Nero, AD 54-68: History and Presentation

A set of practice flashcards covering the reign of Nero, including his presentation in sources, family relations, wives, the Great Fire of Rome, and major conspiracies and revolts.

During which years did Nero reign as the Roman Emperor?

AD $54-68$

What Latin term is used by Suetonius to describe the five 'golden years' at the start of Nero's reign?

Quinquennium aureum

According to Tacitus 12.69, how did Nero honor his adopted father, Claudius?

He deified him

What was the consistent criticism leveled against Nero regarding his obsession with Greek culture?

Philhellenism

According to Suetonius 20-23, what two activities did Nero like 'too much'?

Music and theatre

How long did Nero spend touring Greece to perform in various festivals?

$2$ years

Which conservative Roman historian was infuriated by Nero's enthusiasm for singing to the lyre and chariot racing?

Tacitus

What specific type of chariot team did Nero have an 'old desire' to drive according to Tacitus 14.14?

A four-horse team

According to Tacitus 14.15 and 15.37, what type of influence did Nero have on Roman society?

A corrupting influence

Which sources highlight the social, religious, and sexual excesses of Nero?

Suetonius and Dio

What evidence exists to show that Nero saw himself as highly cultured?

His coinage

What was the name of the huge bronze statue of Nero placed near the city center?

The Colossus

Which metal did Pliny the Elder say Nero was prepared to use for casting the Colossus?

Silver and gold

What did the Colossus statue come to represent regarding Nero's character?

Self-indulgence

Which emperor in $69$ drew support by pointing out his connections to Nero?

Otho

Who was the pseudo-Nero that gathered followers in the East during the reign of Titus?

Terentius Maximus

How old was Nero when he became emperor in AD $54$?

$$16$$

Which three individuals orchestrated the transfer of power to Nero?

Agrippina, Burrus, and Seneca

Who was Claudius' own son who was a potential rival for the throne in AD $54$?

Britannicus

What did Agrippina do to Britannicus while Nero was being presented to the Praetorian Cohorts?

Delayed him by consoling him in the imperial palace

What does Suetonius (44) suggest regarding the death of Claudius?

Agrippina essentially poisoned him

Who did Nero quickly present himself to in order to secure power, implying a pre-arranged plan?

The Praetorians

Which artifact from c. AD $54$ shows the initial influence of Agrippina over Nero?

An aureus coin of Nero and Agrippina

Which two advisors found themselves in opposition to Agrippina's influence?

Seneca and Burrus

According to Tacitus 14.2, what did Agrippina allegedly use to try and control Nero?

Sex

Who did Agrippina threaten to support as princeps when her influence over Nero waned?

Britannicus

In what year and how did Nero kill Britannicus?

In $55$ by poisoning him at a banquet

What medical condition did Nero claim Britannicus was having when he died at the banquet?

An epileptic fit

In what year was Agrippina removed and murdered?

$$59$$

What was the primary mechanism of the plot to kill Agrippina?

A self-collapsing boat with a faulty lead roof designed to sink

How did Agrippina escape the sinking boat?

She swam ashore

After the boat plot failed, how was Agrippina finally killed?

Nero sent a group of assassins to kill her

Who did Nero marry in $53$ to help secure his legitimacy through her Claudian credentials?

Octavia

Who was the freedwoman for whom Nero eventually gave up Octavia?

Acte

What did Nero accuse Octavia of before murdering her in $62$?

Sexual dalliances

Where was Octavia exiled before her death?

Pandateria

Who did Nero marry in $62$ after having an affair with her?

Poppaea Sabina

According to Tacitus, who persuaded Nero to kill his mother and get rid of Octavia?

Poppaea Sabina

How many years after Agrippina's murder did Nero and Poppaea Sabina actually marry?

$3$ years

Which non-Roman historian portrays Poppaea Sabina as a competent and politically engaged figure?

Josephus

In what year did Poppaea Sabina die?

$$65$$

What was the name of Nero and Poppaea's daughter?

Claudia

At what age did Nero's daughter Claudia die?

$4$ months

According to Suetonius, how did Nero cause the death of Poppaea Sabina?

He kicked her in the stomach while she was pregnant

Who was Nero's third wife?

Statilia Messalina

Statilia Messalina was the great-great granddaughter of which Augustan general?

Statilius Taurus

Why did Nero marry Statilia Messalina according to the transcript?

To appear conventional and respectable

Who was Statilia Messalina's husband that Nero killed to marry her?

