Emperor Nero, infamously known as one of the most oppressive of the Roman emperors, came to power in 54 AD, with an extensive range of reforms. While Nero’s initial rule and reforms were immensely prosperous and popular, his rule soon degraded as negative influences, debauchery, and maliciousness, became his legacy. The reforms under the influence of Seneca and Burrus were exceptionally successful, however, without their guidance, Nero’s further reforms brought colossal amounts of chaos and disorder, revealing the critical flaw in the hereditary hierarchal system of the Emperorship.
Nero’s path to the emperorship was dictated by his mother, Agrippina, after her marriage to the current emperor, her uncle, Claudius in 49 AD. Through this marriage, …show more content…
The esteemed historian, Scullard (2011), wrote that Agrippina "meant to rule through her son” as she desired to do so with Claudius. The highly respected historian, Tacitus (Annals, 68, 13.1) asserted that “the worse her complaints got, the more intense became his passion until overwhelmed by his love he stopped obeying his mother and turned to Seneca.” This perspective is supported by the accurate ancient historian, Dio (Roman History, 233, 21) who stated that after Nero’s disobedience, Agrippina cried out “‘It was I who made you emperor’ — just as if she had the power to take away the sovereignty from him again.” Nero made several attempts to remove his mother from the office, and once she had been murdered, it appeared that all shackles were now removed and the influence of Seneca and Burrus began to wane (Benario, 2006). Baker (2006, p. 156), characterized the deficiencies of the emperor during this period claiming, “…despite Nero’s promising start, by AD 62 he was forgetting his lines. By character, he was just not cut out to be a politician.” This lack of interest in politics, and deep passion for acting and the arts – a profession believed by the senators to be of the lowest grandeur, especially for the Emperor, was calamitous to Nero’s reign. With Burrus’ death in 62 AD and Seneca’s retirement shortly afterward, Nero needed new guidance; and, unfortunately, his poor choices were a key factor to his downfall (Benario, 2006). Tigellinus, the coarse and vicious prefect of the vigils, was appointed as one of the Praetorian prefects and encouraged Nero in his cruelty and debauchery (Bradley, 1990, p. 565). Nero was also becoming bored of his wife, Octavia, and desired to marry Poppaea, however, there was a backlash with the public. Baker (2006, p. 215), articulated, “Protests quickly
Nero’s path to the emperorship was dictated by his mother, Agrippina, after her marriage to the current emperor, her uncle, Claudius in 49 AD. Through this marriage, …show more content…
The esteemed historian, Scullard (2011), wrote that Agrippina "meant to rule through her son” as she desired to do so with Claudius. The highly respected historian, Tacitus (Annals, 68, 13.1) asserted that “the worse her complaints got, the more intense became his passion until overwhelmed by his love he stopped obeying his mother and turned to Seneca.” This perspective is supported by the accurate ancient historian, Dio (Roman History, 233, 21) who stated that after Nero’s disobedience, Agrippina cried out “‘It was I who made you emperor’ — just as if she had the power to take away the sovereignty from him again.” Nero made several attempts to remove his mother from the office, and once she had been murdered, it appeared that all shackles were now removed and the influence of Seneca and Burrus began to wane (Benario, 2006). Baker (2006, p. 156), characterized the deficiencies of the emperor during this period claiming, “…despite Nero’s promising start, by AD 62 he was forgetting his lines. By character, he was just not cut out to be a politician.” This lack of interest in politics, and deep passion for acting and the arts – a profession believed by the senators to be of the lowest grandeur, especially for the Emperor, was calamitous to Nero’s reign. With Burrus’ death in 62 AD and Seneca’s retirement shortly afterward, Nero needed new guidance; and, unfortunately, his poor choices were a key factor to his downfall (Benario, 2006). Tigellinus, the coarse and vicious prefect of the vigils, was appointed as one of the Praetorian prefects and encouraged Nero in his cruelty and debauchery (Bradley, 1990, p. 565). Nero was also becoming bored of his wife, Octavia, and desired to marry Poppaea, however, there was a backlash with the public. Baker (2006, p. 215), articulated, “Protests quickly