Assess the impact of Nero’s principate on Rome
Nero, son of Agrippina the Younger and Domitius Ahenobarbus, had a substantial impact on the principate of Rome, as the last of the Princeps in the line of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. The ‘early years’ of his rule have been generally considered to be his ‘good’ years, before he started ruling extremely autocratically, which ultimately led to his downfall.
Nero was proclaimed Princeps at the early age of sixteen. Despite his young age, he maintained a decent relationship with the senate during the first few years of his reign, however ancient sources believe this was due to the advisors and guides who assisted his Principate. Seneca and Burrus were both appointed by his mother Agrippina the Younger into important positions as Nero’s advisor and Prefect of the Praetorian Guard respectively, to support Nero’s reign.
Nero’s reforms and policies were …show more content…
As a result, he arranged for her death, as he feared she was a threat to his Principate. Her ambitious nature and pride in her ancestry made her feel entitled to share in political power. According to Hurley, “until her death she represented the typical Roman matron exercising influence on her own son”. Nero was also starting to resent the criticism he received from her about his personal life and extravagant spending on the arts. Soon after this, Burrus died and Seneca withdrew from his position and Tigellinus was appointed prefect of the Praetorian Guard. According to Tacitus, this was a turning point in Nero’s reign. Tigellinus is attributed as a harmful influence on Nero. He is responsible for a reign of terror in Rome due to the extensive use of delatores, hiring spies and secret agents to track down possible suspects involved in the Piso conspiracy and executed them. This affected Nero’s Principate, as he caused a tremendous fear in
Nero, son of Agrippina the Younger and Domitius Ahenobarbus, had a substantial impact on the principate of Rome, as the last of the Princeps in the line of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. The ‘early years’ of his rule have been generally considered to be his ‘good’ years, before he started ruling extremely autocratically, which ultimately led to his downfall.
Nero was proclaimed Princeps at the early age of sixteen. Despite his young age, he maintained a decent relationship with the senate during the first few years of his reign, however ancient sources believe this was due to the advisors and guides who assisted his Principate. Seneca and Burrus were both appointed by his mother Agrippina the Younger into important positions as Nero’s advisor and Prefect of the Praetorian Guard respectively, to support Nero’s reign.
Nero’s reforms and policies were …show more content…
As a result, he arranged for her death, as he feared she was a threat to his Principate. Her ambitious nature and pride in her ancestry made her feel entitled to share in political power. According to Hurley, “until her death she represented the typical Roman matron exercising influence on her own son”. Nero was also starting to resent the criticism he received from her about his personal life and extravagant spending on the arts. Soon after this, Burrus died and Seneca withdrew from his position and Tigellinus was appointed prefect of the Praetorian Guard. According to Tacitus, this was a turning point in Nero’s reign. Tigellinus is attributed as a harmful influence on Nero. He is responsible for a reign of terror in Rome due to the extensive use of delatores, hiring spies and secret agents to track down possible suspects involved in the Piso conspiracy and executed them. This affected Nero’s Principate, as he caused a tremendous fear in