Atticus Vestinus

In which month and year did Nero marry Statilia Messalina?

June of $66$

Nero was which number husband for Statilia Messalina?

Fifth

On what specific dates did the Great Fire of Rome break out?

$18-19^{th}$ July $64$

How many of the $14$ Augustan districts were left untouched by the Great Fire?

$$4$$

According to Suetonius, what was Nero's reason for setting fire to the city?

He was disgusted by the drab old buildings and narrow winding streets

Where was Nero supposedly standing when he sang about the fall of Troy during the fire?

A tower in the Gardens of Maecanas

According to Tacitus, where was Nero when the fire initially broke out?

Antium

To which location did Nero ship food for the refugees of the fire?

Ostia

What sprawling sequence of structures did Nero build after the fire?

The Domus Aurea (Golden House)

Which Roman writer (Natural History 36.111) first used the term Domus Aurea?

Pliny

A coin from Nero's reign commemorates a triumphal arch built for a victory in which country?

Armenia

Who was the Roman general who led the victory over the Armenians?

Corbulo

What was the most significant example of opposition to Nero's rule?

The Pisonian Conspiracy

In which year did the Pisonian Conspiracy take place?

AD $65$

Who was the senator whose name was given to the Pisonian Conspiracy?

Gaius Calpurnius Piso

Which Praetorian co-Prefect joined the Pisonian Conspiracy?

Faenius Rufus

Which other senator's faction caused indecision among the Pisonian conspirators?

Lucius Silanus

During which festival did the conspirators plan to stab Nero?

The festival of Ceres

What were the dates of the festival of Ceres?

$12-19^{th}$ April

Who was the would-be primary assailant in the Pisonian Conspiracy?

Flavius Scaevinus

Which daughter of Claudius was Piso supposed to wait with during the assassination attempt?

Antonia

Who was the freedman who betrayed the Pisonian plot?

Milichus

Which former advisor to Nero was implicated and arrested despite a lack of evidence?

Seneca

How did Gaius Calpurnius Piso die as soldiers surrounded his house?

Suicide

What happened to the property of those accused in the Pisonian Conspiracy?

Nero confiscated it

The death of which figure symbolizes Nero's moral decline and inconsistency?

Seneca

In which year did Britain revolt under the leadership of Boudicca?

$$61$$

In which province did a rebellion begin in $66$ and last until $73$?

Judaea

Who led the serious revolt in Gaul against Nero?

Gaius Julius Vindex

In what year did Tacitus' Annals end, resulting in no account of the Vindex revolt from him?

$$66$$

How does Suetonius interpret the revolt led by Vindex?

Divine retribution for Nero's mismanagement of the empire

According to Dio, Vindex was the antithesis of Nero and a champion of which culture?

Roman culture

What were the final words of Vindex's speech according to Dio?

'Liberate the entire world!'

According to Suetonius, what was the underlying cause of the revolt in Gaul?

Gallic nationalism

In what city was Nero when the revolt of Vindex began?

Neapolis

How long did Nero wait at Neapolis without taking action against the revolt?

$8$ days

Why did Nero initially no doubt the loyalty of the nearest legions in Upper Germany?

They were under the newly appointed Lucius Verginius Rufus

What musical instrument did Nero reveal a new type of during the uprising?

A water organ

Who was the legate of Hispania Tarraconensis declared emperor by his soldiers in June $68$?

Servius Sulpicius Galba

What did Nero do to his concubines after Galba was declared emperor?

Gave them male haircuts

To which location in Gaul did Verginius Rufus advance to face Vindex?

Vesontio

How many of Vindex's forces were killed by the soldiers of Verginius Rufus?

$$20,000$$

How did Vindex die after his forces were attacked?

Suicide

Who did Verginius Rufus insist should decide the next emperor after Vindex's death?

The Senate and people of Rome

What did the Senate officially declare Nero to be?

A public enemy

What were Nero's notorious final words according to Dio?

'Jupiter, what an artist perishes in me!'

How did Nero die officially?

He had his assistant kill him (suicide)

Which court poet praised Nero as a god?

Calpurnius Siculus

Who did Nero use as scapegoats for the Great Fire of $64$ according to Tacitus?

The Christians

Which senator walked out of the Senate at the news of Agrippina's death and is a model of Stoic opposition?

Thrasea Paetus

How much were Nero's specially trained applauders paid per performance?

$400,000$ sesterces

Who was the joint commander of the Praetorian Guard and a prominent equestrian under Nero?

Gaius Ofonius Tigellinus