and for that reason I find fault with the age, in that it already has minimized the extent of my grant. And now I bestow this boon not from pity, but from good will, and I am requiting your gods, whose constant care for me I have experienced both by land and by sea, that they have granted to me to confer such benefits. Other princes have given cities their freedom ; Nero alone has set free an entire province."
December 1(?), 67 - While crossing the Adriatic Sea(?) - The Governor of Gallia Lugdunensis, Gaius Julius Vindex, appeals in writing to other province governors to denounce Nero's tax policies and excesses, with the objective of overthrowing him
December(?) 5(?), 67 - Brundisium (Brindisi, SE Italy) - Nero returns to Italy
December(?) 10(?), 67 - Naples - Nero enters in Naples driving white horses
December(?) 12(?), 67 - Antium (Anzio, Italy) - Passes through Antium on his way to Rome
December(?) 20(?), 67 - Rome - Returns to Rome and celebrates a Triumph, dressed as greek
January 1, 68 - Rome - New Year ceremonies. Sporus presents Nero with a ring with a gemstone depicting the Rape of Proserpina (taken as an omen of his fall)
March 15, 68 - While in Naples - Without answers from other province governors, Gaius Julius Vindex, decides to rebel alone against Nero's tax policies and excesses. It is the first in a series of revolts that would lead to the young emperor's downfall
March 24, 68 - Naples, Italy - Nero is informed that Gaius Julius Vindex, governor of Gallia Lugdunensis, had rebelled
April 1(?), 68 - While in Naples - As Vindex continues to insult Nero with his edicts, the emperor decides to offer a 10-million sesterces reward for the head of Vindex
April 15(?), 68 - Rome - Nero returns to Rome to address the Vindex situation. Considering it, however, a minor matter, Nero summons the senators for consultation, but instead of asking them about the rebellion, he gives them a lecture about the sound of water-organs: "I have discovered how to make the water-organ produce a larger and more tuneful sound".
April 20(?), 68 - Rome - The Hispanic provinces also rebel against Nero, led by the governor of Tarraconensis, Sevius Sulpicius Galba (future emperor). The emperor faints when he hears the news
May(?) 1(?), 68 - Rome - Nero dismisses both consuls from office and takes the consulship for himself alone. After a banquet he announces that he would go to Gaul and appear unarmed and weeping before Galba's army. After winning the hearts and minds of the legionnaires, he would sing songs of victory composed on the spot.
May(?) 5(?), 68 - Rome - Nero selects the theatrical props and water-organs to be transported in wagons for his performance before the army in Gaul. He has his accompanying concubines armed with axes and shields and given masculine haircuts like Amazons
May 31, 68 - Rome - Nero receives the news that more roman armies had defected, including his own forces in Northern Italy. He moves to a suburban property and takes poison with him. At the same time, he dispatches one of his freedmen to Ostia to prepare a fleet for his flight. There, the praetorians refuse to follow him
June 1, 68 - Outskirts of Rome - Nero awakes the next morning with just four freedmen. All the guards had fled, even taking with them the box of poison. For a while he runs to the Tiber considering drowning himself
June 2, 68 - North outskirts of Rome - Nero and the four freedmen move to a villa north of Rome. Feeling cornered by the praetorians, Nero is advised by his companions to commit suicide to avoid public humiliation or an execution at the Tarpeian Rock. They open a grave in the ground and pick some pieces of marble to decorate it. As they finish, the fallen emperor weeps and reportedly says "Qualis artifex pereo" (As an artisan I perish!)"(*)
(*) Often we read about Nero's alleged last words as "Qualis Artifex pereo", supposedly meaning "what an artist dies in me". Latin-language speakers, specially portuguese language speakers easily translate the expression more precisely as: "As an artisan I perish"
June 8, 68 - While north of Rome - Nymphidius Sabinus, an imperial official, falsely announces to the Praetorian Guard that Nero had fled to Egypt, and the Senate proclaimed Galba emperor
June 9, 68 - North outskirts of Rome - Nero receives an incorrect report that the Senate had declared him a public enemy and that it was their intention to execute him in the ancestral manner - to be led naked through the streets with his neck in a yoke, then beaten to death with rods. His body thrown from the Tarpeian rock (southern summit of the Capitoline Hill, often used for executions). Horrified and feeling cornered by the praetorians, he prepares to commit suicide, reportedly saying a line from the Iliad: "The Thunder is beating against my ears of fast-running horses". With the assistance of his private secretary, Epaphroditos, Nero trusts a sword in his throat, aged 30. A praetorian rushes in and unsuccessfully attempts to stop the bleeding as Nero speaks his final words: "Too late! This is loyalty!" =(END)
~As always, the timelines on this blog are subject to constant improvements and open to contributions from readers. To build these timelines from the Antiquity, it was necessary to dive into the detailed lives of many secondary personalities - 17 for Julius Caesar alone - to allow a more complete idea of each personality and the world around them, and even then it is not enough. There are gaps that will be filled when the time comes to dive into the lives and times of Sulla, Pompey, Mark Antony, Agrippina, Vespasian and others. L.M.C.~
